River Navigation
The office of the Government engineer in control of the Government
improvement along the Mississippi, from the mouth of the Missouri River to
St. Paul, together with a number of adjacent natural artificial
water-ways, is located in Rock Island. Through its annual appropriations,
about $800,000 are spent in the interests of improved navigation in the
district indicated.
The first Government engineer's office established for the improvement of
the upper river was located in Davenport, in 1866, and was in charge of
General James H. Wilson. The office was originally intended to control
only the improvement of the Rock Island rapids. General Wilson was
transferred to Keokuk, and the work of building the canal around the
rapids there was placed in his charge. The Davenport office was left under
Major C. J. Allen, who, about two years after it was originally
established, removed it to Rock Island, quarters being taken in the
Skinner Block over the People's National bank.
In 1870 Colonel John Macomb was placed at the head of the offices, and
under him they were removed to the building at the north-east corner of
Second Avenue and Nineteenth Street. Colonel F. V. Farquhar took charge in
1877, and under his direction, the year following, the general survey of
the river made from the mouth of the Missouri to St. Paul was begun, from
which a general line of improvement for the whole distance was later
mapped out.
Colonel A. Mackenzie came on in 1879 and the office was under his
management for a period of fifteen years. In 1891 quarters were taken on
the fourth floor of the new Mitchell and Lynde Building. Major Mackenzie
continued in charge until his promotion to assistant chief engineer at
Washington. Colonel W. R. King, his successor, died after a year's
residence in the city, and Major C. McD. Townsend took charge in May,
1898. The present quarters, on the second and third floors of the federal
building, at the corner of Second Avenue and Sixteenth Street, were taken
possession of January 9, 1896.
Colonel James L. Lusk assumed charge in April, 1903, and was succeeded by
Colonel Charles S. Riche in April, 1905, and who is still in general
charge. Colonel Charles W. Durham, first assistant engineer since 1871;
James D. DuShane, assistant engineer; W. A. Thompson, assistant engineer;
Samuel Ed-wards, assistant engineer; James McElherne, assistant engineer;
Montgomery Meigs, assistant engineer; A. L. Richards, assistant engineer;
C. P. Comegys, auditor.
The working plants consist of two boats, dredges, snag boats, barges, dump
boats, quarter boats, office boats, employing over one thousand men during
the working season.
Early Settlements of Rock Island County
Source: Historic Rock Island County, pub. Kramer & Company, Rock Island, Illinois, 1908