Mr. HENDERSON. It may be said that it is owing to the rapidity of the current there that so much property has been destroyed; but let me tell Senators, you cannot build a bridge on the Mississippi river that that very same difficulty will not come up, provided you do not have wider draws than are proposed here. In very high water the currents change, and it is an utter impossibility to pass through. These piers will have to be very large. If the boats have a large number of barges, or the boats are very wide, or the number of boats that are to be taken through occupy a large quantity of room on the river, it will) be an utter impos sibility to pass between the piers without striking them and destroying a part of the cargo. It has been and is now exceedingly perilous and dangerous to life at times to pass through that 117 feet draw at RockIsland. I understood the Senfrom Minnesota t say that a draw had been built in France with an openin much larger than this. Is it possible, I submit to the Senate, to build n hridge with a draw of 175 feet? If so, there is no stream on Gods earth that requires this width of draw more than the Mississ1ppi river. It is a great stream, and it is a rich country that lies upon it. We in the West desire to preserve the navigation of that river, and I think the Senfrom Illinois ought not to consent to any rule of construction that will obstruct in the future the navigation of this stream. He is as much intercstedin it as I am. I know that he feels as deep on interestin it as I do; and sodoes the Senfrom Iowa. I do not put myself forward as the champion of the navigation of this river. I do not feel thatI have anyinterest in itmore than they have; but I do insist that now when we are laying the foundation of this system. because what we do here will be done for all time in the construction of bridges over that great stream, every precaution should be taken to Secure the navigation. It is a stream hav;ing 2500 miles of navigation, the best stream for navigable purposes, perhaps, on the face of the earth, considering its length, and the countryis just beginning to be developed, as it were. Take that immense country north of StLouis and that must pour in upon the surface of that stream immense quantities of the products of the earth, in time to come, and manufactures and ever bin that can employ the industry of man. I: e all now that the transportation upon the surface of that river will not cost the people 1/3rd of the cost of transportation byrailroad lines. While we are doing so much for the railroad compa nies, can we not do something also for the continued full navigation of this great river. In the State of Missouriwe have constructed steamers that take the cars across the river at StCharles. No bridge has been built there, but a.train of cars is run upon the boat and carried across immediately, without much obstruction; and that might be done on the Mie sissip iriver; but gentlemen as no, they must have ridges. A bill is intro need here for the purpose of constructing them, and, as I understood, with spans of 175 feet. I was opposed to draw bridges entirely; I wanted spans of 300 feet; but gentlemen insist on pivot bridges and as I supposed, with spans of 175 feet. I had a conversation with the gentlemen engaged in the construction of this bridge, and I told them that I desired the spans to be 200 feet. They said 175 feet in the clear was as much as they could stand, but they could construct a bridge with that span. Now, it is deliberately proposed this morning, when we are about to pass the bill, to reduce that width to 150 feet. I warn gentlemen who are just as much interested in this subject as I am, that they are doing a thing this morning that they will regret in the future. I am sure of it. I see a disposition to pass this bill, and why? Because of a desire to do what it is supposed will facilitate communication. We ought to adopt the glorious mean in this thing. I am willing to give the railroad companies on the east side of the river the facilit of communication to the western bank but I, desire that the Senate in doing that shall not neglect the communication upon this great river itself. They should remember that they are interfering with that navigation which is much better for the people than any transportation they can get by railroad.