Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-02-18
THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY


At the recent S., l.,us Convention the
fe'lomin. Highly important document IS
presented hy the Proof WGter>housc, which
W Il "e read with deep interest. The facts
ANA Figures u.crcin revea Ell should be thor
oashly studisd and considered by every
citizen OF The Northwest
III. President and Gentlemen IF tie Con-
rcaf.oa
The right OF u government 10 institute in
ternal improvements is one Of the essential
incidents of sovereignty. Under all f1rms
OF politics, this power is justly vested in the
controlling authority Even dcspotic GOV
crnm.nts, which reverse tho republican idea
and administer affairs Of State in the inter.
est Of titled minority, have exercised this
power for the benefit Of the nation. Aus
tria has expended large sums for the i'm !,
provcment Of the navigation IL the Danube
But democracy rcsts upon the fundamcnt>
al principle that the interests Of she peeple
are supreme. Our republican Govcrnment.
in which il vested the exclusive control Of
internal improv sments, is then bound by the
most 10 emn obligations to consult the gen.
cral welfare Of the nation. But il il neg.
l,cts tins trust, then momcntOus interests
which have been ccnfided to its sole guard
ianship and fostering care must suffer. and
popular rights which can appeal only to
constitutional processes Of enforcement will
be ignored.
In tho present instance, our duty Is not
arduous. Tho unmistakabls jurisdiction Of
Congress. the frequent p,eccslents, and lib
eral policy OF the Government leave US only
the easy task Of showing that the proposed
Improvement Of the Mississippi Rapids is a
work OF national importance.
The Mississippi and its atliuents. draining
an area Of more than 900, goo square miles
and afording water carriage Of more than
5000 miles, form system of river uavi-
CATION unequallsd in the civilized world
The length Of our Atlantic coast is $500 :
the extent Of the river line Of the Mississ-
ippi and ito tributaries -includinc beth
banks lis $4,000 miles The trade which
now floats on these waters is immense. Its
magnitude startles the imagination. In
1860. the total foreign commerce Of tho
United States was $500 600, 900. In 1865,
inc trade OF nine cities on the Mississippi
and OHIO rivers amounted to $14V. 600. 900.
The annual commerce Of the Missi.sipni
Valley Is now estimated Mt g.. 200. 900. 900
The yearly traffic Of the Upper Mississinni
which would be directly affected by the oh.
structions in the rivcr.is $15o, 200. 900 The
amount Of CONNER &C which is annually affect
Cd from the Mississippi by the difliulties 0!
navigation is computed at 100000, 0oo.--
In 1864 The approximate loss incurred in
consequence of the obstacles in Western
rivers vas &3,OO0,O00. The yearly damage
which the rapids infiict upon navigation is
appraised at 10000, 900. In 1866 the di,
rect loss occasioned BY the impediments 1t
keokuk amounted TO more than $500. 900.
The eight miles Of obstruc.ed navigation
se@s.ames Delay steamer Eve days. This
u."s"n. !. = source Of great expense. A
S ..I Wv" CARRYING capacity Of Is 900
S S.s".' ~ :. sacked grain would require .
49, ~ slA.y nsnds. The daily cost Of so
~. -. s" !. nssvy. delay Of three or
the impeovsmsdt Of the rspids . - a s
With the same motive power. ana : 49,. va: ::
tweoov hands. would transport Coo, oo ~
bushels Of grain. The Ajax once $50 $50
from Louisville to New Orleans AGA M" n"
bushels Of coal. Fer more than half Of A..
boating season navigation 10 embarrasssd
BY low water on the rapids. During ,hs
period Of shallow Water no boat can carry
freight enough for . profitable trip without
lighting over the rapids. Bat the employs
0ent Of barges involves serious expense
la the absence Of elevators il has nscessita
ted she use Of sacks. Wheat sacks no
oeo1 from 20 % 80 esats apiece; Of, if hired
- Costs pei busAsl ioe sach skipmsnt. Tn
expenoo e the Jous tfaaslses q the Rocl
Islaad and Ksokuk Rapids = - cents
bushsl, end The ~ ltoo waste b Z cent
moro. During he ssasoa II 1896, the North
- -. ~. ' -, - ..,.-,.,.- - ecf .no =