The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-08-19


We cannot resist the conclusion that
President Grant includes among lis
''many appropriations that are made for
work of purely private or local in-
terest," the appropriation of $50 900 for
the improvement of the Mississippi and
the protection Of its banks between the
foot of Dickcy's Island and mouth of the
Ohio. In making application for this ap
not have been, concealed, that the desired
work would afford incidental protection
to the property of Cairo, and OF the
United States i'm Cairo. Unfriendly
newspapers thereupon denounced the
application as local scheme, having no
other purpose than the maintainance of
the protective entertainments encir-
cling our city: and it would
be strange indeed had hostile
interests failed to impress this false pre-
sentation of the case upon the mind of
the president. Ii this has been done,
we may rest assured that what we are
pleased to term the "Cairo appropria-
ton is included by the president in
that list OF appropriations that are made
for work of a purely private or local in
terest, in no sense national To take
any other view of the matter would be to
lull ourselves into false security, and to
postpone. for another year at least, the
application of the aid that has been
granted to US, and to which, taking the
broadcast view of the case. we are clearly
entitled. Itremains for.us, then. to make
such showing of facts to the president
as will compel him, in an exercise of
fair play, to exclude the Cairo approprl-
alton from the list of local schemes
which he has so promptly and positively
tabooed. We must show him, as we
can, that the stretch of river between
the foot of Dickey island and the mouth
of the Ohio, is one of the worst to be
found in the Mississippi river. We must
show him that the channel shifts so often
and rapidly that route that would be
entirely safe this week, would be dan.
gerous if not impossible next week.
We must further show him that sand
bars form, disappear and reform with a
suddenness that bewilders our best navi-
gators and imperils the vessels that nayi-
gate the river. And, finally, he must
know that the wrecks Of steamboats, that
cost in the aggregate hundreds of thous
ands of dollars. thickly strew this por
ton Of the river, and that fresh wrecks
will be added every year and season un.
| til the government does, what the corpo
ration of Cairo has no rightto do, improve
and confine within specified limits, the
| channel of the river. Place the presi.
| dent in possession of the facts. and the
| proposed work must assume, in his mind
| as well as in the minds of all who under.
stand the necessity for its performance, Q
national significance. 1t will then remain
| for him to determine the other question
he has under consideration, which is
this: "Whether in view OF the necessity
for an exercise of the strictest economy,
any expenditure under the river and
harbor appropriation will be authorized
further than to protect work already
done and paid for" In the determine
ton of this question we can do nothing
perhaps, to influence the president, one
way or the other; but we can set him
right in reference to the so-called "Cairo
appropriation, and it is our duty to be-
stir ourselves. and do so.