The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1878-02-03
,rcioly comments itself to the consider

forcibly commends itself to the consider
alton OF American statesmen.
Fourth. In earlier years, our COVE rn
ment did not fully appreciate the Imports
ancc of The Mississippi valley. IN the
distribution oil congressional appropria'
tons, q d,sproportionalc share was allot-
ted TO the sea-board and the lakes. But
lattcrly there has been juster rccognl>
lion OF the commercial interests OF this
valley.
II is earnestly hoped that our Govern
ment will not torsake the liberal policy
which has lately guided Its action. ln'
deed. entire Justice TO the west would re-
ouirc still more generous treatment.
There is now in the Mississippi valley a
prepondcrance ofthe population aud bus
ldess of the whole United States,
The Mississippi, which forms the border
line OF ten states, and which, within the
limits OF navigation, has q bank line OF
1000 miles, II is too important factor IN
the commerce OF this country tor the goy-
crnment any longer to permit its efficacy
to be diminished by the presence ofob>
structions.
Ftfth. There is an urgent need OF an
immediate and liberal appropriation Tor
the improvement of the Mississippi river.
The speedy completion OF this work
would not only open a great thorUugn>
fare 10 national prosperity and enable
the country to avail itself OF exceptions
ally favorable conditions for the exten.
sion OF Its foreign trade, but 1t would
also effect an ultimate saving i0r the
government itself. Occasionally the ap>>
preparations have ben so Inadequate ana
the intervals between them 50 long, that
before the resumption OF the work, the
improvements have been entirely swept
away, or only preserved in a state OF
partial completion and utter uselessness.
Gen. j. II. Simpson. OF the MED
States engineers, has under his charge
the section of the Mississippi which eX-
tends from the mouth OF the Illinois to
the mouth OF the Ohio. In response TO
inquiries, this officer recently addressed
communication to this committee, In
which he expressed the following views !:
~ am satisfied that seven appropriations
OF 81 600, 600 each would accomplish fully
as much as twenty OF S50O.0O) each in the
prosecution OF works of the character re-
Quired In the Mississippi. If appIopria-
tiens are to be limited to 5000, 600, or there
abouts, per year, 1t would be as well to
abandon the expectation OF an improved
river, for IL will never be realized. Such
sums would enable many local improve
ments, of more or less value, to be made
but nothing towards apermanent deep
channel"
T,ere are several public improvements
Of the Mississippi now in progress. In
their unfinished state, they are useless and
| insecure. To prevent an idle expenditure
0imoney, congress ought at once to appro
pirate sufficient sum to complete IN s.
works and free the navigation of the Mis-
sssippi from every impsdmost.
| In compliance with the Instructions o
the st. Paul Convention, this committed
asks congress to grant an appropriation o
| S2,600,000 for the Improvement Of the Mis-
sissippi, and to authorize the expenditure
Under the supervision of government en-
gineers- OF definite sums upon spec.f
portions OF the river as follows:
Upon the section from st. Paul TO the
head Of keOkuk Rapids. ,,, .S8l7, 90
| Upon the section from the foot Of keo-
kuk Rapids 70 m auth Of Illinois ....-... 3s3,0o
| Upon he section from the mouth OF the
Illinois TO Cairo ...."....... 800, o0
| Upon the st sion from Carr0 to New
orlCans..",'. oUu,Ou
The first amount recommended in thi
special assignment OF appropriations ac
corjs with the estimate of the u. S. eng
iLeer who has charge of the upper section
Of The river.
Your committee believe that the pro
posed Appropriation Is justified by ever!
consideration of pubic economy and com
mercial pros Gritty.
A river endowed with such vast capabll
tiles OF usefulness should he fitted tor III
grand destiny. But the Mississippi cal
never fulfill its great office OF commercial
exchange, till II possesses in the lowes
stages OF water II permanent channel OF til,
following depth:
From st Paul to St I0uis...-...... fee
st. Louis TO CairO"-......"...."" %
| Cairo TO New Orleans ....,..". ,....-. 10 I"
BY formal vote, the executive commit
tee have expressed an earnest desire tina
''thc government, in addition to appropri
| ations for the Mississippi river, will also
provide for the removal OF Instructions
from the channels leading to adjacent port,
where custom-houses are located and I'M
posts collected"
In the name, then, of the commercial Ia.
terests of this valley, we respectfully asl
your honorable body to grant the petition
of your memoriallsts, and make an early
and adequate appropriation for the i'm
provement OF the channel OF the Mississip
pi.
In behalf of the executive committee OF
Mississippi river improvements.
JOSEPH BROWN, chairman,
). WATERhOnsE, secretary.