The weekly clarion., 1879-02-26

ira n OF i've hundred ears. One tug carried
/ A tow OF barges info New Orleans carrying
six hundred thousand bushels of coal,
fre ght for eighteen hundred ears. THESE
are the armadas OF peace tnat are 70 conquer
/ the com nmeTcial world. The export of -oru
increased from twenty millions TO seventy
million bushels in three years. from 1879 to
1877. In 1876 We exported five hundred and
fifty million pounds of pork. worth aoeut
$4,000 600. thirty fou- million pounds OF
beet millions of bushels OF wheat slight
decrease in the cos of transportation OF
these Quantities to European markets would
bring prosperity TO the agricultural States
OF the Mississippi Valley. Every obstruc-
ton in the navigation of the Mississippi en-
hances the price of freignts The expense
OF one hours delay OF an Upper Mississippi
steamer i estimated Al $40 per hour, of
Lower Mississippi boat a greater SUN.
These boats in contracting for freights must
consider the probabilities OF delay, and their
tariff has corresponding margin.
The rapid settlem en1 of the y Northwestern
States, the breaking OF the sod on millions
o. acres of prairie. and the clearing of the
forests from a thousand hills have Increased
the heights Of the Mississippi Il 'ods and
shortened their duration, by precipitating
the rainfall OF that vast region, ana has al
50 injured the navigation OF the river by
producing lower stage of water in the dry
seas n, AID by sending down a much great
erquantity OF sediments which forms bars
where they We're never known before.
Within two sc Frcs of years Shoal water
has extended from Plum Point, one hundred
miles above Mem phi-, e. Lake Providence,
distance of one hundred and fifty miles;
and as these causes are continually extend
ing. the navigation of the whole river will
be threatened. Considering the vast inter
ests AT stake. is it not time that this Govern
ment should be taking measures TO remove
the present aud avoid the threatened evil.
The total amount OF money spent on all the
rivers of the Mississippi system is about
eighteen and half millions of dollars while
in the single State of New York the Gov
erumenC has spent $7,S94 900 for the i'm
praVemeHt OF its rivers and harbOrs. That
State has spent on her canals sixty-four
millions, and found it a profitable invest
ment.
have not time, Mr. Speaker, to enlarge
upon the magnificent Results of cOmpre-
heusive and liberal effort in the direction |
have Indicated l have attempted TO be sug
gestive rather than argumentative. The
subject is TOO vast TO be pursued through all
measure should be considered is too broad for
the narrow amendment OF the gentleman
from Illinois. He endeaVors 10 fOrestall the
commission and restrict its action. He con-
demus in advance a measure that has re-
ceived the appreciation of every engineer
commissioned by the Government to exam
ine it, and com mits the House t. legislation
unfriendly to the section that l have the
honor in part To represent on this floor. l
commend this bill "a reported to the mem
bers OF the House, trusting TO their enlight-
ene1 StateSmauShlp and wisdom to put upon
it the seal of their approval, and to inangu-
rate measure which must redOuud to the
common welfare of the whole country.