Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-11-27
THE FATHER OF WATERS
Net Very Liberal This Season With the
Aqueous Fluid, but Greatly Useful In q
Business Way.

Net Very Liberal This Season With tho
Aqueous Fluid, but Greatly Useful In a
Business Way.
Those who think that railways, in their late great
advances toward their future perfect development
of usefulness, have made the Father of Waters of
little importance-unless the GLOBE and its public
spirited friend MsClung are both mistaken-have
not fairly considered the question of slow but
large cargoes against fast but comparatively small
freigh,s. Mr.. McCurg, although for many years,
because of the competition of railways, successive
loW-water seasons, business depression and disturb
ed conditions which have limited North and South
trade to less even than its antwar proporons looks
to future time when the river commerce OF st.
Paul will require miles Of river front for its
modstion. The GLOBE, from it's commanding heiaht
overlooks the banks and levees Of tho old world,
where railways have been built along side Of the
,sr ana
the European fact IN American motto OF progress
that increasing commercial facilities can no more
us say that these are a1ious That productive in
o ops11s Of mrfs':p for R esss .ns
rapid but dear transportation. the larger part Of the
products of northern agricultural country and the
larger part Of its imports will go and come BY
north and south water route. II We do say these
are evident truths We must concede that the Misss
sppi river, tho Father Of Waters, although it is not
now perfect navigable water course, and although
transportation has limited It's pTotsble uses, vii
Channel eSs only St n ssaz but @
in Like the MYERS Of and
mon cheap method of exchange OF products.
SCIENTIFIC AND PRACTICAL EXPERTS
in river problems are agreed that for such IN ex-
penditure as would be comparative tride to the
whole people Of the United States, servceabe stage
Of water can be obtained and maintained for the
Whole Of ss ntn snd
mediate ports. The building Of reservoirs to hold
the surplus water at the sources Of the Mississippi
and of its northern tributaries until such time in the
season ss the water is needed for navgsdon,-n the
fugitive Improvements at occasional places In the
main channe lis enough, Is We are assured on tho
highest authority Of scientists and experts to ensure
aprohtable freighting stage Of water for the whole
season Of navigation of each year. Suppose such
improvements made L. Crosse, city OF 100, 600 tn
habtant Winona city of y, oo0 Inhabitants, Wa,
inhabitants, and i'n Red Wing with 5oooS
peopls-and these are not extravagant estimates OF
what the next coming generation may witness In the
growth of the Northwest-ist extravagant to est1-
mate that the st Paul of 1890, city of over half
million inhabitants Will need miles OF river 'front.' to
question let consider that although the hrst inter-
est of our new country is directly connected with
continual development Of variety in industries,
is increasing the internal commerce which will
follow the natural channels Of commerce.
BUT, ooNsDER PRESENT FAoIs.
The GLOBE reporters have figured up the river
steamboat business of the season Of navigation, now
practically closed, and have found that, considering
there was low water in the early, as well as the latter
part of the seaeonthat is that the season has been
unusually unfayorable for steamboat owners-yet,
nevertheless there has been an increase Of freight
carried by steamboats, as compared with late years.
an increase of passengers throughout the be-
yond all former precedent. and during the short
period of high water amount Of business
transacted larger for the time than the river business
of any former period whatever-not excepting the
long ago flush times, when there were no railroads
to compete with the steamboats, and Galena was
bigger town than it has been since it made "a
nous by being ono. the home of General Grant.
THE KEoKUK NORTHERN LINE.
This has been an exceptional season in ono re-
spect-that there has been no opposition line, no
''wild boat' on the upper Mississippi.
The Keokuk Northern line company,
as heretofore, has taken the lead by virtue
of it, longer run and larger connections With rail-
road lines. The first boat Of the season Of this line
up was the Savannah, which reached Lacrosse April
sth. The several boats Of the company which have
run on the upper river have made round trips as fol-