The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-02-25
THE GREAT RIVER.

consider the necessities and Importance of
improving the great river and It's navigable
tributaries, have, through their pres ident,
Eugene Underwood. issued an address en-
bodylng their views and setting forth the
reasons for the faith that Is In them. We re-
greet that our space will not permit the pub
LEGATION Of the entire address. for II Is a strong
and comprehensive document, b~ristling with
facts and statistics and filled with unanswer-
able arguments as to tho necessity for n vast
and Intelligent system Of improving. not
alone the great Mississippi Itself, but all its
tributaries, 30 that they may each perform
tho functions evidently intended by nature.
Fourteen States have already appointed
commissioners In accordance with the
request embodied In tho resolution passed
at tho convention for tho promotion
of American Commerce. held In this city in
December, 1878. and from one end of tho val
10y to tho other. tho people who havef for years
been neglectiul OF their interests. and who
have with strange lethargy permitted them
selves to be imposed upon BY the East. aro at
last arousip9 to u just appreciation of their
power and Of their lawful rights in the dis
tIibution OF the common funds of the nation.
Like u giant who has awakened from u long
but refreshing sleep, the great valley is for
the first time putting forth Its strength, ana
the various States composing II, realizing ut
last that they have a common and a glorious
destiny, are moving forward hand In hand
to the achievement OF tho wished-fOr end.
When we reflect That the region drained by
tho Mississippi, ana tributary thereto. con
tains 1000, 900 of square miles (about two
thirds Of the area Of the entire Union>. that
II furnishes a vast proportion Of tho pro-
ducts of the country, md that It oon-
tains q majority Of the population Of
the United States. one is lost III won
der that the general government should
have for 50 many years Disseminated against
tt. 20 NJ to InHkott virtually q ftewer IT wout
and drawer of water for the rest Of the nation.
Az All evidence OF the manner in which the
government has unjustly dealt with the valley
we may cite tho fact that while for a peri cd
OF cighty-seven years there was appropriated
tho sum of $1ON. 379, 322 for the rivers and har-
bors. only 6.367, 7G9 Of that amount was ex-
pended upon tho Western and Northwest ern
rivers, and this estimate does not include the
sum expended In building over five hundred
light houses upon the sea and lake coasts.
Az our Representative. MIR. Robertson, chair
man OF the Committee on Levees and I'm
provements of the Mississippi River, has
shown. the general government has only
expended upon tho great river. the grandest
commercial waterway In the world. since the
beginning, about one-iifth the amount given
by 1t to the Pacific railroads, about one-third
Of the amount spent by New York alone on
her canals. and that New York has re-
ceived from tho government for the improve
mont OF is rivers and harbors more than
one-third or tho amount appropriated to the
Mississippi river and It's tributaries, which
vitality concern eighteen States and two Ter
%rit0ries.
The report touches with satisfaction upon
the appointment by Congress OF the Missis-
sippi River Commission. and upon tho work
OF that commission. but contends for a sys-
tenn of improvement which will embrace all
the tributaries, which II claims to be entirely
practical. 1t says:
Such q system would sppply some part OF
almost every congressional district with navi-
CATION. Estimating the distance up to points
to which boats now 70 In good stage of water.
teen thousand miles OF navigation. Such - sys-
tenn would be unsurpassed Ia tts benefits. be-
cause OF the yast and varied productions 80
The CHASTITY spectacle Of q famine In China
and India: destroying mankind by thousands.
while Indian corn is burned as fuel IN these
u free outlet by the Mississippi and a ship tran
SIT across the Isthmus Of Darien. II would DO
unsurpassed In facilities for personal and COM
mercial intercourse among the people of this
valley rs n bond Of union between the States.
and n bnlwark Of defense against foreign ag-
gression In the movement OF men and Muni-
tons of war.
We cannot refrain from giving copious ex-
tracts rom this interesting report:
Should peace and prosperity prevail many
iation OF this valley equal to half the present
population OF the European States above
named. and three. fourths Of the population Of
'n Th sn eitie s0e q. s.. Louis and Chicago. at their
present rate Of increase, viii II fifty years rival
honisY1,,s sn S,n Ph1is; a nsx p' 1a,5eans. Vii III F Fspk
among the foremost cities Of the old world. and
many towns and cities In this valley Of minor
magnitude will grow into cities OF great wealth
According to the last census this valley has a
majority OF 8 ST.. 67s Of the whole population OF
the United States, and 1t now has a r majority OF
representatives In Congress.
The report of the Commissioner of ARricul-
ture shows that the crop product, q the Missis-
valley IN comparison with the whole
country approximate:
Wheat crop ...5...... 60 yer cent
Rye per cent
Tobacco per cent
Cotton op........=s.... -.s.,..~74 per cent
Hog per cent
Almost the total sugar crop Of the United
States Is raised III Louisiana,
The coal fields are stimated at l92. 500 square
miles. as against 50 .o37 square miles in the
er States.
ha iron ores preponderate By an immense
plus over the ether States.
he lead and copper ores are confined almost
usively to the States and Territories of this
ey. Including the lake shores.
he total internal revenue of the United
les amounts to from $l12. 900. coo TO S115, 900. coo