The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-01-27
improvement of the Mississippi
River.
An Able Appeal by Gen. Gibson, Of
Louisiana.
Washington Post. ]

w ashln9lOn HOSt.
Ny attention has been called to a news
paper statement, that the House bill for the
improvement of the Mississippi river ha:
not been duly considered, and that the
memb ers of Congress aud the members Of
the press of the Mississippi Valley are in
sisting upon appropriations for the river IN
advance Of proper surveys and estimates.
/ beg that yOu will allow me space to say j
few word. in explanation Of this bill, in
order to remove any false impressions on 50
important a subject
Ia the first place an act entitled can act
to provide for the appointment OF Alissis
sjppi River Commission, for the improve
ment OF said river from the head of the
passes near its mouth to its head waters,
became a law June >, 1879. The President
appointed upon this commission, Gilmore,
Suter, Comstock, Mitchell, Eads Harrod
and Harrison, all names we'll known to
science and to tue country. Under section
fourth of said act it WAS made the duty of
said commission "to take into consideration
and mature such plan or plans and estimates
as will correct, permanently locate, and
deepen the channel, and protect the banks
of the Mississippi river; improve and give
safety and ease to the navigation thereof;
promote and facilitate commerce, trade and
the postal service" The act constituting
commission of engineers, aud the report of
the Committee OF the House, may be found
I485sdbih e CONGRESSIONAL Record oil June o.
This commission set about its work imme-
diately, and submitted a report on Februa-
ry II, 1880. You will perceive, upon look
ing over the report, how comprehensive,
elaborate and scientific has been the treat
ment of this subject by the commission,
hpy ftIl 10 6ax Ia
and how guarded have been the speciica
tions and estimates. | venture to say that
no public work was ever more thoroughly
prepared than this. But more than this
The House Of Representatives directed
"the Committee on the improvement Of the
Mississippi River to proceed down the
Mississippi river to its mouth for the pur
pose Of acquiring knowledge of its peculiar
conditions and wants and to gather infor-
nation relative to the best method for its
improvement" On the 26th of May last
the committee made their report, strongly
approving and urging the adoption of the
plan of improvement submitted by the
of engineers. The report is
signed by Mr.. Dunn, of Arkansas; Mr..
Myers, of Indiana; Judge Harris, of Massa-
chusetts; Mr.. Prescott, of New York, and
Mr.. Humphrey, of Wisconsin, representing
both the Democratic and Republican parties
and every section of our common country.
The bill pending before the House was
drawn in accordance with the recommends
tons, plans, estimates and specifications of
the scientific commission, fortified by the
report of the members of Con-
gress. | ask now, in caudor, was there ever
A bill, within your knO Wedge less liable to
the charge OF having been hastily framed or
InduIy pressed The engineers ask for i've
millions of dollars, about one half the
amount the commerce on the river is taxed
annually for increased and unusual rates of
nsurance-the bill allows them 81 300, 900. |
The River and Harbor bill for last year |
he Mississippi river below Cairo received |
'nly $l95, 900, and so from year to year and |
rom Congress to Congress we have made |
avish appropriations for our ocean fronts |
md for the upland rivers, but really have
lot done anything for the trade and COM
nerce upon this great National highway |
rom Cairo to New Orleans.
1t is said there was no difficulty in improv-
ny the Tennessee, or the Cumberland, or
he Ohio, or the Wabash, or the Missouri,
or the engineers were all agreed as to the
Methods to be adopted, but the great trunk
Inc to which these are tributaries has re-
eiyed no appropriations because it required
ystematic treatment, and no cOmprehen-
i've survey had ever been made. Each one
t these tributaries has received larger ap>
ropriations in the last six or eight years
han the Mississippi itself, and some of them
ave One-tenth of It's commerce and trade.
1t last we have the surveys specifications
nd estimates, and why shall not the work
egin? Shall the people of this great valley
nd their only outlets to the markets of the
World over the ailroads-corporation that
eteat wholesome competitions by far reach
ng, all-grasping and al-powerful combina-
ions-which, at the bidding of a few capt.
alists, may determine the rates of freight,
nd, therefore, the value and price of prop
rty and the wages of labor; or shall we
pen the great highway, and give to them
heap and unobstructed and untaxed COM
with the sea
The river from Cairo to its mouth is the
asin into which empty tOrtythree great
lvers that, according to the estimate of
hOmas II. Benton, are boatable for 30, 900
niles and navigable for steamboats, over
), 900 miles-ryers that drain the conti-
ent from the Rocky to the Allegheny
fountains, and afford transportation to the
of a valley fifteen hundred
lilies wide and two thousand miles long,
hitch produces over seventy-tive per cent.
our exports, and whose productive capaci-
Y and population are increasing with a
lpidity that is the marvel of the times.
his great interior basin, or inland sea,
resents a coast line of more than two thous-
nd miles, and its commerce and trade ex-
eed by tive-fold our entire foreign COM
lerce. Ifthere be any one thing in this
Duntry National in its character, and pc
lliarly the property of the United States,
is the Mississippi river. 1t was acquired
y the purchase out ofthe common treasure
the people, and the freedom of its navi-
alton was provided for in the treaty with
rance, and the bills for the admission of
.Ouisiana and the other riparian States
Decially declare 'that the Mississippi river
nall be the common highway, forever free
we'll to the inhabitants of the said States
to the inhabitants of the other States and
&c Territories of the United States, without
ny tax, duty, impost or toll therefor inn
osed by said State" And yet it is be
ED by some that the United States have
OF the constitutional power to make appro-
riations for the improvement of its great
st single possession as a commercial high
'ay.
Authority was found for expanding over
G, 900, 900 for the Cumberland river; sever
millions for the Delaware Water Gap;
4, 800, 900 for the canal around the Des
loines rapids nearly as much for the
anal at Portland, in the Ohio river; 81
90, 900 for Harlem river, in New York
q 100000 for Alaska; $5,000,000 in dam
geS even for the fisheries 5000, 900, 600
inee the establishment of the Government
or internal Improvements, and $S,000,0 900 ,
r 50, O00, 900 per annum for the improve
nent of rivers and harbOrs generally.
Members of Congress find no difficulty in
occurring appropriations for the rivers, creeks,
layous and trout streams in their districts,
'ut when 1t Is suggested that this great in [
and sea should be improved, as it is in no '
'ody's district it is held to be beyond the pale
f appropriations aud of constitutional au- !
hority. Why should we deepen its tribu-
aries and its mouth and leave the main
tream INSTRUCTED for four months in the {
ear, so that navigation Is suspended, or pro-
-ide no remedy to prevent the floods that
re alike destructive to life and property |
Ipon its bosom and borders-when the en-
.ineers demonstrate that the necessary inn
'rovements may be made by methods and
'lans simple. prasticable and inexpensive? !
Clause of section s, article l of the Con-
titution provides that Congress shall have
he power to regulate commerce with foreign
atIona and am0nr the aovQral StatoS and !