The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-04-01
NECESSITY FOR IMPROVING THE NAv1-

CATION OF THE MISSISSIPPI.
As congress is not now in session and will
not be, except it be an extra session tor
specific purposes, before December, it may
DO thought that the discussion Of this ques
ton is not particularly pressing or opportuno
at this time. This may seemingly be tuc,
but il is n question Of such vast Importance
10 80 large IL section Of the couutry, and in
volves so many interests that too much can
not be said in favor of tho proposition
nor 100 often. We have but To-,
look at the barge system on the Misss-
sipp 10 realize the necessity of everything
possible being dono for the improvement of
that mighty river. AT the end of last year
there were four lines of tow boats and
barges, aggregsting fifteen boats and eighty
six barges, with total capacity in bushels
Of grain of 100000, and of 1900 600 per
month from 81. Louis to New Orleans, and
there are now building one more tow boat
and twenty-four bsrges, twenty-five OF
which have capacity of 10000 bushels of
grain each, and tho other two $4,000
each, increasing tho total capacity
to 6,ll0.000. Looking ovor
the transportation data for the Mississippi
river that we have at hand, we fad this.
there are now four established barge lines
from st. Louis to New Orleans, for tho
transportation Of grain for export, and
three Of them are making tho additions
referred 10 above. The four rank ss follows
in present and building capacity: Mississippi
Valley Transportation company, boats and
40 barges, with total capacity of 9. 800 900
bushels st. Louis Is New Oreabs trans.
polta.ion company, 6 boats and 80 bargos,
with total capacity Of 2.5500OO bushels
tho Anchor Lina company, with 2
boats and Il bargcs, and total
capacity of $1,000 bushels; and tho NJ. Q. e.
company, with one boat aud nine bsrges. Of
$4,000 bushels capacity. The trips OF the lows
Of these lines last year from 81. Louis direct
numbered llS, and these transported 5,9lS,-
272 bushels of wheat and o.SOlS92 bushels
OF corn, Including $4,000 bushels OF rye
The number of bargcs to atow would DO
about five, and the average cargo OF each
trip for the year 5000 bushels. This i'm
mene trade..has been made possible by the
improvement of the channel of tho Missis.
sippi river below New Orleans, particularly
by the Esds' etty system a. the mouth of tho
river. Above Now Orleans all tho way to
b. Louis, tho liver needs improvement,
for II NOT only abounds In sand
bArs nnd. snsgs to interfere with navigation
in tie low stages Of water, bu! II needs lovoo
Ing to oon6no its waters to tho channel in
high water. The grain products of tho
great ives. are increasing every year, and
Europe Is looking TO these western grainariCs
for bread for her teeming millions. FROM
ST. Louis grain can DO transported not only
cheaper but in les timo by water than It IL
carried by rail TO tho Atlantic seaboard, aud
asa consequence II 10 beginning 10 seek the
wAtor route 10 Now Orleans, whore IL will
moot tho great ocesn.going vessels
to transport ilacros tho sens, Tho might,
Mississippi Valley, an empire In extent, and
wonderfully fertile, Ia developing and settling
up, and la products, cotton, ETC., naturally
seek an outlet by way Of the Mississippi
river, and II Is duo 10 tho people who liv,
there and ,illi' coil, aud due 10 tho brost
and mcAt producers Of tho western state,
thu. they DO given every facility for reaching
market In the shortest timo and al tho less,
expense. Only fcw weeks ago tho towboA
Oakland, with = aeot Of bArgcs, carried
over 10000 tons Of grain from ST. Louis /,
New Orleans and In ak days loss time tina,
stAkes freight .raia TO 20 TO New York
Tho Oakland carried in hor tow a0,Sa7, eOt
\ pounds Of grain, or fraction ovor i,Oi2 %
ioAds. We give those facts and figures :
ahow tho Importance Of tbs navigation o
NE groAl f>sher Of wAtcu. In addition 4
Vie Wv boas liues. thsre. arc . number +,
Nav fslsanhoAh snd numerous indspsni
Il.