The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1881-12-24
Mississippi River Improvement.
Times DemoeMt.l

SO far, three important bills have
been presented in Congress,
making appropriations for the inn
provement of the Mississippi.
Mr.. Morrison, of Illinois, pro-
poses to appropriate $4,000 for
the river, of which Sl,400, 600 is to
be expended on the river above
Cairo, and Sl,600,O00 below that
point. This is a continuation of a
similar appropriation made at the
last session, and a slight increase
on it. The Improvements are to
be carried on asat present, under
the direction of the Mississippi
River Commission. The general
sentiment of the Mississippi valley
is that while last years appropria-
tion was acceptable as showing a
recognition of the Importance of
the river, it fell far short of the
amount needed. 1t is folly to econ
omize int great public work of
this kind. If it requires $4,000
600 or $4,000, 600 to put the Miss.
issippi in navigable condition, Con
gress is not at alllikely to gain
anything by. spending s3,00O,O0O
on it-a little dab here and a little
dab there.
Mr.. Vest, of Missouri, has offer.
ed a bill in the Senate, setting
aside sl0,000,000 for the Mississ.
ippi and Missouri, half for each
river. While we we would be
glad to see the Missouri improved
because its improvement would of
necessity, bring moro trade to this
city, we must pronounce this bill
unequal. 1t is folly, just yet
awhile, to give us much money to
the Missouri as the Mississippi.
The valley of the former river con.
tains less than one-tenth of that
of "the Father of Waters;" its
production is relatively even less.
To saddle a bill granting money to
the Mississippi with sj,OO0,000 for
Missouri, is only atiixing a heavy
burden to it, making its passage
more difficult; and is in direct con
fiict with the sentiments of the
late st. Louis convention. which
very wisely suggested that we
might demand the Improvement OF
/ the main river. This is the wise
view taken of this bill by the press
of st. Louis. Although that city
would be the most benefited by
the Improvement of the Missouri
the Globe-Democrat patriotically
declares that at would be wise,
unless there is plenty of money to
spend, to let even tho Missouri
alone until the Mississippi is taken
care of" Mr.. Vests bill provides
that these rivers shall be improved
by the United States engineers.
Mr.. King, of this State, has bill
before Congress proposing that
the government shall appropriate
SlO,O0O,O00 for the Improvement OF
the river under such plans as the
River Commission may suggest.
ltis probable that score of al.
ditional bills on the improvement
Of the Mississippi will be offered
ut the present session, one OF
which will certainly pass.
The people of the Mississippi val
ley insist upon the passage OF
some measure commensurate with
the Importance of this work. The
Mississippi must no longer be
treated as a creek. The appropri.
alton must be large enough to
carry out the improvements pro.
posed, and not left half completed
Such are the demands of the peo.
pie of the West, Northwest and
Southwest, who, as we have fire.
quently shown, constitute a major
ity of the population of the Union
and produce nearly two-thirds of
its agricultural products.
!