Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-01-28
CUMBERLAND REyEK IMPROVE
NEENTS.
Hon. John T.. House i'm Self VSndi-
cation Against the Charge Cd
Hndifference.
NaShVille Amerlcan

Hi on. John 4. House ina Self vSndi-
cation Against the Charge Cd
Indifference.
Nashville American.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
WASHINGTON, d. c., JAN. 81, 1882.
My attention has been called to
the proceedings of a meeting held
at the Merchants Exchange, in
Nashville, a few days since, to take
into consideration the improving
the navigation of the upper Cum
berland. AT the meeting Mr.. Hill
man was reported as saying that he
had heard that / wonld vote against
the object sought to be accomplished
by the meeting, or that L was at
least antagonistic to it. From what
source Mr.. Hillman derived infor-
nation as to myself SO contradictory
of my whole record as a representa-
tive In congress, so contrary to the
truth and SO aburd upon its face, /
am at a loss to conjecture. During
my whole time IN congress | have
been Il CONSTANT and Jealous friend
of the Improvement of our rivers
and harbors.
Whether / have been hostile to
the Improvement of the upper Cum
berland or unmindful of the great
benefit which must accrue to Nash
vile and other points on the river
by the Improvement of its naviga-
ton, so as TO reach the rich coal
fields upon its banks, let the follow
ing facts declare:
In 1870, some years before / en-
tered congress, survey of the Cum
of navigation, was authorized, and
under this survey the present pro
ject of improvement has proceeded
| thus found on my entrance into
congress, my first term commencing
with the fOrty-fourth congress, a
system OF Improvement already
adopted by congress, for which
several appropriations had been
made and under which the work
was progressing. For this object
$50 900 had been appropriated by the
forty-first congress, $40,0 900 by the
forty second, and $25, 900 by the
fOrty-third, in all 800, 200. But ii
was provided that all these appro-
priations should be expended 6etou
Nashville. Such was the situation
of the matter when | entered con-
gress. 1t occurred to me that the
Improvement of the upper Cumber-
land, to enable us to reach the coal
fields, was a matter of vast import
ance TO Nashville and other points
on the river. | therefore deter
mined on my own motive, without
any suggestion from the citizens OF
my district, TO have the work OF
improvement on the upper Cumber-
land inaugurated. / therefore went
before the committee of commerce
of the forty-fourth congress and
requested that all the appropriation
which could be given to the Cum
berland during that congress should
be expended GboUe Nashville. The
appropriation made for the Cumber-
land by the forty-fouth congress
was So, 900 and it provided, at my
request and suggestion, that the
whole amount should be expended
dbOce Nashville, and thus the work
of improvement on the upper Cum
berland was inaugurated, and at
every session of congress since there
has been an appropriation for the
upper Cumberland. The fOrty-fifth
congress appropriated $4,000 for
the work QbOUe Nashville. The
forty-siXth congress appropriated
5000 to be expended ADORE Nash
ville-making in all the sum OF
$246,0 which has been appropria-
ted for the work ADORE Nashville
during the period | have had the
honor to represent the Nashville
district. The sum of $4,000 has
during that period been appropria-
ted for the work 6etOiC Nashville,
making in all the sum of 1926, 900
that has been appropriated for the
improvement of the Cumberland
above and below the city of Nash
vile during my term OF service.
[ have voted for every river and
harbOr bill that has passed congress
during my term of service, and
while others may have been more
able in their advocacy of the inn
proVement of our rivers, none have
been more sincere and jealous than
myself, believing as L did that
water navigation would prove a
great correction of the high rates of
railroad transportation, of which so
much complaint is made. In view
of the above facts, my surprise may
be imagined on reading Mr.. Hill
mans remarks before the meeting
referred to. If the appropriations
made for the Improvement of the
Cumberland have fallen short of
improving the navigation Of the
river to the desired extent, / GER
tainly cannot be held responsible
for the failure. As before stated the
plan of Improvement was adopted
before | became a member OF con-
gre5S, and adopted so far as l knew
without any protest from the peo-
pie to be affected by the proposed
improvement. The work was pro-
ceeding under this plan and at each
session of congress, since l have
been a member, / have, in conjunc-
ton with other gentlemen whose
constituents are interested in the
work, done all | could to procure
for the purpose, and
we have succeeded. as shown above
in securing appropriations aggre-
eating nearly quarter of million
of dollars to the upper Cumberland
alone. l do not believe that the
upper Cumberland can be satisfac-
tOrily improved without resorting
to locks and dams. AS all know,
the building OF locks is very ex-
pensive and will require large APP
preparations. / have had several
conferences with Gen. Wright, the
chief of engineers, upon this subject,
and he insists on thoroughly testing
the Improvements under the present
plan before he will recommend the
building of locks and dams. |
would rejoice to- morrow five could
get an appropriation large enough
to build all the locks and dams
necessary to make the navigation
free and unObStructed to the coal
fields. | would not only vote for
such measure, but do everything
in my power to promote it. "A
survey has been ordered to ascertain
the praticability and cost OF improv-
ing the shoals by locks and dams.
Referring to this subject, the chief of
engineers in his report to the pres
ent congress says: "When this is
reported on, and the boatmen have
had an opportunity OF thoroughly
testing the work already done, there
will be an opportunity for congress
to decide whether to undertake the
more radical system Of improve
nent." / regret very much that
- r. 4 I,<