Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-07-18

That river il The nations property. In the
wsr it was maioiains ID that the control Of the
Mississippi alone was enough to justify the
North in carrying on that struggle; for that
river was the natural outlet for the products
of the hear. Of the country, aud involved the
prosperity and control of a dozen of the rich
est Slater. The United States cannot afford
10 leave is care 10 the intermittent interest
aud changing policiesrof the States it passes
through, even were they able TO assume the
responsibility. What the general govern
men. should appropriate for its Protec-
ton can be approximately answered
by estimating the rivers worth. what
would the United States give for that river
v. re it wrested from Us by a foreign power?
What would the general government sell it
for 10 England or France or Spain? One
element Of immense interest enters into this
calculation. The Mississippi ia the most i'm
portsnt factor 10 our system Of transporta-
ton; that river puts a mighty check on the
railroads that cross the country, and ere
compelling with il to draw the produce OF the
W,st to the Atlantic sesboard. While that
river is properly cared for, the trunk lines of
railroad have a competitor which they can
not buy of nor force into any pooling ar
raugemeutp. TIE Mississippi is the Erie
cana Of the continent, and it is free. Con-
gress has now to face anew the problem,
Whst shall be done for he Mississippi and
the country dependent upon il, and yet, in
- -. "a. r.. =. - 1880
| pirate a million or two dollars for the mend
ing of old works and the construction
OF new ones without fret settling upon some
wise, comPrehens We, practical system which
shall render such foundations as those OF
1874 and 1882 impossible. Such a work
can be done at a triis of the expense and a
1.-THE Of the engineering difficulties with
which Holland has been rescued back from
the Atlantic ocean and made one of the rich
est countries of its size in Europe. There ID
no question as to the b7sins for the work,
provided Congress will order it done, and
refuse 10 appropriate another dollar until il
has decided on some sound, comprehensive
system which, when carried out, will be effec-
live. ] he old Democratic hostility to so-called
works Of internal improvement was well
founded. 1t is impolitic aud wrong to squan'
der the public money in widening rivers
whose names are not mentioned on the
map, and building canals from nowhere
to nowhere TO raise the value Of real estate
in some SPECTATORS wilderness. Blu
the Mississippi river is The property of thu
nation Snd ~ ia for tho intaraal of tho Who'll
country that it should be made as avsilabl,
as possible for navigation, and as safe as poe
siole for those who live on its bapks. Ne,
York wants He'll Gate cleared for naviga
tion and the Harlem river opened TO th
Hudson, 80 that ships can pass through an
barges can bring their cargoes of grain direc
to the wharves where il is wanted, not as
municipal advantage, but as a public
NATIONAL ben fit. Aud New York is alnoi
as much interested 10 the protection and in
provemeot of the Miss 'ssippi as New Orleau
or st. Louis. Ii ia 4 national work, an
should be done in a spirit and way that wi
b. crediiable to the nation. The need of
perfect system for the protection {
the bottom lands is urgent an
the benefs that would ensue 20 th
general prosperity are immense.
system OF protection against overfows wouI
bring into vigorous cultivation on the ea
bank OF the river alone between MemphI
and Vicksburg land cap tbls OF yielding ar
nually 100000 bales of cotton, or nearly 8
much as the whole of the pres. mt crop Of lh
Hated Gfatas Tha AholttfnniotS aholioha
/, 81 avery by continued agitation, and it onl
by agitation that the lowlanis on the Missi
:. sippi river can be reclaimed.