Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-15
RIvER-HARBOR swINDLE.
Getting More than They Sought from, Bod
Lincoln.
IN.

SM1uQl6 WdUIOQ a Jill VI pal l1Ould1o 1AOAA
Secretary Lincoln, and they appear to have
been handsomely gratifed. few weeks
ago they got into state of irrepressible
indignation because the newspapers had
spoken harshly of the swindle, and deter
mined to confound their enemies and 81
lence all further criticism by propouAdi1g
some conundrums to Secretary Lincoln
At tho instigation of Mr.. Page, resolution
was passed asking him to name any in
stance ne could find where money
had been appropriated for works or
objects that are not in the interest of or do
not benefit commerce and navigation.
There were other questions, but this was
the princip pal one. The defenders of the
big grab looked upon the resolution as
brilliant piece of strategy, and settled back
calmly to await a response which should
convince the country that they had
been grossly maligned. They received
their reply yesterday, but it was not in any
respect the one they were looking for.
Secretary Lincoln went into the subject
with great enthusiasm and thoroughness,
and, to the CONSERVATION of the PROFOUND
ers, he answered their questions in such a
way as to vindicate completely the dread
full newspapers. We venture to hope that
Messrs. Page and Robson will not move
his impeachment for this offensive con-
duct.
The secretary remarks in the beginning
of his reply that he had not considered it
his duty to make the investigation until it
had been requested by congress, and that
when in compliance with such request he
L. 10 &ha ~ oTnQoroA fO
him that sin many instances the results of
substantial benefit to commerce were SO
obscure and apparently insignificant as to
v1ndicate the doubt on the part of the
house of representatives indicated by the
inquiry presented in the resolution" VIII
a surprise it must have been to the movers
of that resolution to learn that it ''indi-
Gated" such a doubt as that! 1t is very
clear that Secretary Lincoln miscon-
ceived, of course Internationally, the
object of the inquiry. The detailed
statement which he includes in his
report sustains this view. He
gives long list of instances in which he
thinks the appropriations made would
not be beneficial to either commerce or
navigation. One of this kind was the
$4,000 allotted to the harbor of New Buff
falo, Mich. The local engineers report
that there was no commerce, and that the
work of improving the harbor was aban-
doned ten years ago for that reason. No
money had been appropriated since 1872,
at which time balance of $4,000 remained
available. This was untouched until 1881,
when 1852 was expended for re-examina-
ton, and the local engineer recommended
that the remainder might be expended IN
repairing the old government pier. Con-
press ignored this and made fresh appro-
priation of $4,000. Another instance
in Michigan was still more inexcus-
able. Fifteen thousand dollars was appro-
priated for building harbor at the mouth
of Cedar river That noble stream is
creek with barely enough water to float
sawlogs and supplies power for a single
saw mill. The timber supply along its
banks will be exhausted within ten years.
The project was to build piers out into the
lake and to dredge depth of sixteen feet.
To accomplish this work it would cost
S138,0O0, and by the time it was finished
there would be 10 use for it whatever.
One of the items to which exception is
taken is the grant of $4,000 for Oconto
harbor, Wisconsin. This appropriations
Illustrates very we'll the ability of some
members to make themselves solid" with
their constituents by getting money for
their districts, irrespective of public needs.
The engineers who made the sur
vey said that the "sum of $50,
600 should be made available
before operations are undertaken" The
sum of $4,000 was not made available, but
$4,000 was, and Representative Pound
and his constituents are naturally indig-
nant because Secretary Lincoln says the
expenditure OF the smaller sum would be
foolish.
Some member, perhaps Mr.. Townsend,
will profess to be greatly astonished be-
cause Mr.. Lincoln declares that the ''im-
provement'' of the harbor of Port Clinton,
o., will not be greatly beneficial to COM
MERGE. But here is what the engineer re-
ports about this harbor:
81 was unable to obtain q comparative
statement of the commerce for the last
few years, though I applied for it to the
collector of the district. The amount of
revenue collected during the eleven months
ended May 81, 1881, was $2325; twenty
eight vessels, with an aggregate tonnage
of 1890 tons, entered, and twenty eight,
with an aggregate tonnage of 1,042 tons,
cleared during that period"
Clinch river, Tennessee, is in Mr.. Lin
coins black list, thoughthe appropriation
of $4,000 for it gave some member
notoriety at home. This stream,
according to the engineers, needs $13,400
in addition to the $4,000 already
given, ''to enable rivermen to bring
out cargoes at rain tides" Duck river in
the same state gets $4,000 and asked for
$4,000, ''to secure two and one-half
to three and one-half feet during
a boating season of four to six months"
Cuivre river in this state was given $4,000
in addition to $1,000 already spent, while
$4,000 was reported to be needed; and
yet the engineers say there is mo reliable
information as to commerce, as the great
er part seeks market by rail-"
These are samples of cases in long list.
There is.one equally bad of 10,000for Lam
prey river, New Hampshire, and another
no better for Maiden river, Massachusetts.
The famous Cheesequake creek, in New
Jersey, very properly appears in the list,
and is accompanied by the case of $4,000
appropriation for the Cohansey creek, in
the same state, which is Constructed by
material coming from the streets of Bridge
ton" The secretary seems to be of the