Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1883-03-10
THE RIVER.
An Attempt to Get ar ApprOprIa.
ton for Its Improvement Falls.

An Attempt to Get an ApprOprla.
ton for Its Improvement Falls.
Acting on the instructions Of the Legis-
lature Mr.. Cassidy, while the River and
Harbor bill was under consideration the
other day, attempted to get an appropria-
ton for the improvement of the Colorado
River. The chief obstacle in the way
seems to have been the adverse report of
the Army Engineer, who made a survey
Of the river in 1878. Lieutenant Payson,
to whom the work was assigned, claimed
4 that the commerce Of the stream was too
insignificant to warrant an expenditure of
public money. Congress as a rule accepts
the recommendations Of these engineer
officers, and it would be difficult to secure
an appropriation in opposition to their de-
cision in any particular case. Mr.. Cassidy
seems to have urged the claims of the
Colorado in a strenuous manner, covering
about all of the ground in its favor. The
Congressional Record of the I'd inst. con-
tains his remarks in full on the subject.
The matter being of interest to the people
of the State, and particularly to those re-
siding in Southeastern Nevada, we quote
as follows:
Mr.. Cassidy offer the amendment
which I send to the desk.
The Clerk read as follows:
After line 400 insert the following:
Improving Colorado River, $50, 000."
Mr.. Cassidy--Mr. Chairman, that
amendment is as proper as many Of the
provisions of this bill. l offer it in obedi-
ence to a memorial Of the Legislature of
my State, which l had the honor of SUBJ
hitting to the House q few days since. In
that memorial all of the facts in the case
were duly and forcibly set forth. There
can be nc question, sir, about the impor-
lance in a strictly commercial sense of the
Colorado River. The Colorado is essen
TALLY and emphatically an interstate
water way. 1t is more than 1900 miles in
length, having its source in the Wind
River Mountains in Montana Territory,
and stretching away through Wyoming,
Utah, Arizona, and Nevada to the Gulf
of California. 1t washes the southern
boundary of my State for nearly 300 miles,
forming the dividing line between Nevada
and Arizona. Union Peak, a towering
mountain in the Wind River Range, is the
common source of the Mississippi, Mis-
souri,, Columbia and Colorado Rivers.
The Colorado is navigable for a distance
vi ulolO bho v k4lACot n AAhS IA -
ers is now plying regularly at all seasons
of the year between Yuma and Fort Mo-
jave, a distance of more than 325 miles.
The commerce OF this portion OF the river
is very considerable at present, and stead
lily growing. 1t is by this route alone that
the commercial needs and interests of
Northeastern Arizona, Southwestern Utah
and Southern Nevada are accommodated.
The Utah Southern Railroad from Salt
Lake southwark is nearing Callville, the
head of navigation on the Colorado. The
Utah Northern Railroad is reaching out
from Salt Lake far to the northward.
With these two roads completed there will
be a continuous route across that portion
of the continent from the British Posses
sions on the north to the Gulf Of Califor-
mia at the south. The Colorado River
must afford III important link in this
great north and south line Of communica-
ton. The Government has never Ok
pended one dollar in the improvement Of
the navigation of the Colorado.
No other stream of equal Importance
has been so shamefully neglected. Some
years since a survey was authorized by
Congress. The Army Engineer, to whom
the work was assigned, Lieut.. Payson,
reported that the river could be thorough
~ improved auu placeu III nTSt-ciass oTueT
at an estimated cost Of 500, 900. But he
out Of his way, in my judgment, to
say that the of that region
would not justify the expenditure. What
ever may have been the condition in 1878
when the examination was made the same
state of affairs does not exist now. Many
important mining districts have been dis
covered and agricultural valleys settled
since that date, and l say in all earnestness
that q system of improvements along the
Colorado River should be undertaken with
out further delay. The cost will be imma-
terial in comparison with the money law
ished on other streams Of merely local
Importance. Understanding that the Com
mittee on Commerce has attempted to
restrict the items carried in this bill to
about one-third Of the sum which will be
required to complete in each case, I have
proposed but $50, 900 for the Colorado on
the same basis, the Government engineers
having estimated that the whole work can
be finished at a cost not to exceed S92, 900.
In conclusion, I trust that the amendment
which I have offered will meet the approval
Of a majority Of this House.
The amendment was not agreed to.