The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-11-01
The Great Question for the Missfssippl
From the St, Louis Republican

To the West and the Mississippi valley
there is no subject affecting material
interests OF equal Importance with The
navigation of the Mississippi river. There
are SEINE parts of the subject which have
been settled. Practice and theory are
agreed that the first great point to be
achieved is TO make permanent the banks
of the river. This accomplished, deep
channel succeeds of necessity. There Is
not place on the river, except the falls
and rapids. where the channel is perma
nent. that there is not sufficient water for
successful and cheap navigation. The
bars AMI shadows are found only where
the channel is variable. This suggests at
once the character OF the work needed
That the banks may be made permanent
at any and all places is simple question
of fact. No capable man doubts that the
eneroachment Of the water of any portion
of the bank of the river may be resisted
by suitable works which experience has
pointed out the mode of building. At
every point where bridge has been locat
ed on the Missouri and Mississippi rivers
the problem of establishing the banks for
some distance has been solved. The
charters under which the structures on
these streams have been permitted require
the maintenance of deep water under
their draws or between piers. In no
instance have the bridge companies failed
to meet the requirement Nor has this
requirement of the laws been met at very
great expense. The task of the engineers
has been simple and the outlay moderate.
The application of the same principles
to the river in extense will accomplish
the complete work of making permanent
banks and good channel on the entire
course of the Mississippi and Missouri
rivers
The general effect of such Improvement
would be to shorten somewhat the length
of the rivers And this shortening
process suggests feature of the subject
which has not received as much attention
as its importance entities it to. Every
foot that the streams may be shortened
decreases. the securing capacity of the
current and deepens the channels. The
bends may be shortened by scores of
places by the simplest process-the water
itself, effectually controlled, doing the
work. How far this method may profit
ably be combined with that of making
stable the banks is question to be settled
by experiment and observation. 1t will
harmonic entirely with the plan upon
which the river commission has worked
and proposes for the future
But nothing worthy of the subject can
be done without ample aid from the
federal government. The utilization of
the great streams of this extensive and
productive portion of the Union is not to
be accomplished by little dribs. The
object be attained is great one. and
great objects are not to be secured by
ineonsiderate means. Therefore the
representatives of the Mississippi valley
ought to bend their united energies to the
end of securing something adequate to the
purpose. 1t is not going to be an easy
matter. It will require skill, pertinacity,
courage and the subordinstion of lesser
things to this one great measure. THAT
there is power enough in the representa-
ton of the dozen states directly concerned
is certain. The people behind this
representation must demand success OF
| them.