The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-04-05
MISSISSIPPI IMPROVEMENT.
St. Louis Spectator

St. Louis Spectator
The river improvement committe Of the
merchants exchange Of ST. Louis has under.
taken q work which should have been I'M
taken long ago. the work Of organizing and
solidifying into y concrete force the widely
extended and deep-rooted, but Intellectual,
sentiment in favor of the improvement of
the Mississippi river which is now growing
angry at the needless delays and frivolous
opposition which have 50 long stood in the
way of this much needed national improve.
mept.
Two objects are aimed at by the im-
provement. One is the correction OF the
food line of high water, so as to prevent
the disastrous overfows which cause mil
lions Of dollars Of destruction to the proper
| ty Of the settlers on the banks Of tie river,
and which cause greater lose TO the c0un.
try by the prevention Of further settlement
| and improvement along the rich bottom
lands subject to overflow. The other is the
improvement Of the low water channel Of
the river, so as to secure at oil times and at
all stages OF the water minimum depth Of
| not less than ten feet OF nsvigable channel
| from the junction Of the Missouri and Mis-
sissppi to the outlet st the Delta. These
two problems Of hydraulic engineering and
natural craftsmanship are fraught with
deep and vital interest to the agriculture,
commerce., manufactures aud industry Of
the millions Of people who inhabit the Mis-
sissippi valley. The importance Of that in
terest Is increasing rapidly. Every year, it
is the question Of the present and the
future, and il involves grave questions OF
political relationship, as the people Of the
west will not be dependent on the eastern
seaboard and on the railroad corporations
for su outlet for their commerce. They de-
mand an outlet under their own control aud
identified With their interest, not one hostile
toit.
One would think that in work of sncb
great national benefit and value, one which
promises TO add so much to the welfare snd
prosperity Of the whole nation, would re.
ceive the hearty sympathy aud active sup
port of the whole republic. But the politi'
cal features of the situstion 10 which We
have alluded have suffced to awaken the
local jealousies and sectional fears Of the
narrow. minded Legislators, who fail to com
preheud the true grandeur Of this country
apd the question Of improving the Missis
sippi river has been compelled, from thu
start, to face the determined opposition o.
adverse aud powerful interests banded to-
gether in an alliance of obstruction. Thi.
opposition, though based on prejudice error
has hitherto been powerful enough Il
thwart every attempt at a thorough anc
complete scheme Of river improvement.
| The two leading centres Of this unworth,
opposition are Chicago and New York, ant
| II Is easy 10 understand the personal ant
sordid grounds on which their opposition
| is based, Not content with the prosperit,
they have gained from the thorough over
land business, and wholly oblivious of III
generous subsidies In land and mon
| which have increased that business by tn
aid given 20 railroad builing, these two i'm
pOrtant cities have rallied II strong politi
cal support to their aid, and in congress
they have used every argument, false ant
true, and every device Of political mangu
vering to deny to the people OF tho Missis
sippi valley their plain right to he permit
ted to add to the national strength ant
wealth by establishing better and cheap
outlet for trade via the Mississippi river
! This opposition exists and there are opl,
two appliances with which to meet it,
popular agitation ard congressional action
and unless both Of these remedies arc Wig
orously pushed, neither will avail. TIL
rule thus Ear has been to hold q conven
ton pass a series of beautiful resolutions
and then to allow the agitation to rest
This should be changed; the public miut
should be aroused TO the Importance Of th
subject, the aid and support Of the pres
should DO enlisted, tho agitation should b
kept up constantly, and all the agencie
aud energies by which popular cause il
carried ON 10 SUCCESS should be enlisted
and enlisted for the war. Ia part Of ID
progrstnme the Mercbapts' Exchange q
81, Louis may naturally be expected I
take. q leading part; ~
But Ill the agitation In the world vii