The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1885-12-09
The Missouri River.


above Sioux City:
The commission recommends that tor
the present work be mainly confined 70
the construction of dams and the dredging
of shoals at the ''rocky rivero above Car
roll. Below that point the snag baafs
should be kept at work removing obStrue-
tions, and funds should be provided there
for. For these purposes and for certain
experimental dams to be constructed near
Bismarck, the commission recommends
an appropriation of $l6C,OOO
For continuing The survey of the river
and for obtaining the data necessary tor
proper study OF the important interests
committed to their charge, the commission
recommends separate appropriation of
$l5O,O which shall also include the sal
aries of the commissioners.
The last river and harbor bill, that of
July 5, 1884, appropriated $4,000 for
survey of the Missouri river above Fort
Benton. The commission having found
no present necessity tor such survey has
held the money and recommends that it
be reappropriated and made available for
the survey of the river below Fort Ben
ton.
The report of Capt. James B. Quinn,
the officer in charge of the work of inn
provement between Sioux City and Fort
Benton, is in brief as follows:
The project for the improvement OF the
Missouri river from Sioux City TO Fort
Benton having been submitted fer the con-
sideration of the commission, so much of
of it as referred to the improvement Of The
rocky portion was approved and the nec-
essary allotments of the funds available
for the work were made December 2, 1884.
Steps were Immediately taken to carry out
the designs of the commission. Dredges,
snag boats and all material necessary for
prosecuting the work were secured.
The work of dam building was carried
on to some extent, but owing to the fail
ure of the last river and harbor bill, no
funds were available for snagging. There
are great many snags at present obstruct-
pressing necessity. It is hoped that this
important work may be begun next sea-
son, since the boat with which to do it is
already on hand. 1t is recommended that
as soon as the ice goes out the work Of
snagging be begun at Sioux City and con-
tinued up the river till high water pre-
vents, the boat then to proceed to the up
yer portion of the river.
No work upon the sandy portion of the
river has been attempted during the past
year. Capt. Quinn has q project before
the commission for improving it which
would require an appropriation of $780,
900 for the coming year.
All the work done thus far upon the
Missouri river between Sioux City and
Fort Benton under the direction of the
commission is of preparatory character,
though some improvement in the channel
is already noticeable. Capt. Quinn thinks
that the permanent improvement of this
portion of the river at a very moderate
outlay is entirely feasible. AS this is the
portion that at present presents the great
est obstacles to navigation, it should re-
ceiYe the earliest attention.
But while the improvement of the river
may admit of slight delay, says Capt.
Quinn, it must be borne in mind that as
the country develops the river commerce
will increase and better channel will be-
come a necessity. The land along the
river is not yet occupied; but the brush
and timber now available for improving
the channel will soon be in the possession
of private parties, who will exact from
the government its full value, and, i'm con-
sequence, feasible works of Improvement
to-day may, for financial reasons, be i'm
possible in the future. Already the char
acter of the commerce upon the upper
Missouri is assuming feature that points
to its permanent increase. This feature is
the fact that the down river freight is al
most equal to that carried up stream, and
bids fair to exceed it in a short time. The
cereals raised in the upper Missouri val
ley are the finest in the world, and the
inexhaustible beds of coal and
iron ore, close to good water power, only
await development. The cattle and sheep
industries are growing rapidly. It needs
but casual glance to convince one that
the possibilities of this great region have
not yet been even guessed at. The wild
and wayward Missouri must in time yield
to persistent but gentle treatment, and de-
velop into deep and commodious avenue
wherein the commerce Of this country
shall pass securely and economically.