Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-08-06
THE MISSOURI RIVER.

Annual Report OF the River Com mls-
sien-Facts and Figures.
Washington correspondence Omaha
Bee: The annual report of the Missouri
river commission for the fiscal year end
ed June 30sh, 1888, has been received at
the war department.. Tt is dated OF ST.
Louis July 11th, and ia very voluminous.
The report states that the survey OF the
Missouri river ia still incomplete, and
that the triapgulation ia yet to be carried
from Leavenworlh to Traverse Point,
Montana, $50 miles, and permanent
bench marks over the same distance,
and also from Berlin, Missouri, 80 the
mouth OF the river, a total distance Of
1862 miles. Topography and hydro
graphy are required from Fort Pierre to
Fort Benton, l 100 miles. This work, il
is stated, is OF great national Importance,
and it Is much to be regretted that ade-
quate means have not been furnished
for completing it. The work OF con-
struction during the past year has been,
carried on in the vicinity Of Kansas City.
and St. Joseph. The commission states
that Its funds are about exhausted, being
only sufficient TO provide for watching
the public property for few weeks
longer. Under these circumstances the
commission cannot make any exhibits
for the work contemplated for the pres
ent season, as this improvement neces-
sarily depends upon the provisions Of
the river and harbor bill now before the
president. The commission ask fur
81 ,0O0, 600 for continuing the general
improvement OF the river now in prog
ress from Kansas City down stream, and
for cosduoting the survey, making ex-
aminatlons and observations required in
the thorough study Of the problem, end
for salaries. travels and other expenses,
$l5o 600. II also rsnews its previous
recommendation that SIS 900 be appro
priated Tor survey Of the Missouri
river above the Missouri river falls at
Fort Benton, to be made available for q
general survey of the river. For making
improvements from the mouth of the
Missouri to Sioux Oity $l.0s0.000 is
asked.
The report observes that the boat
trade on the Missouri is at present very
small; that it is confined practically to
the distance between Fort Yates and
Fort Benton, for the upper river and
from st. Louis to Glasgow for the lower,
Auo ooAhphtNhisC OhpO With WAACh kA6
Missouri may be made profitable for
navigation end the necessity for the inn
provement is pointed out at great length.
No special recommendations are made
and nothing specifically is pointed ont
for the encouragement Of those who are
interested in the Improvement OF the
| Muddy about Omaha. In general terms
1t is stated that the navlgable qualities
OF the Missouri may be materially en-.
hanced by the expenditure of $4,000 a
! mile, in deepening the channel and
clearing the stream of rubbish, bat 1t 10
not stated in positive terms hos this
improvement is to be conducted and
where it is to begin. Nearly all OF the
report is confined TO observations about
the lower portion OF the river. It is
hardly necessary to state that the failure
of the president last year to sign the
general river and hsrbor bill is where
the responsibility rests for the stsgna.
| tion which now rules the Improvements
on the Missouri river. With no appro-
priation last year and only the surplus
from the previous year TO draw from, 1t
ia no wonder the work is at standssill,