The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-16
The Report of Dol. Switzler, Chief
of the Statistical Bureau.
Relation OF the Mississippi to the
Nations Traffic.
Why a Liberal Policy Should Con-
troll Appropriations.
The Congressional Legislative Work
for the Week-Mr. Mile and the
Tariff Debate--The Land and
Dakota Bills.
spcclal pI.pateh to The Appeal.

Special Dispatch 10 The Appeal.
WASHINGTON, April l5.-The long ex-
pected report of Col. switzler, chief OF the
bureau OF statistics, upon the commerce Of
the Mississippi and Ohio rivers and OF the
bridges which cross them, has just been
issued. II is voluminous report, con-
tanning about 600 pages Of valuable infor-
nation, tables, statistics, maps, etc. IL
treats Of the inception, development and
present condition OF the commerce re-
ferrcd to from data collected and prepared
by experts appointed for that purpose. 1t
is divided into five parts, as follows: Q)
On commerce Of the Mississippi river from
st, Paul TO 81. Louis, by Frank Johnson,
Of Clinton, Ia; (2) commerce Of the Mis-
sissippi river from st, Louis to Memphis,
by Theo. McMinn, of st. Louis, No.; (3)
commerce OF the Mississippi river from
Memphis TO the Gulf of Mexico, by Nor
man NJ. G. +. Walker, Of New Orleans;
az commerce Of the Ohio river from Pitts
burg to Cairo, by Il. A. Dudley, OF Louis
vile; (5) the Mississippi and its tributaries,
by Alex ID. Anderson, OF Washington.
Gen. Switzler says: "0ur great natural
waterways, which are embraced by what
is known US the Mississippi river, is the
backbone of this system, and now il and
will forever remain not only an important
factor In the regulation OF railroad trans.
portation OF the United States, but during
the months Of each year favorable TO the
use Of its rivers valuable aids 10 q com
merce worthy OF the fostering care OF gov
eminent and people. But for that river
and its naviglblc tributaries and the large
lakes on our northern border the transporta.
ton Of the United States between points in.
land and from these tothe scaboard would
be largely controlled by lines Of railroad,
which are exclusively the property oil
corporations, some Of which ac the most
| colossal known 10 the country. Ii is cas-,
| TO see. therefore, that but fbr thc influence,
/ which these waterways, under favorable,
conditions, are alive 10 exert in the rcgula
ton Of internal transportation, the In
terests OF the people In resp IT Ia this sub
feet would he almost exclusively within
| the iron grasp Of the corporations named
| The whole number Of squafc.miles In III
| United States Isl, 021, SOP. The Mississippi
river system embraces an area Of u 3s. ~
square miles, or III per cent Of the total
] The numerous aud outstanding arms o
this system embrace wholly or in part Ala
bama, Arkansas, Dakota, Illinois, Indiana
| Indian Territort, Iowa, Kansas, Ken
lucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi
Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio
Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, We
Virginia, Virginia aud Wisconsin. IL
nayigable streams number ioIly-flvc, m,
furnish the people moro than ii, 900 mile
Of river nayigation-a line more than fou
times the length Of the ocean line from
New York 10 Liverpool, and more than
four times the distance by rail across III,
continent from New York 10 san Fran
cisco. In the review OF the Mississippi
river and lis tributaries prepared for thl
bureau by Mr.. Alexander d. Anderson
and which can be found In the general ap
pcndix, very interesting statistics are EN-
ployed 10 show that the people Of thu
/ United States possess In the Mississippi
and its ioriy.iour navigablc tributaries
highways OF commerce and cheap trans
portation 10 tho seaboarl Of CONNER
cial value OF S2,OO0,0O0,OO0. Tina
IL 10 say, lines OF railroad q
equal length and Tonnage, will
said river and IT, tiibuinries. II constructs
at the usual expense Of such improve
mcnls, would cost the people Of the Unite'
States this enormous and almost incalcula
bic sum. When tits remembered that thes
great waterways capable Of bearing 10 th
markets Of the country and from thence 4
foreign ports, the tonnage indicated. m
free gifts Of nature, nm unanswcnble argu
ment is furnished in support Of libcm
policy toward them.