The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-12-10
MISSOURI RIVER
IMPROVEMENT.

s4A 6p0AAA0k Y~sVOoSVup ~ uoVp 0v0S 8DOe bObs~
600 in the same time looks like good econ
omy, yet this 10 what Ii msaut By improv-
ing the Missouri river system.
Germany expended 500, 00O, 900 In inn
proving the RUNE; New York invested
&s34,00O.0OO in tho Erie canal. Nsiaher
gained for many times the sums 90 in
vested.
"a strong and woll defined sentiment In
the Missouri valley favorable to koien-
tihc Improvements OF the river for the pnr-
poses OF navigation would greatly
tives in congress to obtain adequate and
regular appropriations."-Hon john 9.
TarHney.
Whenever a city has made great and rapid
growth, she has had water advantages.
This applies to the Missouri river %citias, FOR
the reason that their materials for yhe be-
ginning and for years afterwards, we're car
red on the river. In order to again get tho
benefits OF cheap rates, a river convention
viii DO held in Kansas City on Dec. IL and
16.
The efforts being made under the direc-
ton of the Missouri River improvement
executive committee to secure govern
mental approval of the plans for the con-
tinnous improvement of the Missouri river
End other waterways Ia attracting wide
spread attention and interest. This is a
proposition on which all can unite, and ID
Oh sptCiNl lubSTebt tO IAEHl0TSs
by means of thsss dikes the river 10 to
be reduced to q width Of about 800 feet at
low water. A good channel has already
been attained BY the bikes. where four
years ago great difficulty was s1perisn cod
by stsa mboats plying tho river on sooount
of shoal water. In designing dikes. they
are arranged SO as to leave area for foods
to pass over m."-Division Engineer
Yongc.
Ex-Governor George w. Click. also Of
Kansas, writes: ''ThiB matter il Of great
interest to the people Of the great valley of
the Missouri and its tributaries, and its
benefits and advantages should bo utilized
west. It's Improvement Ia a necessity to SO
cure cheap rates for the heavy Agricultural
products Of the state lying in the great
valley, and a. = regulator Of Freight on tho
railways parsllsling it in the route to tho
GeRboard."
in competition with water routes always
bass their rates upon what the water lines
can do. Statistics show that while the rates
are less, the earnings and tonnage are
greater. Freight that goes by water is gen
orally Of the kind least remunerativs to
iron and lumber. High GLASS merchandise
goes by rail and increases revenues by the
amount of tonnage possible in the absence
of heavy commodities.
In 1880 Oregon farmers earned $3.50 per
capita; Illinois farmers got 1857 per capita;
Eteamers carry .Oregon's grain direct to
Liverpool on their return. The great lakes
relieve Illinois; Lake Champaign, with
cheap transportation. helps Vermont. Da-
kota, lacking waterways. pays the differ
ence here shown in freight rates. To OBJ
viate this disc repancy the improvement of
the Missouri river is demanded.
The Missouri river improvement execu-
tive committee has engaged the Coates
opera houge, Kansas City, in which to hold
tho river improvement convention on the
10Th and 10th Of December, and has en-
the street, as headquarters for the dele
gates. Arrangements are being rapidly per-
fected for reduced transportation rates,
and all delegates should put themselves in
communication with the secretary Of the
COMMITTEES at Kansas City, VIM. II. Miller,
for information az to details.
"With regard to the cost of improving
the Missours river, [ will say that this can
only be Appropriated. / am satisfied,
however, that q comllets Improvements OF
the river. from its mouth to kansns City,
will not exceed $50, 900, 900. or about S 1000
or more for about ten months or more out of
the year. Ths above estimate, however,
will only hold good in case appropriations
are made continuous. and at least $4,000, 600
is made available, in which ease the work
could be completed in ten years." En-
ginesr 1ongo.
Senator W. A. PETER of Kansas is on
record in favor of tie movement. Under
date Of the 18th ultimo he writes As fol-
lows: II believe that all our waterways
which are, or which can be made naviga-
BILE, should be utilized. Transportation is
our waterways opened to the traf-
40 of the people, there will
bo little or no trouble in keeping land
transportation companies within reasone-
bic bounds. Whatever will develop the
great west and south and improve the con-
dition Of the people there, viii have my
earnest support"
II feel that it will be gratifying to the
gentlemen of the Commercial club. 80 vi
tally interested, to know that as a result of
observations all diversity of opinion and
Engagement MS to policies heretofore ex-
has disappeared. and they will hero
after work AZ a harmonious unit to obtain
to enable this commission to accom-
plish what they have demonstrated they can
accomplish, viz: The control of the Mis-
souri river so as to make it y great highway
for commerce. Th greatest means to this !
have been reached. The spirit of
genius has raised up men with
skill to plan and execute this :
grent work. What more il needed to its .
ACCOMPLISHMENTS. Clnlply MOuey.-I10u.
John G. Tarsney. s
The call for the coming river convention '
10 be hold in Kansas City, on Dec. Is and =
Ii, has been attended to embrace all river '
and cities without refer enca to size.
The community takes the view that all
such communities are directly intereDtsd in
he plans for the systematic improvement
of the river. The committee especially de-
that these towns send representatives I
the convention. There arc many ques-
pertaining to the character of tho
deposits, farm and forest products
to these places that need %ventila- a
ion. No one can tell the story as we'll az r.
Ione one from the affected district. 1t is
Therefore that O large attendance u
will BIS on hand from the line of the river. ii
DON'T forget the date, Doc. Is and 16. and A
.lso keep in mind the immonse Importance
o you OF tho proposed improvement.
There ars a number Of places on the
liver whore. at one time or another during /.
ow water SEASON., tners is only three to four
Get OF water, and several others with
lepths Of from four to five feet. The worst
+ those places is situated near the mouth {
Il tho osago liver, where improvement :
are now in progress. This has been I
IotoriouBly the worst place on the river for T.
everal years. The reach of the river under
Improvement near the Oange river is about
miles long, and the estimated cost of
he Improvement is $35O,00O. All of the
places just mentioned, can probably be
N improved for about So, 10000, and this will =.