Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-24

vision of what it will be to our children and
our children's children.
To comprehend it even partially it is best
considered in six divisions, each imperial
in proportions.
The Northern gateway and great arterial
canals.
From New York Bay, peerless harbor,
the Hudson extends tide level through the
Appalachian chain; and its work accom-
plished shrivels into insignifcance after
sending a mighty arm, the Mohawk, west
ward to touch the lakes; which vast reser-
voirs, central summit of the continent, ex-
tending navigation 900 miles to North and
West, invite and make feasible the
great arterial canals to connect lakes,
at Troy the Erie Canal and lake
with the Hennepin Canal, extend in almost
a straight line to Chicago. Behind Chicago
is the lowest point, only IA feet elevation,
between the lakes and the Mississippi val
lev. Through this low ridge will be cut the
Michigan and Mississippi Ship Canal, con-
Meeting the Great Lakes with the Mississippi
by way of the Illinois river. By this
waterway Chicago is scant 900 miles and
st. Louis not 1, 500 miles from New York.
South from Lake Erie the Erie and Pitts
cation to the Ohio and all its waterways.
From New York to Pittsburg the sailing
distance will be 700 miles These distances
are scarcely greater than by the best practical
BILE railroad routes.
The Southern gateway and the waterways
of the Alluvial Plain.
As New York is the natural outlet for
Northern and Northwestern products in
European exchange, SO is New Orleans and
the Mississippi river the natural channel of
trade to South America and Asia, ard to
Europe for Southern products.
When the outlet of the Mississippi mas
been improved, the river corrected and
lowered SO as to drain the bottom lands, and
the floods prevented by the development of
navigable waterways in the water courses
the condition of vast commerce will exist
at New Orleans; the 1900 miles OF lakes,
rivers and bayous in the bottom lands will
collect the vast agricultural surplus of the
81. $50 square miles OF fertile alluvial plains
bordering the lower Mississippi.
III.
The Southwestern Division.
Red and Arkansas rivers. Watershed,
2S6. 600 square miles. Navigable waters,
90. 900 miles, These rivers, piercing great
cotton, tobacco and corn fields, and extend
ing to the mineral region of Colorado, will
swell the trade of New Orleans.
The Ohio Division.
Area OF watershed, 211, $50 square miles
Miles,
First class navigation. on..................... 1000
Second class navigation. 5000
Third class navigation. 5000
Total Is, 900
The Ohio valley is now the principal
source of the foods which yearly deyastate
the Mississippi bottoms. Therefore, the
first step in any rational plan for the i'm
provement of the Mississippi, must be the
development of the reservoir action of the
water courses of the Ohio river and its tribu-
taries This will create a wide-branching
system of navigable waterways, which, when
connected by ship canal with the great
lakes, will provide an Vtlet for the many
productions of this natures treasure house,
and make it for the first time factor in and
a competitor for tine worlds commerce. The
entire section is rich beyond belief, both in
soil and mineral. Its treasure vaults will be
at last unlocked. Ships will load with coal
at the mines mouth; oil will flow from well
and still directly into tank steamers; steel
and iron will leave the rolls to hide In the
holds of ships built at the mill-side, whose
maiden voyages fuIl-freighted with the pro-
ductions of this marvellous region, will
carry ships and cargoes to purchasers in the
farthest cline.
v.
The Upper Mississippi Division.
Area of watershed, III, 800 square niles;
10, 600 miles of navigable waterways, all of
the second and third classes.
This rich and prosperous agricultural sec
ton, seemingly without phenomenal mineral
resources, not SO placed as to command an
extended commerce or to intercept the trade
between East and West, is yet remarkable
as affording summit connections between the
Mississippi waters. and those of Hudson Bay
and British North America.
Its destiny is tranquil local growth and
seli-centered activity until the development
of British North America and the Valley
of the Mackenzie river, of which it is natur-
ally the Southern outlet, creates vast
North and South trade.
vi.
The Missouri Division.
Area of water shed, 545, ,240 square miles.
First class navigation, 10, 600 miles.
Second class navigation, 20, 900 miles.
Third class navigation, 80, coo miles.
Embracing nearly half the area of the
Mississippi Watershed, more than half its
wealth OF agriculture, mineral and water
ways, the Missouri Valley extends in a vast