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

source of the Dakota river; its southwestern
near Leadville, COL, 700 miles distant;
its southeastern apex at st. Louis;
its northwestern at the 18th meri-
dian and the northern boundary, over
l 400 miles away or 5000 miles by the me-
| andelings of the river. These far North
western waters pierce the Rockies, and con-
stitute the natural avenue of trade with the
Pacific. Here the upper Missouri, the
Yellowstone, and numerous tributaries are
open ways into Wonderland, and will bring
forth the vast stores OF mineral now hidden
In the mountains. Gold, silver, copper,
lead, iron, coal and other minerals are here
in abundance.
The Yellowstone and Powder, together
with the Missouri and Platte, enclose vast
triangular plateau 100, 900 square miles in
! area, rich agricultural and mineral lands
| drained by the Little Missouri, the Niobara,
the Cheyenne, whose forks surround the
| Black Hills and nine other rivers.
The central thoroughfare, the Platte river,
opens a roadway through the granary of
Nebraska into the mineral regions of
Wyoming and Colorado, whence the water
ways OF the Pacific and Salt Lake systems
extend easy communication westward and
southwark. The Platte occupies a most
commanding situation, and when improved
will be one Of the greatest transportation
routes in the world. South OF the Platte
and parallel to it, the Kansas river extends
its six great branches through the wheat
and cornfelds of Kansas. Nebraska and
Colorado. Last of the streams south and
west of the Missouri. the Usage and
Gasconade extend navigation to the rich
agricultural and mineral lands of East
ern Kansas and Missouri. That part of the
Missouri Valley north and east of the main
river, is watered by the Poplar, Big Muddy,
Dakota Big Sioux, Nisnnebottone, Grand,
and many other rivers small relatively to
the giant stream, but actually important,
and laying open a rich and prosperous
country.
The vast system, converging the commerce
of eight great States at st. Louis. must
swell that city's trade to most stupendous
volume. st. Louis has such a command
ing position, is such a central point from
which radiate the natural roadways of our
valley, that it seems destined to be our great
central city, as New York is our great sea-
port.
1t is a peculiar fact that there is no tabu-
lation, and so far as can be ascertained no
authoritative statement of the lengths of the
rivers of the Mississippi system, with the
exception of the Mississippi, Ohio and
Missouri. Captain Eads estimated the to-
tai waterways capable of development at
10U, 0UO miles. Ihls paper states them at
112, 500 miles. This result was obtained by
wheeling off the watercourses exceed
ing 30 miles in length, as laid
down on the best maps procurable, pref
erence being given to township maps, as
being most detailed and easiest to check.
Some of these measurements gave results as
close as within 1 per cent, some within
per cent, of known lengths. But in streams
OF many and short turns such accuracy is
manifestly impossible; and it is likely that
the total waterways are nearer 150, 900 than
10C, 900 miles.
The improvement of this vast continental
system OF natural roadways is the most
pressing business of every citizen of this
Republic. Selfish interest," humane feeling,
sound constructive craftsmanship, conserva-
tiye wisdom. all unite to urge its speedy in
auguration and earnest prosecution. The
fact of its desirability-nay, its urgent ne
cessity-no one can question. The only de-
batable questions are, which part of the
work should be, first begun; what amount
can be done yearly, and what measures and
devices will give the greatest results at the
least outlay.