Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-06
Western Waterway Delegates
Appealing for Aid for
Navigation.
UNCLE SANS POCKETBOOK
Could Reduce Transportation Rates
and Assist the Farmer
TO AN INCALCULABLE EXTENT.
A Friend of the Anti-0ption Bill Calls the
Short Sellers
THE REAL ANARCHISTS OF AMERICA

WASHINGTON, d. c.. Feb. 5-The House
Committee on Rivers and Harbors gave a
hearing this morning to delegation from
the Western Waterways Convention, held
in Evansville, Ind, to urge upon Congress
larger appropriations for the improvement
of the Western rivers. Colonel G. w.
Shanklin, the first speaker, explained to
the committee the proceedings of the late
convention in Evansville. The convention,
he said, was held pursuant to call of the
Executive Committee, with representation
from IA States, sggregating 800 delegates,
to consider the subject of further and con-
tinuous aid from the general Government
to such improvements as have already been
begun or that safe and reliable river nsvi-
cation urgently requires. The convention,
he said, was marked by thoughtful consider
alton for the general welfare, rather than
for the promotion of special or local inter
estS The result was the unanimous dec
laraticn of a general policy of waterways
improvements that Congress be urged to
formulate into a practical plan, to be en-
forced by such appropriations as may be
necessary.
The territory within the boundaries of
the States said Colonel Shanklin, whose
comm cree was so largely concerned in Sc
cure and profitable navigation, also in
cluded within its limits half of the popu-
lation of the Union, and practically of the
fruitful soil and deposits 65 per cent of the
wheat growing area of North America,
substantially all OF the tobacco and corn
lands, and all of the cotton plantations.
Traffic for the Worlds Fair.
Colonel Shanklin smoke of the varied
manufactures which would find their wav
bv watercraft to the Worlds Fair under a
practical system of Government aid which
would render the Mississippi river and its
tributaries navigable at all seasons of the
year.
William H. Miller, Secretary of the Mis-
souri, River Improvement Association, next
addressed the committee in favor of an ap-
preparation for the Mississippi and Missouri
river valleys. He spoke mainly of the in
tluence of water facilities in promoting in
dustry and commerce. He said any reduc-
tion in the cost of transportation to the
seaboard would not affect the English
price of corn and wheat, but would
inure to the producer. The cost of trans
porting wheat from the Missouri river
points to the Atlantic ports by railway is "a
cents per bushel, while the cost at the pre-
vailing rate on the Mississippi river, when
available, would be cents, saving
of 16 cents per bushel, or an en-
HANGED value of this crop on Weld
like that in 1889 of S21, 21S,0SO.
Great Saving in Favor of Rivers.
Railroads charged 16 cents for carrying |
grain TO the seaboard, or cents more than |
by water. The gain thus effected on corn 1
and oats would amount to S93, 112 330
~ III ,ba
would be Sl17 $50, 400 per annum. Mr. |
Miller thought that the advantages result |
ing from an improved river transportation /
would be to increase the value of land ad-
iacent to the Missouri river from S25 to $50 |
and 500 per acre.
Patrick Henry, of Memphis, made brief |
statement for the Mississippi River Com
mission. He spoke of the tonnage of the |
Mississippi river and the Ohio river, and the /
vast amount of freight carried on these |
rivers and their tributaries. One st. Louis
firm which had a contract to send 5000, 900 |
bushels of wheat was obliged to transport a |
greater part of it to the seaboard by rail. at
a cost of 81, 600 day additional, on account
of low water in the Mississippi river.
A Pittsburger Talks for the Ohio.
W. B. Rogers, of Pittsburg, advocated |
very briefly the improvement of the Ohio,
and spoke of the vast saving in coal trans
portation that would accrue by a liberal
expenditure for the Ohio and its small trib-
utarieS
Captain L. r. Keck, of Cincinnati, who
said he represented three of the most i'm
portant lines of steamboats, operating on
the Ohio river, in showing the advantage of
rapid transit of freight by water, said the
amount of freight carried on the Ohio and
its tributaries was nearly 16, 600, 900 tons
more than on the Mississippi river
and its tributaries combined; also,
that steamers represented a value
of SS,jO0,000 the number of
passengers carried by the Ohio steamers
was {, 800, 900, more than double that of the
:raffc of the Mississippi and its tributaries
combined He thought the Ohio the most
important stream in this country, and vet it
gets less from Congress, in proportion to
its value, than any other river in the coun-
try. Most of the coal used in the territory
from the st. Louis south came down the
river. What was needed on the Ohio was
good substantial appropriation for more
dredge and snag boats, and funds to use
these boats at any and all times when
needed. The hearing was then closed.
The Anti-optionists at Work
The short seller is to-day the Anarchist
OF America, said John Whitaker, a large
pork packer of ST. Louis and Wichita, to-
day, In an address to the House Committee
on Agriculture in advocacy of the anti
options bill To Representative Alexander
Mr.. Whitaker said that unquestionably the
tendency of "short" selling was to depress
prices and to interfere with legitimate |
trade. Farmers, he said, were not COM
PEELED to market their grain instead of stor-
ing 1t, but the experience of the past eight
years had taught them that holding wheat
was losing game, and that with this un
limited short selling beating down the price
each year, the best time for them to sell
grain was as soon as it was harvested. ]
''Wipe out, if possible. the short seller.
the non-holder-in other words the American
said Mr.. Whitaker: and added: :
THAT is what he is. l say it soberly. The
short seller is to-day the Anarchist of
the worst one we have. and he
will make the farmers come down and sell {
his stuff under the red flag
Wheat Considered a Sufferer
Mr.. Whitaker said that the wheat er- 5
ported this year had probably averaged in
price 95 cents bushel, and if this pronosed
aw had been in force, he believed II would !
ave brought considerably more than 81
,ushel. He did not believe the law would =
lurt the owners of real grain or provisions.
because if fictitious offering were done
.wav with the market would be supplied
nth actual grain or provisions, and there
icing a smaller quantity offered, prices
would be better. In New York it was re- L
,arded as necessary to sell 80, ,00o, 600 bushels
f grain to market 5000, 600 or 4,00O,O 900.
Ne produced no coffee, and for that reason Y
e believed in option selling in coffee; that n
4