Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-02-18
THE MISSISSIPPI
And Its AfHuents and Their I'M
pOrtance to the Country.
I8ae Policy of Delay in Making Permanent
improvements Contrasted with
the Energy Displayed by
Other Nations.

@ofeat anu development of the Mississippi
rsEssr and its affluents and the promo
7oz.of traffic on the great system of
IH aterways:
at rs the ann of the facts and arguments here
An set forth to show the com mercial importance
~e "'ur ra Inland river system and the necessity
~ zn<sariy removal from the Mississippi and its
fxaH tributaries of every obstruction to their
narration The courtesy of Hon. R. P. Porter,
superintendent of the United States census.
aasreoentiy furnished me with statistics which
exhibit the magnitude of our river commerce. a
NNnaAry of which is as follows, embracing all
craft Of over five tons:
oz the upper Mississippi system there are 265
~ Gamers, with tonnage of %. 964 g. and valued
at 81 ,ssi ,sa Unrigged craft. 34s; tonnage, $780,,
ss1ns; value, S225, 723 Total craft of all kinds,
sil3; tonnage 2l3,547 IS; value 81, 1850
On the lower Mississippi system there are
--3o steamers, with tonnage of 20, 80, and
valued at S345l,272 Unrigged craft. 272; ton
mage, hI,.S0.o0; value, 81 ,0252o0. Total craft
qsGE.H
On the Ohio system there ara 537 steamers,
with a tonnage of l07 195 81. aud valued at S.
l@s-7,s Unrigged craft 5.70s; tonnage, 2,Sl3,-
-z2S0iz value, $500 31. Total craft of all
kinds, 6,c45; tonnage. 2.920, 1888; value. S.,
6sStsu-
On ths Red River of the North there are 4
steamers. with tonnage of 433 81, valued at
AlA,o0a Unrlgged craft, IL; tonnage. 1o.g72 90;
kszsse li-iG5-s2; value, $4,000.
Grand total for Mississippi valley: Steamers,
lbs; tonnage, 20,71lS9; value, SID, $50, psi I'm
rigec1 craft. 1853; tonnage, 3,lS2, o. value,
81 RS oi Graft of ali kinds, 7,445 tonnage, g.,
sTei,a79S SO; value, Sl5,G-ES0
During the year 1889 there were carried on
fhe entire system 1894 2ts regular and excur-
sion passengers; S.47i,64S ferry passengers, or
ERSsS. s9i There were moved ., 405. 0i6 tons OF
sTeSght, and 1865 miles were traversei by
al steamers.
For the same year t1SSG) the gross earnings of
AL craft on the entire system were Sl6.3 513;
expenses, Sl2, 3i2; net earnings, S3.7 ISL.
These figures are arguments which scarcely
require verbal expression. The cogency of
tsc facts is far more convincing than the Illus
Il atoms of rhetoric The efficiency of the Mis-
sRssipJa rs a means of commercial intercourse
saepends upon the freedom of its channel from
s1Ss4rurSU2s. In view of the frequent interrupt
S5cns o5 navigation. the amount OF freghts
ssgy-ae On tn Mississippi is surprisingly large
SsGf If its channel were always deep enough for
The Passage of boats, the aggregate would be
EssExeIsseiy greater. The delays which
Swallows cause deter merchants from send
snE: their goods by the water route. Last sum
Ers- tn river was exceptionally low. The ex-
psriences Of 4 holiday excursion impressed me
win n vivid sense of the obstacles which at
times enii,arTass the navigation of the Missis-
-.sEgspi- On my way to St Paul and back, fifty
saozTs were spent sand bars. Tho various
sSeIEItions arising from low water protracted
fhe round trip nine days beyond the schedule
:SSzae- Ths-e WAS a sufficient flow of water for
S1IsaSssEucted navigation, if it had only been re-
zsEss"sEsi to a narrow channel. On the upper
.sivsr the wing dams are numerous and eff
Eectlve- Indeed, without them the shall
5CBE would have been wholly impossible
fkJ1 Sacre are still scores of shoals
shzrh the government has neglected to re-
xcerr- At only few places were forces
al raea at work upon the improvement of the
channel The example of France in providing
&sS:Ihties for commercial intercourse affords an
EastructfFe lesson to the United States In
France, from the days of the great Vauban. ad
es8Este ez: en:.itures of the public wealth have
hssteDe1 to completion every work that pro-
noted the national interests. But in this coun-
try false system delays the usefulness and in
screrSeS tho cost of public improvements. In
consequence of the irregularity and insuficiency
Of congressional appropriations, works com
zzencei by the government sometimes
fza into partial decay before they can
ks finished. The cost of reconstructing
7kem is great and unnecessary
expense Even the richest nation in the world
can not afford such wasteful extravaganza.
True fIuga!ity requires an annual grant of funds
ample enough for the seasonabe completion of
pNbiic improvements Our present impolicy
renders the upper Mississippi almost unnaviga-
<sle 1t low stages of water, deprives great
waterway Of its vast usefulness as a means of
transportation and as a regulator of railroad
Ne5ghts. and debars the cities on it's banks from
abe prosperity which hourishing trade would
create. A craftsmanship broad a. the interests
at cur country and needless of mistaken concep-
lions of public economy ought to make regular
szzaa adequate provision for deepening the chan
Dnl of the Mississippi river.
The course of foreign governments is sag a
Clousiy different from our own. For century
tbs great nations beyond the Atlantic clearly
recognizing the sources of public prosperity,
asNe been effectively carrying out systems of
aEsesnal Improvement. If the Mississippi were
XII Europe everything which imperial wealth and
.rnSnieer ng skill could accomplish would long
since have been done to free its channel from
%svery obstacle to its usefulness. The enterprise
- Americans is a national boast; but in the
SNcs e-UtOn of great public works. Europeans
dsVe bs<,n more progressive than our own coun
SsyTESn- In their management of internal i'm
Erovements Americans might profitably follow
fhe guidance of fore. gn examples.
TIE preceding statistics show how vast com
yEaerce now floats the Mississippi and it's
: Af6Rents, but their tonnage would be iucaicu-
1AhiF greater, if these streams were always
zxSyIgahle.
The improvement of the Mississippi Is vast
Undertaking. The permanent accomplishment
Of this work is perhaps impossible The ever
shilling sands of an alluvial bed constantly re-
the tasks of the engineer. But doubtless
sha combined forces of science and capital,
which have overcome so many seemingly in
ssaperSb}e difficulties, will be able to maintain
Manageable channels in all our great rivers. The
inadesuacy of small grants is an urgent reason
for larger appropriations. False theories of
frugality should not be suffered to prevent
the improvement of waterways which, il kept
open, would cheaper every form of commercial
transportation. While congressional allowances
,songht to t,s mere liberal the field of operations
should be restricted The government funds
are dissipatcd over too large an area to be ef-
ferfiye- A concentration of effort would be
more conducive to success. Should the :
profitable policy of retrenchment prevail, it
Hould seem best to limit the expenditure of
Enbiic moneys to the improvement of the main
streams. Perhaps. even in the event of ample
appropriations. such restriction would be the
-siSast course. Minor interests should yield to
che general welfare. II experience may be taken
as guide simultaneous operations upon all our
waterways are seldom productive of much
good. The work is too slight, disconnected,
aud Intermittent to accomplish the object. If
.Sse tsbor and money frittered away on all our
riyers were spent on one, that stream would be
es,p,nec from its mouth to the limit OF naviga-
kios- Rapid and effective work implies concen-
station Our rivers should be severally inn
x,rpyf,d in the order of their size and CONNER
.Irial importance. But if the urgency of public
sentiment will not permit a separate and sue
~esssirp progress, then the Mississippi Ohio and
Missouri should be the first to receive atten
ton The deepening of the main channels
xn,uld insure the improvement of the tribu-
rar;ax IL congress would only subordinate un
5mrsertart needs to the great lntereNs OF the
o., nat nm our western rivers would soon be fires
from distractions
The states which lie in the Mississippi valley
ara large and powerful. Their united actor
xvuh control national legislation ana secure
tx,xer appropriations for the improvement o
-,.,r great midland watercourses. The active
s-o-operation of western governors s,ase legs
.~sora aud members of congress ~'uld faciIlat'
49,. q !, d;aicuJt Drol,lem A definite