The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1895-09-21
TIE WATERWAYS CONVENTION.

| auat,. -. o9 oeCu llule and
again suggested and urged bv M The
peoP,s' ana approved of b. msnv. il
moi all the eminent engineers in he
service. iu the Rivers and H.rho,s
Bill OF that Congress, the sum Of ian
mllllons OF dollars was given for The
improvement OF the Mississinni R;v.r
rom CAIRO to the head of the passes
al the mouth, this sum TO be e6uslIv
expended in the four years following
Inc Justifeatlon for this continuons
appropriation was made plain BY the
iact that the engineers in charge OF
,nis important work having previous.
" been restricted in effort aud means
mad, not infrequently been unable.
not alone to complete certain portions
OF the work which should not have
oeen LETT unprotected from the up.
uermibing aud destroying forces of
the floods, but could not provide, or
properly care for the extensive and
costly plant required. Therefore, the
wisdom OF granting the authority and
furnishing the means whereby con.
tracts, freed of former restraints
could be entered into, and of proyid.
for the accumulation Of material, and
the consequent beneficial results OF
being able to continue certain parts OF
work TO completion, has not only
been demonstrated in the cheapeuing
Of the work itself, in protecting II,
ana IN It's effectiveness, but the people
In the State of Arkansas, Mississippi
and Louisiana, whose lands, aud crops,
and homes were liable to overflow
and destruction by the annually re-
curing floods, the drainage from 27
States OF nearly 100000 square miles,
as greata territory as all Europe, omit
ting Russia only, and the gathering Of
which waters, feared by all behind the
levees, and destructive alike to chan.
nels and..banks, must pass, all of it,
thrc ugh these States to the Gulf, were
stimulated into more willing render.
Ing Of the self imposed tax for levces
built for the public good as well as
their protection. Before another Riv.
ers and Harbors Bill can become q
law, however, this appropriation will
have been expended, therefore, it hal
become necessary that the people
should again meet In convention to re
affirm their approval Of this action o.
Congress, 10 give testimony of theil
confidence in the integrity, ability ant
zeal Of the Mississippi River Commis
sion and of the United States Engi
necrs, aud 10 renew an appeal 10 Con
gress stf IFS continued liberal aid I,
the end that the great river may b.
ilnally controlled in ils permanent un
impeded navigation maintained 81
that the minimum rates of transpor
tation can be realized upon all of tn
commodities produced aud consumes
In the Mississippi Valley by wha.eve
means carried.
There is that portion of the Missis
sippi River between ST. Louis an,
Cairo, demanding more attention
over which so many millions Of bush
els of grain from the exhaustless field
of the great north west is carried /
New Orleans and across the ocear
which has so long lacked a more gen
erous aid as to have largely lost II
capacity and dependence for the col
tInued forwarding ofgreat cargoes, d
liyered as they have been, at ship sid
cheaper than can be done elsewhere !
the United States.
! The Ohio River, upon whose 2o9
miles Of navigablc waters aCCordin
to the Census report is owned an
floats vessels aggregating In tonnaQ
1928, ,46S tons, and where originates
a year l5,6OO,439 tons of traffic, c
l42.S28 tons noro than the combine
freight traffic of tho Missouri an
Mississippi rivers. The people Of II
= Ohio Valley will ask from Congress
better care of those important big
ways. Theirs should be made cor
L. , mon cause.
The Locks OIL the Monongahc
n River are owned and operated by pi
g yate interests, which imposes atax U
on its commerce, though 1t comes fro
l the free Government locks above,
O. mass through the free lock bele'
OF tweuty-three million bushels Of CO
Id loaded in 1929 bsrgcs valued at s2,S7
'lf 100. is now at Plttsburg awaiting
I'd rise 10 carry it to market; all Of II
u. coal paid q tax TO this corporate
I'd The people from the Monongahela
Id the Cult want the Monongahela ma
nd free. aud this Convention should
>" declare.
p The experience of the executi
'e- committee, since It's appointment
mt the purpose of following up the gre
or work ofimproved, permanent navis
| tiou for the Mississippi and Its trit
nd tar,es, is OIL unshaken positive Del
ch in the importance and necessity o.
sr- meeting Of the people In Conventl'
from time to time, to formulate q
of rive emphasis to views, make kno'
III etbeir condition and demands, q
en- through a committee bring them
al fore Congress, the President, and
of executive, department of the Cove
On. meut, Therefore, by virtue Of the
tbority in me vested, aud at the III
M tation of The vlcksburg Board
= Trade, this call Is made for oonV