The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-01
COMMENDS THE PROJECT
COMMERCIAL CLUB INVESTIGATORS
SAY WHITE RIVER Is NAyIGABLE.
Recommends that the Government Set
Aside 81 100000 for Improv-
ing the Stream.

Whether or not the Investigations and
report OF the committee of the Commercial
Club relative to the navigability OF White
river will result in the $l.000.000 appropri-
alton which will be asked Of the national
Congress for the Improvement of the
stream. remains to be seen, but no efforts
will be spared 10 secure it,
About six months ago a committee COM
posed of Fl. T. Hearsey. George w. Sloan.
Major Taylor. Albert Gall and Frank d.
cation and the report was made yesterday.
The conclusions and recommendations of
the committee are set out as follows:
81. That the west fork of the White
river is capable Of being made navigable
all the year round at a reasonable expendi-
ture with similar improvements heretofore
made or now in project by the United
States government.
so. That said river runs diagonally
through the southwest quarter of Indiana,
which contains along said river unusual
mineral resources. such as almost unlim-
tied supplies of good coal, building stone,
fire clay. brick shale and moding sand.
and also iron ore in workable quantities
in places and also an extremely rich ag-
ricultural region, yielding immense guam
titles of corn. wheat and other agricultural
products and live stock.
'3. That said river has a large population
along 1t and will prove an outlet to the
Mississippi and its tributaries for the ex-
tensive manufacturing and commercial in
terests for the people of indianapolis.
whose population is now 100000 and is rap
idly increasing, and to the people in the
southwest quarter of the State.
'4. That the benefits which will be de-
rived from such an unmonopoliZable COM
mercial highway following through re-
gion so rich in agricultural and mineral
resources. and subscribing so vast popu-
lation and such large and manufacturing
and commercial interests and leading, into
..ie Mississippi river system, will far ex-
coed the reasonable expenditure of money
necessary to improve said river.
80. That the Improvement OF said river
In order to bring cheap fuel into Indian
apolis for manufacturing purposes and to
give Indianapolis cheap traffic outlet to
the whole Mississippi valley Is necessary
to the commercial welfare of said city
and the State of Indiana.
Therefore, your committee most earn
estly recommends the Commercial Club
and all others interested in this great i'm
provement to urge Congress to make an
appropriation not only for survey of said
river but for the immediate Improvement
thereof. and to that end recommend an
appropriation at once OF Sl,OOO,OO0.
PERTINENT SUBJECTS TREATED.
The detailed report treats of various per-
tinent subjects Under Population and
Wealth of White River Counties" which
includes Hamilton, Marion, Morgan, Owen.
Greene, Daviess, Knox, Pike and Gibson
/, is shown that the district has a popula-
ton of 449.1s5. and that the total property
valuation is s213, O5s $50. The personal prop
erty is worth So. 1861 $40. None of these
figures refer to the city of Indianapolis
Statistics given In the report show the
counties in 1897 produced 4,5O7 216 bushels of
wheat, l., 943 500 bushels of corn and cor
responding large crops OF oats, hay, pota-
toes, as we'll as enormous quantities of
cattle. hogs. horses and sheep. The min
eral deposits and mining interests are dealt
Under the head of Improvement of 9th
er Rivers" of the Ohio waterways system
1T is shown that the total expenditure by
the government for their Improvement has
been s50,5S9,675 of which s13,500,0 600 was on
the Ohio river. 1t is contended that the
amount of money required for the inn
provement of many of these rivers was
two or three times as much as would be
necessary for the White river improve
ments, which runs through a territory
that is a much richer and more thickly
populated section of the country. On this
line the committee says: white river
would carry more coal or more building
stone Oh more IRE clay UT IlOTc
sand more iron ore and more products,
well more agricultural or manufac-
turing products than all of the above rivers
combined excepting the Ohio"
The report also reviews the history of
White river when it was navigabe and
in connection Herewith are the views of
many old river captains
The committee concludes that with three
or four dams below Gosport or Martins
vile the upper portion of the river, even
with slack water, would be navigable at
all times. and on the lower portion, except
at very low water, and that the volume of
water would be equal to that of the Ken
lucky, Greene, Cumberland, Muskingum
and other rivers which have been improved
at a much greater expense than would be
necessary for White river.
No action was taken on the report but
it is probable the matter will be presented
as soon as possible through the proper
channels for action of Congress.