The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-01-06
PRACTICABIlHY OF PERMANENTLY
IMPROVING THE MISSOURI RIVER.
Colonel StiCkney Reviews the Work Accomplished, Shows
Why 1t Has Not Been More Successful, and Tells
What Should Be Done.

the building OF a few miles Of The road nm
connected with It's outlet. would hardly bo
expected TO produce returns commensurate
with its cost.
at has not been considered the provinee
Of the Missouri River Commission to urge
the appropriation of money for Inc i'm
PROV. ment OF the river. IL IL our dutv Ia
furnish information and 10 carry on 10 the
hest Of our ability the work for which
Congress sees fit to provide. The general
Improvement of the river, opening II 10
and carrying with II a. an in
cident the complete protection and great
enhancement in value Of ali property along
its banks. Is a matter to be urged bv fLe
people OF the Missouri Valley. whns- intc-rsts
are involved. II 1t l. to he urged by any
consideration of national Improvement
certainly cannot he expected To urgVfda
means for improvements. for which there
Is no pressing demand. by thOS who might
be expected 10 be interested. The present
chairman O: the River and HarbOr Commit
tee Of the House. as well as his predecessor.
informed me that while many appeared be-
fore the committee asking for appr0pria-
tons for the Missouri River, IL was a rare
thing for any one to ask for the general
Improvement Of the river. Requests were
confined 10 asking for protection Of various
pOints. and the IN was decidedly
o: the opinion that mer" protection OF land
general Improvement Of the river for conn
merce, was nadmiesible.
Appropriations Localized.
Amidst the general apathy concerning
the systematic work on the river. there
have been Intermittent efforts by q few 10
carry IL on. and the commission has cor
stantly urged that the effective improve
ment. by continuous work. should not he
defeated by the dispersion Of funds to vari-
Gus scattered localities.
The efforts to localize appropriations dur
ing the past few years have. however. pre-
vailed 10 such an extent as 10 completely
paralyze the general work; As a natural
consequence. the effective Improvement Of
the river will probably be postponed until
such time as there Will be an awakening Of
public sentiment to the idesiTahility OF it,
accomplishment. That the work will be
done some time I thlnK hardly admits OF a
doubt. In the meantime. probably Congress
VIII he forced TO yield to demands for
the aggregate. viii cost more than a com
plete Improvement. and stil there will be
no omnIer ON the river.
I'm connection with. the above. II would
hardly be just to pass unnOticed the efforts
OF one who has been pre-eminent IN his ad-
vocacy OF an effective Improvement OF the
all times. brought the weight OF his infu-
ence to bear In furthering the work. and
what has been accomplished Is due. In large
measure. TO his efforts.
reply categoTlcally to your requests
Tor statements. | would say with regard TO
present cor dition Of work. that there are
forty-hv" and a half miles Of continuous
work that was nearly completed. but which
has suffered deterioration on account OF
funds being directed TO other places.
In addition. there are eighteen localities
between Omaha and the mouth Of the river
that have been more or less improved. and
aggregate about sixty-fiye miles % river.
With regard TO prospect Of making per
mdnent improvements which will assure a
deep nay!eable channel, | answer uuhegi-
tatinely that such improvements can be
made. TO not only give ample chanraIg a.
the lowest stages Of the river. but to add
millions OF dollars to the value Of prCperty
In the valley. As to the prospect 81 making
them. however 1 can only reply that II lies
with the people OF the Missouri Naliey.
Very respectfully. Your obeiisnt servant.
AMOS STICKNEY.
Lieutenant Colonel Corps Of Engineers.
President Missouri River Commissioa."