The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-31
URGE IMPROVEMENTS
FOR MISSOURI RIVER,
Federal Commission Recommends
Liberal Expenditures to Make
1t Navigable.
GREAT NEED OF A SNAGBOAT.
Opening of River to Jefferson City
Would, in the Opinion of the
Commission, Stimulate
Commerce.
GREAT NEED OF A SNAGBOAT.

FEPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Washington. July 3o.-The War Depart
ment to-day received the report Of the Mis-
June 30.
Referring to the work upon the Gascon-
ade division. the Commission state that a
considerable amount of work was projected
for repairs, some of which had been entire
" destroyed The demand for floating
plant on other divisions left an inadequate
supply for use here. and but little work
could be done until the fall season.
Opposite Jefferson City. abattis No. was
repaired. Dixie d cut down and re-
braced with a view Of inducing further de-
post near its stream end. The straubs and
reyetment had received no attention since
its completion in 1896. Some hundreds OF
cubic yards of stone were used in its re-
pair.
Work on the Usage has been carried on
under two projects, that by an open chan
mel and by the construction of dams, as well
as removing snags and other distractions.
The Commission again invites attention to
the inadequacy Of the appropriations for
accomplishing useful results on the Mis-
souri,, or for making progress toward an
ultimate improvement. Attention is also
invited to the fact that for local works. up
on which the Commission has been request
ed by congressional enactments to expend
large sums. the appropriations are small
as compared with the requirements OF To-
calities. The plant for the work on the
river ie steadily deteriorating and becom-
ing reduced. 1t is also too small in guam
THY and the plant has to be moved very
often.
Great Need of SnaSb0at.
The Missouri River has more snags and
larger ones than any other river In the
country. a thoroughly efficient snagooat
has been provided for taking out snags. but
there is no special appropriation for operat-
ing it and the commission has been oblis I'd
to allot small amount for this purpose
The commission recommend that SS5 I'D be
allowed for this purpose.
No commerce Of consequence, tire commits
sion say can be expected on this river till
it has been put into navisable condition and
opened to the mouth. Parties are constant
" attempting to run boats and continue to
do so till they meet with the usual result.
the loss of the boat or impairment OF cap
ital, due not to lack Of patronage. hut to
the discouraging difficulties Of navigation.
which n radical Improvement would entirely
eradicate.
The completion of the improvement CT the
river, in it's first reach. opening the liver
to Jefferson City. would demonstrate the
fact that commerce would spring up rapidly.
eager to take advantage OF deep, sale
channel, and millions OF dollars would be
added to the value of the valley by the pre-
yention Of the destruction caused by the
river.
It is urgently recommended that the inn
proyement of the first reach be completed
in order that large amount OF work al
ready done be utilized and that the useful
ness of the work be demonstrated. Put In
completing this reach the commission
should not be hampered by the diversion to
other purposes OF 50 much Of the appropria-
ton as to prevent the maintenance and
operation of force sufficient to push the
| work forward to its final stage.
Improvement Should BE Systematic.
The last estimate made for this work was
81 600 coo to g. 100000, and that amount is be-
| lieved to be necessary to open the river tc
| safe navigation. A large amount Of money
| in the aggregate has been expended upor
| the river in the last seventeen years. but
| those familiar with It do not expect any
| Immediate valuable increase Of commerct
| from that expenditure. 1t Is. however. saf'
| to say. that double that amount expended
| in the same way would produce but LITTLE
| increase of commerce. The amount ex
| pended at widely separated points. II ap
| piled to a continuous. systematic improve
! ment would carry it well on the way from
the mouth of the river to Kansas City. TIL
amount expended heretofore. however. ha
not been entirely lost, as valuable interest
have been protected. When the detache
works are connected commerce will receiv
a valuable benefit.
The commission renew their recommends
ton for 100000 for systematic improve
| ment Of the first reach.
For improving the Gasconade. s150o0.0(
Is asked.
Usage. 5000 Is asked.