The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1901-01-09
NRM pRoIEorEn MArERwkY.

Mtlulu ltSell Tue keEulS Ol uAiiAuiNcu w
portnnlties and possibilities for the
great central portion OF our country
and Is Of undoubted importance to the
other sections.
The plan briefly outlined is to connect
Chicago and the gulf by way OF the
drainage canal, the Illinois river aud
the Mississippi The project, though OF
vast magnitude and entailing enormous
expense, is entirely feasible. II has
been Investigated by governments
deep waterways commission aud re-
ported on to Secretary Root, who In
turn has transmitted the report TO con-
gress. It is hardly possible that the
present session will find time in It's
rush of business to consider the matter,
but the next congress will probably do
SO.
The supporters of the project point
out the benefits thatwould accrue to the
United States through the waterway,
and they contend that the cost OF the
enterprise, though undoubtedly great,
would be more than compensated. OF
course the proposed waterway must be
under federal control. since . large
number Of states are directly or indi-
rectly interested In II. The central
states point out that most OF their
products are shipped now at high rates
by rail. and It costs about 80 cents per
100 pounds to reach the seaboard. With
the new waterway ln successful opera
tion this cost would be greatly less
ened.
1t is pointed out that this facllltation
of trade would greatly increase Ameri-
can commerce with our southern neigh
bors, which rIghtfuhy belongs to us. II
we had IA feet OF water from Chicago
to the gulf, vessels could load at Chlca-
60 or any OF the intermediate cities and
without breaking bulk could reach all
South and Central America. With the
Nicaragua canal dug they could easily
supply the wants Of the Pacific islands
and coasts. The cities In the territory
tributary to the proposed waterway are
enthusiastic In their support Of the
plan.
Much more could be written Of the
advantages TO be derived from the ac-
compllshment Of the idea. The only
question, then, Is as to its feasibility.
AS written above, the government COM
mission has reported favorably. which
disposes Of the general question Of the
utility and possibility Of the project. 1t
is possible to take each section sepa-
rately and demonstrate its practicable
ty. The first section down from Chica-
60 would be the drainage canal. When
this was originally planned, depth Of
IA feet was considered sufficient, but
the trustees decided to make 1t eight
feet more with view to this very util-
lzation Of the canal besides Its original
purpose OF providing drainage for Chi
cago. The second section, the Illinois
river, can be dredged to a sufficient
depth, while the third and longest, the
Mississippi, could, In the opinion Of ex-
pert engineers, be rendered navigable
by the largest vessels.
The Mississippi question is intimate
" connected with the irrigation prob
lem OF the far west. As is well known.
the main cause OF the practically IN
navigable condition Of the river Is the
foods that destroy and change the
river channels. These floods can y
controlled and checked by the STORING
Of the waters OF the rivers tributary to
the Mississippi which Is the purpose
e irrigationists.
BIS plan Is ouly one Of a number Of
great waterway projects that are In
contemplation Among others those
looking TO the direct connection OF the
middle west with the east without
touching Canadian territory are Of
great economic and political impor.
tance. HENRY w. MuLEn.