The Minneapolis journal., 1902-11-28
Plan to Deepen the Ohio From Pitts
burg to Its Confluence With
i the Mississippi.
Improving of the Upper Mississippi
Also to Be Considered-AC Cam
paign of Education.
Help Is Expected From the Prairie
States of the West and the
y Building of New Craft.

From. The Journal Bureau, Room 81 Ross
Building, Washtn1ton'
Washington. Nov 2S.-An influential
lobby will be in Washington this winter III
the interest Of the plans Of the Ohio River
Valley Improvement association, which
desires congressional aid in the develop
ment of the waterways OF the Mississippi
valley, a an outlet to the Gulf of Mexico,
to be used in connection with the new
isthmian canal.
1t Is not the intention Of the people who
are back of the plan to ask for congress
sional aid at once, but to begin a campaign
of education, as the result of which APP
propriations may be forthcoming in time
to put the waterways in proper condition
by the time the canal Is completed.
Thus far the agitation has been largely
confined to the states Of Ohio. Indiana.
Illinois and Kentucky, and several large
conventions, the last one late in October,
have been held. with hundreds, and at
times more than thousands. of delegates
in attendance. At present the plan of the
association does not go beyond the deep
ening of the channel of the Ohio river to
ten feet at mean low water mark. be-
tween Pittsburg and Cairo, but eventual
ly it will embrace similar work for the
upper Mississippi river. and for tribu-
taries of that stream from the east and
the west. If satisfactory cooperation
can be secured with all the great prairie
states OF the middle west, pressure upon
congress will be tremendous, and an ap
preparation will be forthcoming.
The lobby this winter will confine itself,
80 far legislation is concerned. to ask
ing that surveys be made to test the prac-
ticabiity Of ten-foot channel in the
Ohio. This survey, if the plans do not
miscarry. will be followed by others, until
every navigabl stream in the inland ter
"'tpry mentioned will be mapped with
obecial reference to the proposed improve
ments.
1t has been assumed that the building Of
the isthmian canal will rapidly extend
American commerce with Asia. Already
notwithstanding heavy freight charges
the middle west states have had a share
in this commerce. That share will be
largely increased with improved facilities
for transportation.
The general scheme looks to the building
OF a number Of steamboats, and barges
suitable for river traffic, with New Or
leans as an objective point, grains, food
stuffs, meats and other articles from the
prairie states to be there transferred to
ocean going vessels and consigned to the
Chinese orient. .,,
Several lines Of these boats and barges,
1t IS believed. would be necessary for the
trade of the Ohio valley alone, and others
would be NEEDED for 'freightage from the
corn, cattle and wheat states west of the
mississippi. Iowa. Kansas, Nebraska, the
Dakotas. Missouri and Minnesota.
The lobby here referred to and the asso-
citation which it represents, win oppose
the passage Of omnibus appropria ton bills
in the future for river improvement, and
urge the government to give its attention
almost exclusively in inland territory to
the streams which are navigable and avail
able as aids In this comprehensive scheme
for the building up Of an Asiatic trade.
A number of years Will elapse before the
isthmiau canal can be built. and Years,
also. will elapse before this scheme Of river
improvements can be carried out. But the
Ohio association is anxious to educate con-
gress and the country as to the possibili-
ties Of the new scheme, so that an appro-
priation will be ready in time to secure re-
suits when the canal is ready for use.
1t is understood that efforts will be
made to build up a strong association in
each Of the interested states, all associa-
tions to work together towards a common
end.
w. W. Jermane.