Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-24
The IRRIGATION BILL
Friends Of the Project Not Much
Encouraged by Present
Situation.
The Demands For Other I'm.
provenlents Diverting Senti-
ment From Scheme.
Threat Made to Add Bill as
Rider to River and Har-
Dor Bill.

projects for the improvement of rivers
land harboIs in different sections of the
lnation have become much concerned
over the attitude which certain friends
| o: national irrigation legislation have
assumed in the last few days. Some of
the more ardent advocates OF irrigation
Legislation are threatening to attempt to
IaSd their bill as rider to the rivers and
lharbors bill, in case the congress fails 10
consider their measure. Members of the
Irivers and harbors committee in the
house and friends of improvements un-
der consideration by that committee fear
that such action would result in the kill
lirg of the rivers and harbors bill and
thus delay important improvements that
have been suspended. owing to the fall
| ure of the bill to pass the senate at the
last session of congress.
With the opening OF the present SEES
sion of congress sentiment among the
members was more favorable to national
laid for irrigation projects than 1t has
ever been before. But there has been
change in sentiment within the last few
days. The demand for public buildings.
Extensions of the rural free mail deliv-
cry and other legislation of general
|character has been so great that mem
bers have commenced to carefully study
the revenues and available sums for APP
preparation and are beginning to eliml-
mate measures that have been looked
upon with favor. From this view point
the eastern members in the house have
lost much Of their enthusiasm for irri-
cation legislation and many of them are
|outspoken in their opposition to 1t.
Members of the house rivers and har-
hors committee are extremely anxious to
|secure legislation at the present session.
Improvements calling for the expendi-
tire of millions are pending before the
committee. Many of them are for prof.
rcts that have already been commenced
and the necessity for their continuance
is imperative. In some instances, like
that OF the Improvement OF the Missis-
|sippi, the labor and money that have
been expended in former years are la
BILE to be very largely or entirely wasted
by failure to continue the work Of i'm
provement.
4
appear before the rivers and harbors
committee in few days in support of
his bill for the Improvement of the low
or harborlof the Mississippi, in St. Louis.
His measure calls for the appropriation
loo $4,000 for the narrowing OF the river
channel from Soulard street TO the ar
senal. He will urge that the improve
ment is absolutely needed for the relief
cf the river shipping interests of the
city. In support OF his contention Mr.
Bartholdt will introduce letter from
Julius Pitzman. the well-known engi-
neer of st. Louis. who has made a study
cf the subject Mr.. Pitzman writes that
mn unimproved gap is now from 1880 to
1000 feet wide, and as result sandbars
and constantly being formed which pre-
vent tugs and steamboats, from landing
on the eastern shore during low stages
|of the water. The only real remedy Is
to narrow the river, and for that rea-
son a series of hurdle bikes, beginning
about opposite Soulard street and To-
|cated at proper intervals southwardly,
should be run from the Illinois shore
|westwardly across the bar to deep wa
ter. With this improvement made the
entire lower harbor will be reduced to
its proper width and may then be said to
be complete.
The letter of Mr.. Pitzman is reinforced
by one from Capt. John E. Berry, who
las been i'm command Of ferry boat at
the lower harbor for twenty-one years.
He calls attention to the same defects
that have been pointed out by Mr. PITT
man and adds that every year he is
forced to lay UP his boat for from one to
three months on account of the sand
bars formed in the channel. Business
interests In the southern part of the city
are thus compelled to transfer by the
Eads bridge at much greater expense.