The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-24
FATE OF MISSOURI
Chittenden' $ Report Likely to Settle
the Matter Of a Government
Appropriation.
"A Million Year None Too Much
TO Keep This Water Way in
Good Condition.
Special to The Journal,

Sioux City. Iowa. Jan. 24.--Captain II.
NJ. Chittenden. chief Of United States en-
gineers for the entire Missouri river and
the Yellowstone park Is preparing an ex-
tens1Ve report upon the condition of the
Missouri river. which is to decide the
fate Of the stream. Whether not con-
gress will continue to appropriate money
to maintain the Missouri as a navigable
stream and to protect the shores from
it's inroads, will largely depend upon the
recommendations Of Captain Chittenden.
He will either recommend the discontin-
uance Of the work upon the river or ad-
wise congress to set aside $1,000 900 year
for its maintenance.
My report will be thorough" said Cap
tain Chittenden, land will treat Of the
ACCESSIBILITY Of continuing the expenditure
OF money upon the river. The abolition
of the Missouri river commission by con-
gress and the greatly reduced appropria-
tions indicate that many in that body
believe it is futile to continue the neces-
sary allowances. 1t will require a round
million dollars annually to keep the river
In proper condition. The benefits from
this expenditure will be set forth in my
report
Beginning in 1871. congress has in thirty
years spent about $1,000, 900 to make Of
the Missouri a tractable stream. If the
appropriations are now discontinued much
Of the benefit of the money already eX-
pended will be lost The active Missouri
announcement
off all shackles.
The maintenance of the Missouri as a
navigable stream has served to increase
largely the volume Of traffic. Owing to
the distances between railroads. the large
part OF the river transportation in late
years has been upon the upper Missouri
The report Of Captain Chittenden for the
last year shows that the traffic upon the
upper Missouri alone amounted to $685.
900 pounds Of freight. II 492 head Of cattle
and 100 passengers. In 1878. when the
Missouri was the sole means Of transport
tation for Montana shippers. the traffic
was S.966.000 pounds and 1000 passengers.
The eleven steamboats, now plying upon
the upper Missouri are engaged solely In
hauling freight to and from the railroads.
There are stretches Of fifty and seventy
five miles between the railroads on the
upper river. and to carry the freight to
"A these roads the boats are maintained.
Of the million dollars which Captain
rhittenden estimates will be needed as
annual appropriation for the river, not
more than fifth will be required to keep
the channel open for navigation. The
Missouri. exerting a pressure Of 10000
horsepower on it's banks, has been eating
out trees and carrying them into the
channel for countless years. When the
governme began in the early seventies
clearing the channel it was necessary tc
remove the accumulations of centuries
Now all that is required is to take out
the debris Of one year. 1t has cost but
1916 60 to keep open the entire upper
river since 1890. The very first expedi-
ton up the Missouri from St. Louis ir
1919 by the Longs Yellowstone govern.
ment fleet resulted in the wreck Of the
Jefferson. From that time until 1870. 199
boats went to the bottom. 151 because OF
snags. Since 1890 but eight boats have
sunk and only four because Of snags.
There are few towns or cities along the
whole course of the Missouri river which
are not endangered by the propinquity o
the stream. Farm lands are left to it
mercy. At times Of high water. whel
the cOrroding current is most vicious on
may hear the boom Of falling bluffs. Val
liable farms thus disappear in a week.
10 save river fronts of towns and cite
from a similar fate, the engineers haV
built revetments. This is done by max
ing mattresses Of branches Of trees, grad
ing the banks by hydralc pressure an
sinking the mattresses. These are he'll
in place by large rock, and tho large roc
is protected by several inches II smalle
stone, which prevents the river fror
working its way under the stone an
mattress.