The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-11
WABASH RIVER IMPROVEMENT.
President Fitton Corrects an Error as
TO Its Present status.

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
In yesterdays press reports it was stated
that an adverse decision had been given
by Major Derby in regard to the improve
ment of the Wabash river. These reports
are in direct variance with the actual facts.
In the first place, the preliminary survey
was finished only last week Major Derby
has been transferred from the district en-
gineer's office at Louisville and Lieutenant
Burgess is now In charge. The reports
from the survey are now being passed upon
in the district engineers office and will not
be submitted to Congress for some three
weeks. In the meantime the Wabash River
Improvement Association is having all the
reports that have been gathered in regard
TO the agricultural, mineral and Industrial
resources Of the valley printed in PAM
phlet form, which will include map of the
Wabash valley showing the coal fields of
western Indiana and also the route of the
proposed Wabash and Lake Michigan ca
nal. This report is now being hurried to
completion by Messrs. Rand, McNally a.
Co.. of Chicago, in order that copies of it
may accompany the report of the district
engineers office TO Washington
We are receiving the Endorsement of the
most substantial business and far
seeing capitalists of not only the Wabash
valley but of cities bordering on the great
lakes, for they see in it the prospect of
the development OF great national water
way which will open up water communion
ton through section of the United States
rich in agricultural products and unlimited
in its supply of cheap fuel. If there is
anything in public opinion. if there is any,
thing in substantial Endorsement both by
money contribution and personal effort in
forwarding the interests of any enterprise
the improvement of the Wabash river the
development of the Indiana coal fields and
the construction of the Wabash and Lake
Michigan canal is as good as accomplished.
We do not know whether we will have a
favorable or an adverse decision in regard
to the Improvement of the river as yet
but with the united effort to show forth
the resources of the valley and the posi-
bilities of industrial expansion by the OPEN
ing up of this waterway, we will all have
the satisfaction of knowing that we can
show to the world at large as substantial
reasons and as inexhaustible resources as
any similar section of this broad land Let
US have united effort by the press and
the people and viii see the fulhllment
OF our desire-a national waterway from
| Chicago to the gulf.
1t was reported that Representative Hol-
liday saw the adverse report of Major Der
| by on file in the engineers office at Wash
ington. Major Derby recommended that no
vey of the upper Wabash until the ques-
ton of the Improvement of the lower
| Wabash had been decided upon by a pre-
liminary survey. first, because there was
| no order nor appropriation To make a pre-
| liminary survey of the upper Wabash and
that there was an appropriation to make
| such survey Of the river from Vincennes
| to the mouth In case it should be recon-
mended that the Wabash be improved from
| Vincennes to the mouth. then the ques-
| ton of improving the upper Wabash will
be taken up and passed upon
FRANK O. FITTON.
President Wabash River Improvement
Association.
New Harmony. Ind, Dec s.