Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-11-19
TWO GOVERNORS URGE
IMPROVEMENT OF RIVER
Government Control Essential to Welfare OF the
Commonwealth, Declare Cummins -
and Van SAINT.

our own people or enlarge II to their
distribution among other countries. this
waterway which traverses the whole
hxo ako elk o
empire of agricultural wealth should
be utilized.
Valley OF InlastPy.
I'VE. however. paint but half the
picture when we describe the immens-
ity of the trafic which arises from ag-
riculture. The overruling factor in the
fields of nufacture-economy Of pro-
duction-is fast making Of this same
rich valley home Of industrial enter
prises the like Of which will be seen
nowhere else in all the country.
The upper Mississippi river ought
to be crowded from shore to shore,
not with ships OF war, but with ships
Of peace. not heavy with armor and
ordnance. but loaded to the guards
with the products of labor intended
for the use and to promote the happi-
ness Of mankind. II matters not from
what point of view the subject is ex-
amined. IL is clear that the waters
Of the river are needed in a great COM
merce which, magnificent as 1t now
appears. is but the promise Of its i'm
mensity in the years to come With
these conclusions. there can be no dis
pute. and they imperatively demand
the Improvement of the river. the deep
ening Of its channels. the removal of
distractions, on the part Of the general
government. unless the expenditure
would be greater than the value OF the
results secured.
EnfftIed to Its Portion.
Il shall not venture even conjec-
ture upon the cost OF improving the
river so that II will be the useful water
way that it should be. nor do ] intend
to criticise the action Of congress in
| the appropriations for the betterncnt
| Of rivers and harbors in the rast.
Assuming that II Is proper function
OF the government to aid commerce in
this manner assuming that such fac,-
tiles as have been created at Sault
Ste Marie. such dredging as has been
done at the mouth Of the Mississippi,
such inlets as have been deepened on
lake and ocean shores, such harbors
as have been created on every side
of the republic. are fairly within the
duties of the government. in helping the
people to overcome the obstacles of
nature. there is no man who can deny
that the Mississippi river can Justly
demand a portion of the bounty which
the government is SO generously be-
slowing in other localities. II we meas
ure the importance of a free and un-
Iobstructed waterway from st. Paul to
st. Louis or to the gulf with some of
the improvements which have been
made. we are amazed at the blindness
of those who have framed these laws
for the aid of commerce.
The Louisia.s Purchase.
I'VE are celebrating this year, in a
fashion never before equaled. a great
national event. an event which has had
a greater influence upon our destinies
II than any save two which are recorded
in the history Of the republic. 1 mean.
of course. the acquisition of the Louisi-
ana territory, which in its importance
is subordinate only, as l look at at
fairs, 10 the adoption of the constitu-
ton of the United States and the VIC
tory of the civil war. While thus com.
memorating this mighty stride toward
national greatness, we ought not to
! forget that the chief reason which led
our forefathers into the negotiation
with France and which fortified their
hearts against the criticisms of short.
sighted men. and induced them to
brave the hazards Of the experiment
which they undertook. was the hope OF
a waterway. broad. deep, untrammeled
unobstructed, upon which the conf
merce of the country might be borne in
lpeace and safety. from the SHOWS of the
north to the sunshine of the south.
iii River the Most Important.
Il have thus far spoken of the Miss
issippi river as a means of transpor
tation. uninfiuenced and unaffected by
any of the difficulties which now at
tend railway transportation Throughout
the country. II railway rates were ad
iusted with unerring wisdom and abso
lutte justice. the river would still be
most important as an additional medi
um OF traffic. But In view of certain
phases of railway transportation. per
fectly well known to men OF affairs. the
Improvement and use of the river be
comes greatly more important than II
would otherwise be. Will you permit
me to call TO your minds very briefly
and therefore very imperfectly. the rail
way situation We have here in th,:
country a railway development without
parallel in the world We have more
than 100000 miles of main track ovel
which the trafiic OF the country is car
rfed on Iowa alone has in round mum
bers 10000 miles Of main track rails
This system as a whole is a monument
TO the genius and energy Of the Ameri
can people of which every loyal either
ought to be proud Those who owr
this system are entitled TO Q fair re
turn. not only for the capital which
they have invested I'm 1t. but for the
risks which they had to bear in Great
ing IL. and we ought TO stand nrmi,
against in any movement which has To-
its object the reduction of rates below