The Jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 18??-1907, 1904-12-24
RED AND CYPRESS RIVERS.

Denison Herald: The cost of clean
out the channel of Red River and put
ting it in shape for navigation at least
four to six months in the year will more
than be made back to the farmer of
North Texas and Indian Territory in
the saving of freights on outgoing farm
products in single year. That fact a
lone justifies the expenditure, and that
is only one of many good reasons why
the project should meet with favorable
consideration,
Red River is said by some jokers to
be q treacherous stream, but probably
it is not more given to changing It's bed
than are many other rivers. All great
water courses have their little idiosyn-
cracies, just as men and women have
theirs. especially women. But this
much is certain: Way back in 1840-50,
when Capt. Sam Wright ran steam
boat regularly between New Orleans
and the mouth of the Kiamitia, there
was good navigation in what was known
as Red River. OF course, some say that
the Red River of today is not the Red
River of fifty or sixty years ago, but
why not? Perhaps it is not. Certainly
the water is not the same, but the pres
emit channel must be about where the
old channel was. 1t has Strengthened
itself in numerous places and played
practical jokes with the landscape every
few mil IS but it still flows gulf
ward and laps the shores of Texas on
one side great part of the way. Its
channel could be easily freed from the
distractions that now hinder naviga-
ton. Red River has churlish habit
of going where it ia not welcome and
mixing with corrupters. So have other
rivers. Today it is placid stream, al
most brown in its transparency; tomor-
row sullen, roaring rebel, red as an
ancient warriors battle ak and danger
Gus, disrespectful and downright ugly.
Nevertheless, Red River is highly i'm
| portant stream, and is deserving Gov
eminent guardianship and support
| Dallas News.
For the information of the News
and others who may not under
stand why Red River of today is
not the same as Red River was
prior to the seventies, the JIMPLE-
CUTE will say that the full and
complete explanation consists in
this 1.-The Removal of the Raft"
But for this mastery piece of engi.
neering the Red River of today
would be the same as it was in
years past. So would Cypress
Bayou. The removal of the raft
was practical illustration of kill
ing two birds with one stone, it eff
fectively did the work for the navi-
cation of two rivers. Would the
opening of a mill dam improve the
water in the pond? The raft acted
as dam and held the water back,
the surplus water came out through
the lakes and all Of it going out
gradually, thus giving continuous
navigation, or as long the water
lasted, frequently the supply last
ed 10 to II months. If there bad
been no railroads West ofthe Miss.
isslp"l, the raft would still be in
Red River, and would still be do
ing business for the people. The
condition of Red River twenty
years hence is proposition for the
people to consider. The J1MPLE.
CUTE extends greetings to State
Press and trust the explanation
will prove satisfactory, and thanks
the News for the first word of COM
mendation of the navigation ques.
ton in Red and Cypress river for a
great while. The charitable days
of Christmas are at hand.