Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1904-02-25
THE LEVEE AT ST. LOUIS.

the Association, headed by Gov. van
SAINT, Of Minnesota, has just paid visit
to Washington. and laid the matter be-
fore the house committee on rivers ana
harbors. The committee was informed
that so cities were directly interested IN
the project and that 100000 people
would be benefited through an assur-
ance of river competition in transporta-
tioa. The plans call for an expenditure
OF something like $15,0O0,00O, which
amount, it is estimated, would provide
a six-foot channel at low water from s.:
Paul and Minneapolis to Cairo, a distance
of 1000 miles, and it is proposed to have
the work completed by the time the
Panama canal is put into operation.
Should these hopes be realized ships
could clear at upper river points 1or 1o:-
eign ports and congressman might b.
able to again tell stories similar to that
which Henry Clay told in congress a
century ago about a sailing master VINO
left Pittsburg with his brig, sailing
down the Ohio and Mississippi, and at
last reaching Leghorn, Italy. The cap
tain presented his papers to the custom
officer there, but he would not credit
them, and said to the master: Sir, your
papers are forged, there is no such place
as Pittsburg in the world; your vessel
mist be confiscated" The trembling
caDtain asked if he had map OF the
United States, which he fortunately nap
pened to have, and produced. The cap
tain. taking the officers finger, put 1t
down at the mouth of the Mississippi,
then led it 1000 miles up the river,
thence another 1000 miles to PittsburS,
and said: There, sir, is the port whence
my vessel cleared from" And with the
Panama canal for vessels to slip through
into the Pacific, the ports of the far east
NAV have to search the map OF the
limited. States to learn the inland point
from which the vessel has sailed.
I'm to the present time the government
has been pretty liberal with the Missis-
sippi, for over $S,0CO,00o have been ap-
oropriated by congress for the improve
mont of the river above St. Louis. This
total includes the canal constructed at
the lower rapids at Keokuk, Ia, at
cost of 100000. This canal Is eight
miles long, 900 feet wide and I'VE feet
deep. and is by far the most important
imnrovement which has been made on
Ne upper Mississippi> In 1877 river
reinforcement convention was held at st.
Paul and a committee appointed TO
nrepare a memorial to congress urging
tha deepening of the river channel aud
;he removal of every obstruction. And
the arguments advanced then IN support
~ The proposed improvements hold good
to-dav in fact, are strengthened In view
If the coming isthmian canal. With the
deepening of the river channel adequase
ocean tonnage would be possible and full
freiehts of wheat obtained at st. Paul
for Liverpool and for the far eastern
norts. effecting a saving of from eight to
tsn cents a bushel from the present cost
~ shipment by way of New York But
Grain would not be the only cargoes
xvheo II is remembered that the Missi5-
sinr. forms the border line for ten OF the
mo.i productive states in the union
-,;+b kansas and Nebraska rendered
naturally tributary to the river by thei'
Dosition. it can readily be seer the vast
Possibilities Of the improved river -