The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1904-02-05

the association, headed by Gov. Van
SAINT, of Minnesota, has just paid WISH
to Washington, and laid the matter be-
fore the house committee on rivers and
harbors. The committee was informed
that so cities were directly interested III
the project and that 100000 people
would be benefited through an assur-
ance of river competition in transporta-
tion The plans call for an expenditure
of something like $15,O00,O0O, which
amount it is estimated, would provide
six-foot channel at low water from 81.
Paul and Minneapolis to Cairo, 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 for for
eign ports and congressman might be
able to again tell stories similar to thar
which Henry Clay told in congress
century ago about a sailing master who
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
must be confiscated." The trembling
captain asked if he had map of the
United States, which he fortunately hap
pened to have, and produced. The cap
tain, taking the officers finger, put it
down at the mouth of the Mississippi,
then led 1t 1000 miles up the river,
thence another 1000 miles to Pittsburg,
| 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
may have to search the map OF the
United States to learn the inland point
from which the vessel has sailed.
Up to the present time the government
has been pretty liberal with the Missis-
sippi, for over $8,000,000 have been APP
propriated by congress for the improve
ment of the river above st. Louis. This
total includes the canal constructed at
the lower rapids at Keokuk, Ia, at
cost of S4,0O0,000. This canal is eight
miles long, 300 feet wide and five feet
deep, and is by far the most important
Improvement which has been made on
The upper Mississippi. In 1877 river
Improvement convention was held at st.
Paul and a committee appointed to
prepare a memorial to congress urging
the deepening of the river channel and
the removal of every obstruction. And
the arguments advanced then in support
of the proposed improvements hold good
to-day. in fact, are strengthened in view
Of the coming isthmian canal. With the
deepening of the river channel adequate
ocean tonnage would be possible and full
freights of wheat obtained at st. Paul
| for Liverpool and for the far eastern
ports, effecting a saving of from eight to
ten cents a bushel from the present cost
of shipment by way of New York. But
grain would rot be the only cargoes.
| When it is remembered that the Missis-
sippi forms the border line for ten of the
most productive states in the union,
with Kansas and Nebraska rendered
naturally tributary to the river by their
position it can readily be seen the vast
possibilities of the improved river as p