The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1904-02-12

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 and
harbors The committee was informed
that 50 cities were directly interested IL
the project and that 100000 people
would be benefited through an assur-
ance of river competition in transporta-
ton. The plans call for an expenditure
of something like 100000, which
amount, it is estimated, would provide
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 for fo--
eign ports and congressman might be
able to again tell stories similar to that
which Henry Clay told in congress Il
century ago about a sailing master who
left Pittsburg with his brig, sailing
down the Ohio anG Mississippi. ard 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 a 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,
Iol 81 H. ri,
thence another 900 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
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 $s,000,00O have been ap-
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 a
cost of 1000 900. This canal is eight
miles long, SEQ 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 ana
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 saving of from eight to
ten cents bushel from the present cost
of shipment BIZ way of New York. Bit
grain would not be the only cargoes.
When it is remembered that the Missis-
| 4ppi 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 - Q