The Saint Paul globe., 1904-08-27
RIVERS AND TAER(BB(OlS Committeeman
PLEASED BY ENTEII' 'AINMENT IN T.PAUL
OF Cities by oil
Commissi

st. Paul's municipal and civic bodies
| put themselves out to make the short
stay of the members of the rivers and
harbors committee of congress in this
city a pleasant one and what the con-
| gressmen said after the banquet at the
| Commercial club tended to show that
| their object had been accomplished.
Nine members of the important
house committee reached Minneapolis
| early yesterday morning with several
| of the officers of the committee and a
number of ladies. They were shown
| about Minneapolis during the morning
and taken over the part of the river
| containing the government works. In
| the afternoon the party was met att the
locks and dams by the ST. Paul COM
mittee and taken on board the steamer
| Hiawatha
The vessel moved dewn to Fort
Smelling and there received delega-
tion of officers stationed at the fort
and then proceeded up the Minnesota
river. This inspection, which was
strongly urged by the ST. Paul con-
tingent of the entertainers was keenly
enjoyed by the visitors.
Late in the afternoon the committee
arrived in this city and was taken in
/ charge by the members of the local
committee. Automobiles were furnish
ed the congressman and their wives
and a trip around the drives and boule-
wards was undertaken.
At 1880 o'clock the congressman, Of
| ficers stationed at Fort Smelling and
number Of prominent citizens, including
the reception committee, assembled at
| the Commercial club, where banquet
was spread.
President Theodore F. Smith, of the
| Commercial club, opened the proceed
ings.
Gov Samuel R. Van SAINT presided,
| chairman of the congressional commit
tee, seated on his right.
Gov. Van SAINT Speaks
Gov. Van SAINT introduced the speaking
part of the entertainment in few
| brief sentences and presented Chair
man Burton.
The governor said that the people
of Minnesota want the river deepened
and urged upon the committee that
at st. Louis they be alive to the fact
that the Mississippi river and it's
branches extends 10000 miles and
drains territory of 125,0OO square
miles. when the Panama canal is
| completed it will be the greatest COM,
mereial artery in the world,r said the
| speaker.
He called attention to the fact that
President Madison had said early in
the last century that the Mississippi
was greater than the Hudson, Delaware
and Potomac rivers combined.
Competition is necessary in trade"
said the governor in conclusion, '.and if
1t is good thing, give it to us so that
we may develop the natural resources.
not only of Minnesota and the North
west, but those of the whole great Mis-
sissippi valley"
Mr.. Burton commenced his remarks
by saying that the trip of the commit
tee was primarily for the purpose of
instruction of the members. He said
that the members of the committee
could make no promises as to the
amount of the appropriation that
would be made, but said that ST. Paul
| was one of the terminal points of
| transportation of the country and that
| history shows that the energy of
| transportation had increased four
fold, while the manufacturing and
| commerce could be judged as unit
He pointed out that bushel Of
| wheat could now be moved from ST.
| Paul to Liverpool, a distance of ap-
| proximately 1000 miles, for practically
the same amount necessary to carry
bushel of wheat from Athens to the
| field of Marathon in the time of Mil
tiades. which is about fifteen miles.
Can't Make Promises Now
Continuing, he said: "The commit
tee is not in position to make def
| mite promises, but the people of Min
nesota may rest assured that in the
matter of making the great main
waterway of the country available for
| freight traffic, whatever is rational will
be done.
! But whatever congress does, let the
residents of this part of the country
| understand. that it is strictly up to
| them to take advantage of what is
| done, SO that the national government
may not count the money lost. The
gods help those who help themselves.
and if the people Of the Mississippi
states put in transportation lines and
| work for the commercial advancement
| of the whole country, the United
States will see that there is water in
which to float the cargoes of flour to
St. Louis and Cairo and New Orleans,
and from thence to the marts of the
world.
Darius F. Reese was next introduced
by the chair to welcome the visitors
on behalf of the Commercial club. He
made a characteristic speech, and in
the midst of it caused ripple of
amusement that bubbled UP in spite of
his eloquent words.