The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-08-26
EAST SIDE OFFICE
The River as Factor in Trans.
portation,

The River as a Factor in Trans
portation.
T. The river rate on cotton from Mem
phis to New Orleans is So cents
bale. The rail rate between the same
points is rs cents. The difference is
accounted for by the cost of insur-
ance and convenience in handling.
. The rail rate from Dallas to Calves
ton, practically the same distance, is
SO a bale. The difference Is ac-
counted for not on the ground that
the railroads running from Memphis
to New Orleans desire to carry freight
any cheaper than the railrods be-
tween Dallas and Galveston, but by
the fact that river transportation
compels it. ,s.
I At the same time, the railroads
carry much the larger share Of the
traffic between Memphis and New
Orleans. It is not alone upon the vol
ume of traffic carried by the river
from Memphis to New Orleans that
the Memphis shippers profit, but
Every ton of cotton which goes from
Memphis to New Orleans is carried
$2.25 cheaper than from Dallas to
Galveston, and herein lies the value
Of water transportation-not that 1t
carries freight, but that it regulates
the rate.
] This illustration should be sugges-
tive to the business men of Minneap-
oils as to the value of the river to
them. The Mississippi river may
never carry a very large proportion
of freight destined for export, but
there is no reason why it should not
render the same service here that it
renders at Memphis and place the
shippers of the twin cities in possess
sion of the same advantages over ex-
elusively railroad points which Mem
phis enjoys over Dallas in the ship
inent of the same kind Of freight.
Unfortunately, the attitude Of Min
rleapolis business men towards the
whole system of river improvements
has heretofore been one of COMPARE
tive Indifference, if not of unfavorable
prejudice and skepticism. This APP
2 plies to the whole system of improve
fnents, including the reservoirs at the
headwaters of the river and the locks
and dams between this city and St.
Paul. Happily, some more far
sighted men than the majority have
succeeded in initiating the improve
ments now under way, and which con-
sist at the present time of three large
I1ry
completed, the construction of locks
and dams in the vicinity Of Meeker
island, and the dredging of the river
between st. Paul and Lake Pepin.
Just now there seems to be an
awakening Of interest in this propo-
sition, intensified, no doubt, by the
visit of members of the river and har-
Dor committee. 1t is to be hoped that
this interest is not spasmodic, but that
1t will be persistent and intelligent; for
1t is true that the attitude of the gov
eminent and the liberality of congress
for improvements Of this character
are determined, very largely, by the
disposition of the local community.
AS MIR. Burton tells r h e J o ur n a
today, the activity of those directly
interested in making the most of the
improvements and the conditions as
they exist govern the action Of con-
gress in large measure as to future
opriations. Where communities dc
not make the most of the facilities as
they exist congress is little inclined to
force further improvements upon
them.
Major Derby, in charge of this dis
trict, relates the same experience with
regard to the improvements of the
Minnesota and the Red river of. the
North. In the latter river, where it is
practical to maintain a satisfactory
stage of water, a. slight expenditure
would have greatly improved existing
conditions. The government declined
to make such improvements solely
because ofalack of interest on the par
of the communities to be benefited
thereby.
Fortunately, the interest of Mime.
apolis and ST, Paul in the improvement
of the upper Mississippi is mutual, es
pecially with regard to the main.
tenance of the reservoirs and the vol
ume of water. ST. Paul is not inter
ested in the locks and dams at ,Meekel
island, but is interested in the stage O.
water between the ST. Paul levee ant
Lake Pepin. This whole matter is one
h which business men and the propel
officials of both cities may cooperate
for mutual advantage, and it is to bt
hoped that a matter Of so much i'm
port>nce may be no longer neglected
The Italian Immigrant.