The Cairo bulletin., 1905-08-29
TIME HAS COME
For a Great Awakening to the
Value of River Transportation
RESOURCES OF THE RIVERS SET
FORTH IN ARTICLE IN WATER
WAYS JOURNAL.

The time has come when there /
should be a great awakening on the
subject of inland navigation River |
men still hope for a return Of che good
old time when the steamboats, WIN en-
JOY the prestige they once did.
slight revival has heen felt in the
business Of the boats ia all sections
this year. People appear to have come
TO the conclusion that the best thing
they could do was 10 make the best
possible use Of the means of trans
portation nature has given them. No
country on earth has been 50 bounti-
FULLY supplied with waterways as the
United States, and particularly that
portion Of it lying between the Alleg
heny and the Rocky mountains and
no other part of the globe is so fruit
full in the production of all things that
conduce to the support of and happi
ness Of the human race
When put in careful cultivation and
all that is in It can he brought out.
the Mississippi valley can feed aud
clothe rhe world II has every va
,iety Of climate from the frigld 10 the
semi-tropical and Is ny all odds the
most desirable place on the planet for
he abode Of men. When all these
things are taken into consideration. II
IS plain that the rivers-the natural
means of transportation should be
| kept n good shape az all times.
The Mississippi river is the natural
route from the grain fields Of the north
o the Gulf of Mexico, near which
vessels can be loaded for all parts Of
he world. In its meandering course
rom its head to FITS mouth, It laves The
shores Of ten of thu most PRODUCTIVE
tates of the union and besides tbs
Grain, which can be produced h unIim
ted quantities, ii passes through the
otton and sugar plantations of the
\ | south. Many Of the tributaries af the
4 | Father Of Waters are no less impor-
ant than the main srream itself and
The people dwelling near them have
earned to appreciate their value
y Without the Ohio river to float the
great fleets of coal to q market, Ihe
7ast deposits az mineral fuel founf
1 lear the head Of thar stream would
II not be worth ona-half what It is al
present and hundreds of mannfac
ruring establishments that are nor
M at profit, without cheap coz
i would be compelled 10 remain idle
vi 1t is perfectly natural that peopl
hould be interested in river improve
ments, and that they should assemble
y together in convention to discuss tn
y best methods to be pursued, and Il
y petition Congress for the necessart
funds to carry them into effect TIL
great Importance Of the Mississippi
river as a commercial highway, tn
/ vast extent of the interest dependen
upon it and affected by it, and its in
iuence on the general prosperity o
he entire community are all such 2
q deserve the most liberal treatme1
at the hands of the general govern
/, ment, to the end that its improve
nent may be made so complete tina
will furnish at all times an unot
~ 'tructed outlet 70 the sea for the sui
olus products Of the Mississippi Va
: ey.
~ The time will come when steamer
II viii do a greater business than the
X lid before the country was ne
" work Of railroads II will be create
N because our rivers viii have unol
E tructed navigation. Everything Il t
n heir advantage. For instance, ON
n nwboat can easily take as much dow
u he river as dozen railroad ira n!
N md at a much less cost. IT. III strang
x hat more people do not travel b
4 water than do 1t is a thousand time
y more safe than railroad train. Pa
n senger business has been better thi
v ear than for many years and Il wi
X only be a question OF time when PEI
n pie will give the river preference boz
4 in travel and freight Waterway
A Journal.