The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1906-02-03
River Improvement.
WASHINGTON, D. c.,
January "a. 06. !.
lR on INTELLIaENCER,-

hoAN iNHJ N~e~fJ~o - I
q this time than that OF Railroad Rate
Regulation. Several bills have been
prepared by Congressman running /.
from tie most drastic to the most
conservative.
This Is not q new issue born Of .
day and moving to an carly death but
n that has been in tbs minds OF the
people for many years, and likely to
remain until something has been done
In Congress there are many who
advocate very extreme measures
Then there is the more conservative
cement composed OF men who favor
sucn regulation as is fair and just to
shlppet and carrier alike.
But In discussing railroad regulation
many OF our statesmen seem to have
overlooked one OF the best methods OF
attaining that end, a method that will
not need the dicta OF 4 commission to
give 1t vitality. The inal, effective,
unquestioned and irresistible regulation
OF the railroads must come from the
Improvement Of our great rivers, our
canals and harbors.
This is not a partisan question nor
shonld il he a sectional or a local one.
Boston has need OF harbor improve.
ments, the bays about New York are
not entirely safe at times. Philadelphia
need and is asking for a twenty foot
channel in the D slaware river to the
sea, ans. Baltimore could avoid the
sometimes treacherous Chesapeake
bay by widening and deepening the
cansl that connects her with the
} De aware. Virginia needs all shes can
get out Of the James; Georgia and
J South Carolina need the Savanna,
Florida the 81 Johns, Alabama the
] %Chattahoochi Bigbee and Mobile.
And the Mississippi; that grandest
S Of waterways upon whose majestic
e bosom the nayies of the world coulc
float, she wit. her tributaries
aggre ating over 5000 miles o
uavlgable chann,l draining an empire
OF iyriile laads that can produc.
e enough to feed tbs world, does no
avery State drained rnd watered b
his magnificent river system need !
! utilize to the utmost these advantage
, afforded?
Tank for q moment what the reeu'
would be with q Ten loot channt
from Chicago down the illinois caus
!, and river TO The Missssrppl and theme
down that stream IL the guilt {
Mexico. What would It mean
Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska an
Iowa If the Mlssonrtw $ supplements
4 with a like depth OF channel frol
ee Omaha to its MOUTH What would
a. be ia MinnessotA ana her twin cities
u have restored the anclent prestige {
< the Mississippi to themY Civ
Piltsourg, VIII ching, Cincinnati
TOWNSVILLE a ten foot channel adoH
I'D the placid Ohio aud frey could snt
~ their fingers at the railroads.
ne Beyond the mountains ether VOL
Cd needs to be done. California, OregC
and Washington have rivers al
as. harbors and they too should join al
sane and practical plan to impro
ter them.
Of 1t seems to me that the Congre
B. has been wofully amlss in the gre
sas work OF river and harbor improvemer
Perhaps, though, the p~sycholagic
dis moment is yet to come. But it
lon coming and will soo arrive, too.
nd a few days ago a convention "
The held in Washington, D O., having |
in its purpose the arousing OF the peoI
int to the importance OF q better 8
the more extensive Improvement OF Q
the rivers and harbors, an improvement
TACT and no. in name only. TO 4
asst convention came able and bralny N
for from ali parts Of the country and
10 healthy start has been made. Now
inc the Press. the boards OF trade a
the commercial clubs will take the mat
life up and push II along the future '
red revel with results the people bi
to never yet dreamed Of, A very III
at hint should only be necessary to
aud papers Of Missouri where one Of
~sbibbcleths OF battle for long has b
- for river Improvement.
JAMES E. PAYNE
They never gripe or sicken,
cleanse and strengthen the stoma