Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-04-22
RIVER
INTERESTS
GROWING
New Companies Form
ing to Operate
Steamboats,
Railroad Men Like Hill and
Hartman Favor the
Waterways

Washington, April 22.-Evidences
of the earnestness with which states
of the middle west are taking up
the question of water transportation
continue to pour in on Washington.
Following the plans being taken in
Illinois to begin actual work on the
construction of a ship channel from
the lakes to the Mississippi river, by
deepening, widening and extending
the Illinois-Michigan canal to Lake
Joliet, a project in which the states
of Michigan, Missouri and Arkansas
have evinced their hearty interest.
announcements are being made daily
of the FORMATION OF PRIVATE
COMPANIES ALONG THE VARIOUS
STREAMS FOR THE OPERATION
OF STEAMBOAT LINES.
Residents OF the Illinois valley
have organized a company to insti-
tute packet service between Peoria
and st. Louis on the Illinois river,
and I'm conjunction with this a line of
Is barges will be operated for tho
carrying of heavy freight. II IS in
tended to prove to the federal gov
ernment by actual demonstration
that more money should be expended
upon this especial stream. once a
good traffic is built up the demands
of the communities lying on the
banks Of the river WILL HAVE
SUCH WEIGHT THAT CONGRESS
WILL BE FORCED TO LISTEN TO
THEM.
Men like e. II. Hartman and Jas.
Hin are coming TO advocate opening
the waterways.
This spirit has extended to the
Wabash river in Indiana. Il has
been made known here that n COM
pany Is being formed In Terre Haute
to institute a steamboat service be-
tween that city and the Ohio river.
Terre Haute IS I'm the center OF the
Indiana bituminous coal region, and
It is believed a traffic in this com
modify almost as great as that OF
Pittsburg can be built up with the
country lying 10 the south In the
Ohio. Missouri and Mississippi val
leys Before the railway era Terre
Haute was a river town of consIdera-
BILE Importance. but the coming OF
the railroad GRADUALLY KILLED
OFF RIVER COMPETITION.
IL Is now intended TO build
wharves on the banks OF the Wa
bash. TO which will b. constructed
spur tracks from the railroads, so
that coal may be loaded directly
from cars into the holds Of steam
ers or barges. In addition efforts
will be made 10 induce farming COM
munities along the river TO band to-
gether an erect docks so THAT
THEIR GRAIN AND LIVE STOCK
MAY BE LOADED AT THE LEAST
POSSIBLE COST.
Although the Wabash River I'M
proyement association has champion
ed the needs OF the historic stream
for many years, the United States
authorizations for betterments have
been very small.
This activity Is due altogether 20
an awakened national understanding
of the straits IN which the commerce
OF the country finds itself by reason
OF inadequate transportation faclll-
ties. No one understands this more
fully that President Roosevelt. who,
In addressing the delegates 10 the
National Rivers and Harbors con
gress, held in this city in December,
said:
1--WE NEED AND MUST HAVE
FURTHER FACILITIES FOE
TRANSPORTATION. and. as has
been well pointed out. one OF the
most effective methods OF affecting
railroads Is to provide for a proper
system Of water transportation"
President Roosevelt's hearty en-
dorsement OF the aims and work OF
the National Rivers and Harbors
congress undoubtedly did much 20
insure the passage at the last ses-
sion OF congress OF the greatest bill
ever passed in the United States for
this form of internal work. The or
ganization Is continuing It's fight
FOR NOT IlESs THAN $50. .OOO. 900
A YEAR FOR CONTINUING THE
WORK. Il Is az present seeking
through It's secretary. Captain J. +
Ellison. OF Cincinnati, 10 increass