The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-05-28

WASHINGTON, May sT--Llkc Vie
torious general and his staff. Congress
man Theodore ". Burton and members
Iot the Inland Waterways Commission
are dawing an inspection tour Of the
Mississippi River to a triumphal close
The Commission, 81 which Mr.. Burton
Il chairman. has spent nearly week
In proceeding down the Missouri River
from Kansas City 10 81, Louis and
thence down the Father of Waters 10
New Orleans, At every city and town
along the big stream they hase been
guests OF citizens, who have sought "a
convince the Commission Of the press.
ing commercial necessity for the prompt
and thorough development Of the river,
At rousing meeting IN Memphis en-
gineerel BY the business men Of that
city, Mr.. Burton publicly annouaced
bis hearty sympathy with the amhi,
tions Of the people o. the Mississippi
Valley. lie said.
II am In favor Of the fourtcen.foot
channel through the Mississippi yet
public sentiment must be aroused if
you would ever attain IT,
This express by Mr.. Burton aroused
the greatest enthusiasm. There long
has been mistaken notion that The
chairman Of the Rivers and Harbors
Committee Of the House has been bit-
terly opposed 10 the plan of ship
canal connecting the Great Lakes with
the Gulf Under this misapprehcnsion,
the state legislatures OF Illinois, Mis-.
souri, and North Dakota adopted resolu.
tions condemning his supposed attitude.
As matter Of fact, Mr.. Burton has
been friendly to the sheme, but as
chairman Of powerful committee, he
declined to commit himself TO any plan
Of improvement before the most com.
plete and minute preparations had
been made. This determination on his
part brought down upon him a storm
Of undeserved criticism IN the last SEES.
sion, although his committee included Ii
the rivers and harbors bill sum saf.
ficient for a complete survey and OK.
animation Of the proposed canal route.
later for the prosecution or the work
should Il be found feasible.
The Inland Waterways Commission
had as its cicerone on It's voyage down
the Mississippi, Congressman Joseph T..
Of Louisiana, who besides be.
ings member OF Chairman Burton's
committee In the House, IL also presi.
dent Of the National Rivers and Har.
bors Congress, nm organization that is
seeking to convince Congress that an
appropriation Of $50,OOO,O0O annually Il
not too great to expend on improve.
nents to streams and ports. All the
lown the river, at every harbor into
which the Steamer Mississippi poked
Is nose, score of kilograms were pick.
i mp, urging the commission to stop
~ and be the guests Of town farther
lown the stream. Greenville, vicks. |
'urg. Arkansas City, Natchez and
core Of other towns and cities enter-
aimed the visitors and sought to con
'inee them that the people Of the Miss.
ssippi valley are unit in believing
hat adequate sums should be expended
y the federal government in improving
he big stream,
In the party chaperoncd by Congress.
ran Ransdcll Is Chairman Burton, Sena.
pr Newlands, w. J. McGee, Congress.
ian Bankhead, General Mackenzie,
. II. Newell, Chief Forester PinclIot,
nd Commissioner Of Corporations Her.
ert Knox Smith. In addition, Lieu.
:nant-Colonel Sears and Lieutenant.
olonal Townsend Of the Army are
Iaking the trip. These latter are mem.
srs Of the board Of engineers and have
] the past made considerable inyesti.
ltion Of the possibilities Of the stream
I'd Of the best means Of barnessing II
ID ending the disastrous floods that