The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-06-14

NAriiiNdiOAs June lJ.w--lt ~ PROB
able that when President Roosevelt
makes his voyage down the Mississippi
river next October he win find sur.
prIslng sentiment existing. Evidence Il
aecumulatlng that strong effort will
be made by steamboat men and com.
munitics along the Father Of Waters 10
have the Missouri river attended To first
and before any extensive work ii nn-
dertaken upon the larger stream. This
N not done IN amy spirit of self-sac.
riilce on the part Of the Mississippi riv-
erincn, but Ii due 10 several causes.
Men who have studied the two streams
delare that tha Missouri river fur
nisbes lnow sand thnn other stream In
the United States. This sand, washing
out from the mouth OF the stream, Is
carried slowly down the Mississippi and
deposited in sand bars, rendering what
otherwise would be stable channel a
series oI shifting DISTINCTIONS These
sand bars offer constant menace to
navigation below the mouth of the Mis-
souri, while above that point river
craft ply III comparative freedom from
danger II grounding. The silt, sand
and soil that Il being constantly swept
down into the Mississippi Is due en-.
tirely to the instability Of the MissouriI
current. The channel Il comparatively
narrow aud the river has an nnsatis.
factory habit Of wandering around the
landscape practically Of It's own free
will. II has changed It's bed dozen
times within as inany years and has
washed down TO the Gulf scores of what
were once rich farms.
some little time ago II was suggested
that the bed Of the Missouri river Nj
ploughed, specially built boats TO BE- en-.
ployed IN the work. II IA now suggest
ga that after the actual cutting of the
river bed has been accomplished, nothing
should be done to the Mississippi River
until mattresses Of willows or lumber
hive been placed on the bottom Of the
Missouri from the highest nayigable
point 10 is confluence with the Mis-.
sissippi.
u has been brought TO the attention
of the Federal authorities by river men
who have spent years In tho river traffic
that the river channel between Fort
Benton and New Orleans half cen
Iury ago was dceper by i5 feet than
/ Is today This was due ii great
measure 10 the fact that the Mississippi
liver in those days was the main artery
u commerce for the great Mississippi
Valley, and the constant churninQ OF
'idewhecl steamers kept in motion the
tand that was washed down from the
Missouri and II was swept along 10 the
iulf. With the passing Of the steam.
rs this sand formed bars against which
umber, logs and other floating debris
cund lcdgment. eventually becoming
stands These nnchartered distractions
nye made inland waterway navigation
precarious undertaking,
Although the prosperity Of what
Roosevelt termed "the richest
gricultural empire the world ever
new" have been phenomenal, there is
title doubt that its prosperity would
ave been even greater had the fleets Of
teamboats that once piled the AIissis.
ippi, Missouri and Ohio rivers not been
ompletely driven out by the railroads.
he National Rivers and Harbors Con.
ress Is seeking to restore these aeets
) the great inland streams. This orga.
ixation recognizes that with the rapid
rowth Of the nations foreign trade d
heaper means Of reaching the ocean Is
ecessary iii addition. the railroads.
ave been 50 congested with feright that
he need for an auxiliary system OIL
Is imperative.
Following close on the heels Of the
Ist convention here of the National
ivers and Harbors Congress, at which
me the President heartily endorsed its
lmpaign, Mr. Roosevelt named the In I
md Waterways Commission, which is
Spected to do much toward rehabilitat.
g water transportation.