The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-04-28
PLANS FOR SHIP
CANAL
TO CONNECT GREAT LAKES WITH
MISSISSIPPI RIVERA QUEER
CASE BEFORE COMMISSION
WATER VERSUS BEER.

WASHINGTON. Aprn s;--Evidcnee,
OF the earnestnesa with which states
OF the Middle West are taking up the
question Of water transportation con-
tinue TO pour In on Washington. Fol.
lowing the plans being undertaken by
Illinois to begin actual work on the
construction of a ship canal from
the Lakes to the Mississippi River. by
deepening. widening and extending the
Illinols.Miehigan canal TO Lake Joliet.
u project In which the States OF Mich
igan. Missouri and Arkansas have
evinced their hearty interest, an.
nouncements are being made daily OF
the formation OF private companies
along the various streams for the
operating Of steamboat lines.
Residents Of tho Illinois valley have
organized company 10 institute a
packet service between Peoria and ST.
Louis ON the Illinois River. and In
conjunction with this line OF Is bar
ges win be operated for the carrying Of
heavy freight. II Is Intended to prove
to the Federal government by actual
demonstration that more money should
be expended upon this special stream,
Once good traffic Is built up the de-
mands OF the communities lying on
the banks Of the river win have such
weight that Congress win bo forced
to listen 10 them.
This spirit has extended 90 the
Wabash River In Indiana. II has been
made known that company Is being
formed In Terre Haute to institute
steamboat service between that city
and the Ohio River Terre Haute Is
In the center OF the Indiana bitumln-
Gus coal region. and II IL believed a
treffic In this commodity almost as
great as that OF Pittsburgh can be-
built up with tne country lying 10 the
south in the Ohio, Missouri and Miss
issippl valleys. Before the railway era
Terre Haute was river town OF con-
siderable Importance, but the coming
Of the railroad gradually killed off
river competition.
1t is now intended to build wharves
on the banks Of the Wabash, to which
will be constructed spur tracks from
the railroads. so that coal may be
loaded directly from cars into the holds
of steamers or barges. In addition ef-
forts win be made to induce farming |
communities along the river to band
together and erect docks so that their |
grain and live stock may be loaded at |
the least possible cost Although the
Wabash River improvement AssocIa-
tion has champloned the needs OF the
historic stream for many years. the
United States authorizations for bet.
terment have been very small.
This activity Is due altogether to an
awakened national understanding OF
the straits In which the commerce OF
the country finds itself by reason Of
transportation facilities.
No one understands this more fully
than President Roosevelt, who, In ad-
dressing the delegates TO the National
Rivers and Harbors Congress, held In
this city In December, said:
I'VE need and must nave further
facilities for transportation, and, as
has been well pointed out, one OF the
effective methods Of effectlng rail-
roads is to provide for proper sys-
tenn of water transportation"
President Roosevelts hearty endorse
ment OF the aims and work Of the Nat
ional Rivers and Harbors Congress
did much TO insure the
passage at the last session Of Congress
Of the greatest bill ever passed in the
United States for this form Of inter-
nal work. The organization is con-
tinuing It's fight for not less than $50,
300 900 year for continuing the work.
It is at presezt seeking through its
secretary Captain J. r. Ellison, of
to increase its membership,
In order that It may bring even greater
influence to bear on the national leg /
lslature Already that influence 10
great, for the organization recognizes
no sectional projects but champions
the espousal Of such policy by the