Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-09-18
SELECTS STEAMER.
President Chooses the Missis-
sippi for the River Trip From
keokuk to Cairo.
NOTIFIED GEN. MACKENZIE
Waterways Commission Will Join Him
Oct. 1, After Trip from St.
Paul-WiIl Stop Here.

President Roosevelt has decided to
make the river trip from Keokuk to
Cairo on the steamer Mississippi, which
is in the service of the Mississippi
river commission. Secretary Loeb has
notified General Alexander Mackenzie,
chief of engineers, of the presidents
decision, and orders will accordingly
be issued to this effect. 1t was first
planned that the president and his
party would be accommodated on the
steamer Lily of the lighthouse service,
st. Louis, but the presidents immedi
ate party will be larger than can we'll
be accommodated on the Lily, which
has but three state rooms. The Mis-
SisSippi has even better accommoda-
tons that the Col A. Mackenzie
the snag boat under control of the local
engineers office. which is to be used
| by the members of the inland water
ways commission on the trip from st.
| Paul down the river
The Mississippi requires a good stage
Of water, but General Mackenzie has
reports to the effect that the stage this
year has not been low, and that the
Mississippi can be counted on to make
the trip safely.
VIII Stop Here.
| The members of the waterways COM
mission will leave their homes Friday,
| to meet at Cleveland General Mae-
lkenzie and Chief Engineer Newell will
| hai bn
members, and make tour of the
lakes, lake problems figuring in the
general question of internal waterway
Improvement on which the commission
is to report. The commission go from
Duluth to st. Paul, and leave st. Paul
on the Mackenzie Sept. 27, coming
down the river and inspecting the need
ed improvements and the work already
ldone enroute. The members are to ar
rive in Rock Island, according TO the
jpresent plans, at o'clock the evening
lof Sept 80, and depart early the next
lmorning after spending the night here.
They will join the president and his
party at Keokuk, and continue down
to st. Louis, Cairo, and Memphis with
Ikenzie for the entire trip. The official
party will be accommodated on the
three steamers, the Mississippi, the
ICol. A. Mackenzie and the Lily.
The party leaves Keokuk the morn
ling of Oct. l, and the waterways COM
lmission has arranged it's itinerary in
lorder to be at Keokuk by that time
IL Important Trip.
The coming trip of the president and
the commission is regarded as one of
great importance to the Mississippi. 1t
will serve to bring to closer attention
Iof those who govern the appropriations
for improvement work on this water
way the Importance of the river and
Its needs in the way of improvements.
The waterways commission includes
IChairman Theodore f. Burton of Ohio;
Senator Francis G.. Newlands of Ne
vada; Senator William Mariner of Mis-
lSouri Senator John H. Bankhead of
Alabama; General Alexander Mackec-
lzie, chief of the engineers; F. II. New
ell of the engineers; Clifford Pinchot of
, the forestry service and Herbert Knox
Smith.
Motor Boats to Garry q Letter.
st. Louis, Sept 1S.-As a feature of
President Roosevelt's visit to st. Louis
. in October, the St Louis Power Boat
association will have a letter carried
by relay on fast boats from Mayor
Busse of Chicago to the president ut
st. Louis. The plan was made by
hackers of the deep waterway. 1t ,s
expected the 800 mile trip will be
made in 90 hours.
Three clubs will have charge II
carrying the letter, according to pr
: ent plans. They are the Illinois Ath
: letic club of Chicago, the Illinois Val
+ ley Yacht club and the Peoria and s.
}. Louis Power Boat association. The
l last lap of the relay will be run by
e Kitty, owned by c. F. Sparks of Alton
f Ill.
:, The greater part of the trip will bc
S run at night, in order to deliver tht
letter to President Roosevelt early IL
the morning. Immediately after his "
rival by boat from Keokuk
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