Omaha daily bee., 1907-02-04


Colonel John L. Vance. president OF the
Ohio River Improvement association for
the past fifteen years. regarding making
Il a national undertaking. which met with
his approval l met Governor David r.
Francis, the president of the Louisiana
Purchase exposition, asked his views and
how he would treat the undertaking, and
had his assurance OF his hearty co-opera-
ton, and that ne would extend all the
courtesies to us that he could to any con-
vention or congress, which was gratifying
to me- l realized the more l thought OF
II that II was too much of an undertaking
for man past three score and ten, and
so gave up the idea of a national conveh-
ton at that time. In 1905 1 prepared
paper for the Transmssissippl congress
which met in Portland In August of that
year, as to the duties OF the government
for the Improvement of our national rivers,
harbors and waterways. asking them to
set aside $780, 100000 or more of 2 per cent
bonds on the basis of the Panama canal
and to do this work and do 1t now, and
asked for a meeting OF the representatives
from the many waterways, cities and
states interested in the development OF
our waterways and harbors at Washington
during the coming session of congress,
pleading with all the earnestness that
could that we gather there and make this
national matter
1t was my pleasure to meet with such
congress on the 18th and 18th days OF
January 1906, in Washington. with the rep
resentatives from thirty-four different
states pleading with all the earnestness
they could for the pushing forward of the
great undertaking Of educating the people
to do this work and do II now II was my
privilege and pleasure to offer the same
resolutions and read the same paper that
L had In Portland, Ore. asking that such
meeting might be held in the interest
of such great undertaking. Some thought
II might not be desirable to Indicate to
congress as to how we should raise money
| by the issuing of bonds, thinking Il more
desirable to leave that to congress, as
they might be little sensitive on this sub
ject. / seconded the only other resolu-
ton, that in asking for S5O,OOO,OOO a year
until this work should be accomplished,
which resolution, after much debate. was
carried, many being anxious to push for
many OF the senators and representatives
were there. Sioux City, Decatur and st.
| Joseph, Mo-, were represented. Chairman
| Burton and many members of his COM
| mittee were much interested in the under
| taking of the congress OF educating the
people to encourage our representatives in
congress In regard to the wants and the
wishes OF the people as to the wants OF
| the people throughout our great country
| for the improvements Of our harbors and
waterways in the interest of commerce
and the cheapening Of freights. Congress
| man Ransdall of Louisiana was elected
chairman of an executive committee of
! fifteen to put through this propaganda of
education, They honored me with being
the representative for the Missouri river.
I have endeavored to perform the duties
! to the best of my ability. The result has
been that the second congress met in
Washington on the 9Th and 18th of De-
cember last and was attended by some
! 1900 representative people from all parts
| of the United States, from Alaska south,
and the Atlantic to the Pacific, empha-
sizing the work OF the previous congress.
| Many of the representatives were there,
! few giving more time than our honored rep
! resentative from Omaha, Mr.. Kennedy, and
! who has labored as hard as anybody to
get the appropriation from Kansas City
north, Congressman Ellis from Kansas
City was one Of the committee on rivers
and harbors, and was able to get but $780,
| 900 from the mouth of the Missouri to
Kansas City. We must bear in mind that
/ the commerce on lnC hlSoOnIi az
/ Kansas City has only been the sand for
building purposes, which they have dredged
from the river. l am In hopes that Mr..
Kennedy will be able to get a proviso in
| the bill allowing the engineer in charge
to spend to the amount of $500 per mile
| where desirable in the mind of the en-
! gineer to protect the banks. / am fully
| of the impression that with the $4,000
properly expended between Sioux City and
| Kansas City that we can be able to in
dictate to Congressman Burton and his
committee the utility of labor and prob
ably under suggestions of the mode that
has been pursued by James l.. Paxton,
superintendent of the Union Stock yards
OF South Omaha, and Chief Engineer w. 8.
| King who did work east of South Omaha
and at Mr.. Paxton's farm In Iowa, that
we can control the stream by the use Of
| steamers and barges, Willows ana trees
at a very small expense, comparatively, 70
any work done prior along this river.
am of the impression that no, river of the
| magnitude can be as easily handled rs
the Missouri river. As you are aware the
water during the great part OF the season
when not frozen is full of silt and sand.
The idea Is 10 utilize that silt and sand
by placing II where you would like which
can be done 80 easily II able TO work In
the stream with boats. l might say In
this connection in looking over the river
some few years ago with Major Chittenden
had his assurance that he could control
this river II he had the money. am
also advised that he would not do 1t as In
former years, by the use of piling' rock
and timbers. One party said that he would
not use a pile The Missouri river Is
study of itself, few. II any. streams like IT,
| Few II any streams with as much produce
that can be loaded as on this great river
2so miles of alluvial soil. I cannot speak
with too much appreciation Of the work
that has been done by Congressman Rams
dali, in the last year, giving his time and
| energy travelling from the Atlantic to the
Pacific and the Lakes to the Gulf. and all
the principal seaports, and cities along In
terror waterways, in the interest OF this
educating the people up 10 their duties In
the interest of large appropriations FOR
the rivers and waterways. Probably MOTH
ing has conduced more to secure the Ss4-
10000 that we have this year than the
recommendation now before congress by
Senator Burton and his committees 1
think that with the success of this bill
and the proper educating Of the people
which President Ransdall and his COM
I 49,. -. andaavorinR 10 do, that we