The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1907-10-10
When the Chester Stuck.

UlVIi IIC OIIColCl OluCks
Just to illustrate the fact that the
Missouri needs heroic surgical treat
ment If it is to come in line with in
land waterways progress the trip Of
the steamer Chester only a fortnight
before the Memphis convention may
be cited. With Captain William R.
Massie, a veteran Missouri river pilot,
at the wheel, the Chester undertook a
round trip from st. Louis to Kansas
City, carrying produce and passengers
each way. The distance between the
cities is about 300 miles. On Sept. %,
seventeen days later, the Chester got
stuck on bar near Hermann, Mo-,
not far from the home plate, and her
passengers finally concluded that to
get home in time for Thanksgiving
turkey they must go ashore in a
launch, which they did. The Chester
light. She was heavily cargoed with
wheat. At the point where she finally
hung up the channel was only three
feet seven inches. Enough said!
The Ohio, Of course, will come in
for some Of the improvements, though
1t must be said for the Ohio that she
has been able to keep her head above
mud in a manner highly creditable to
her and correspondingly chagrining to
her western sister, the Missouri.
Deeper Channels Needed.
Then there is the Arkansas The
state Of Kansas has been suing the
state Of Colorado for stealing the Ar.
kansas river for irrigation purposes.
What is left Of the Arkansas flows
through Indian Territory and Arkansas
to the Mississippi. It is still navigable
in spots for google eyed perch and flat
bottomed boats. The Arkansas should
carry stable craft clear up to Musko-
gee, l. T., and no doubt the new state
Of Oklahoma would have put in its
constitution a demand for a deeper
channel but for slack Of space"
The Tennessee, the Cumberland, the
Red river and other smaller streams
hope for some Of the federal improve.
ment pie. Deeper channels where they
are needed will aid greatly in relieving
the situation throughout the vast Mis-.
sissippi valley.
It is interesting to note in connection
with President Roosevelt's voyage
down the Mississippi from Keokuk to
Memphis to attend the waterways con.
vention that the presidents paternal
grandfather commanded the first
steamboat that ran on the Mississippi.
In 1911 Captain Roosevelt took
steamboat down the Ohio and the Mis-.
sissippi to New Orleans, the very first
to make the trip. The presidents
grandmother also made the voyage.
Congressman Theodore g.. Burton of
Ohio, chairman Of the inland water
ways commission, and his confreres
now have mapped out for them a pro-
gramme the carrying out of which
should immoxalize their names.
Bear Hunt In the Canebrakes.
At the close Of the inland water
ways. convention President Roosevelt
left for northeast Louisiana to partici-
pate in bear hunt in the canebrakes.
His hosts on the trip will be John A.
McIlhenny, former rough rider and a
member Of the national civil service
commission, and John M. Parker, own
er of large cotton plantation, who
accompanied the president on his bear
hunt in Mississippi four years ago.
Two camps have been pitched for
the presidents party. The first is at
the junction Of the Tensas river and
the Monticello road, in East Carroll
parish. This camp will be about five
miles from Alsatia station, where the
temporary "White House" will be es-
tablished for the presidents secre-
taries, telegraphers and newspaper cor
respondents. The second camp Is at
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