Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1908-12-18

ASKS OTHER STATES TO HELP.
TAKES RAP AT POWER COMPANY.

MAD1SON, WIS.,, dec. Ill SpeClall
The first step in the effort Of the state
of Wisconsin to secure the improvement
of the waterways within or on the boun-
diaries of the state was completed today,
when Judge Ray S. Reid of La Crosse,
state waterways commissioner. filed his
report with the governor. Judge Reid
was appointed under an act of the Leg
islature of 1907, and although it was
not contemplated that he would do more
than make an investigation of the water
ways in the northwest, he nevertheless
went to Europe at his own expense and
extended his inquiry to the improved
rivers and canals of Germany, Austro-
Hungary, France and Great Britain and
Ireland The conclusions reached by him
as applied to northwest waterways are
well summed up in the following conclu-
sions:
Makes Recommendations.
O-The Mississippi river between st.
Paul and St. Louis is capable of being, and
has been improved in a higher degree than
any other part of the Mississippi, or any OF
its tributaries
G)-The. Mississippi river below the mouth
of the Missouri is practically incapable Of
any improvement, except at a cost far in
excess of the actual value Of such improve
anents
(3)-The tributaries of the Mississippi can
tbe used to very great extent, and with
economy, for the transportation Of certain
nent whatever.
(4)-There is no economy in the transpor-
Hation of freight up the Mississippi river or
any of its tributaries by the methods or
operation in vogue on these rivers.
b)-There Is no economy In transporta
ton on canals If the cost of construction,
maintenance and operation are taken INTO
consideration.
(6}-If modern methods of transportation
were put in use on the Mississippi river
and it's tributaries, such rivers can be made
the most economical means OF transporta-
ti0n, in their present condition, that can pc
found within the borders Of the United
States.
Other States Should Help.
In his report Judge Reid declares that
the state of Wisconsin should secure the
united efforts and support of Iowa and
Minnesota in making experiments to test
the feasibility of modern methods OF
water transportation. lie suggests two
different plans:
Frst-Towing barges up stream ahead
of powerful boats with large side wheels.
This method is in successful operation
in many of the European countries.
The second plan is a modification of
should be used ON the Mississippi river,
between St. Louis and st. Paul. This
cheap method of propulsion consists OF
a single steel rail that can be secured
in the channel of the river, in such man
ner as to provide hold for the propell-
ing apparatus, anu az INC SAME Ilhle
guide the craft exactly to the spot where
it should run, just as locomotive fol-
lows the rails"
Judge Reid declared that this not only
would be useful method of reducing
foss of motion, but would allow the boats
10 run day and night as fog and smoke
could not deter them, since they would
Doe guided in the channel by the rail.
Raps New Power Company.
incidentally. the report takes a rap at
the Southern Wisconsin, Power company
of Madison, capitalized at $1,OOO,OOO,
and organized for the purpose of con-
structing a dam across the Wisconsin
river at Kilbourn and generate power for
the use of surrounding cities, including
Milwaukee. Judge Reid holds that the
river is navigable and takes issue with
the federal war department., which held
in an official report that the stream at
that point is not navigable. He
declares that if the Wisconsin river
is not navigable at that point, it is
not navigable at any point, and adds, "if
this river is not navigable, then neither
the Black, Chippewa or st. Croix rivers
are navigable."
Prophetically speaking Judge Reid
declares that the land in the Wisconsin
valley above Nekoosa Falls is capable
of supporting an immense population,
adding that when the power of the river
there is utilized, this should be the gar
den spot of the state within the next
generation" He suggests that the state
should plan some way to have a judicial
Interpretation as to whether the Wiscon-
sin river is navigable or not, and init
mates that the waterways commissioner
could be clothed with such power as
would make it possible to take these
steps.