The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-08-20
Big BOOST FOR
MISSOURI RIVER
Expenditure of Millions Justi-
fed, Says Captain Edward
II. Schulz.

F r# #r
Washington, Special: The best show
ing that has been made for the Mis-
souri, river In 20 years is contained in
the annual report of Captain E. III.
\ Schulz, engineer in charge, which has
Just been made public by the war de-
partment. The report covers the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1905. 1t shows
that the commerce q largely In
creased, that there are fewer snags and
that the prospects for a continuous in
crease of business are encouraging.
In line with his special report Of April
80 Captain Schulz asks for 1900, 600 to
begin the work Of improvement and
carry 1t on until June, 1910, and $4,000,
600 for the repair and extension Of ex-
listing works. Under the project he
recommends for a IL foot channel, he
asks for a yearly appropriation there
after OF $4,000 600 for work from Kan
sas City to the mouth. If II. shall be
deemed advisable to carry the work
from Kansas City to Sioux City HI
asks for $4,000, 900 for that reach. IN
der the temporary six-foot project he
asks $1,135, 900 yearly for work between
Kansas City n the mouth and ST.
100000 for work between Kansas City
and Sioux City.
FOR the Lower River.
The estimated cost of the 12-foot
channel from Kansas City to the mouth
Is $40, 000. 900 and a temporary six-foot
channel 50, 500, 900. For snagging $50, 900
a year Is asked, and for maintaining
the six-foot channel $S7, 500, or the L.
foot channel $500, 900.
For a 12-foot channel from Kansas
City to Sioux City, Captain Schulz asks
$22, 500, 900 or for a six-foot channel, So
$780, 600. For snagging $50, 900 will be re-
CURED annually. For maintaining a
stx-foot channel, $97, 500, and a 12-foot
channel 1862. 500.
For that part Of the river above Sioux
City, Captain Schulz asks $3.50. 900 q
year for maintenance and Improvement.
Hopeful on Commerce.
The showing of increased commerce
on h river will be gratifying. For the
year a total of S43,S 6 tons of freight
of all kinds was carried on the lower
river of which S,647 tons was general
merchandise and the balance coal,
sand, lumber, railroad ties and build
ing materials. The number Of passen-
gers carried was 1852. This is the best
showing that the river has made for
20 years. The increase on the upper
river was from 1897 tons in the fiscal
year 1906. to As, 1923 tons in 1907. The
two boats of the Kansas City line from
the beginning Of the season, May IL to
June 80, carried 2,270 o n averaging
about 400 tons a round trip.
The report follows:
The original condition of the river
was, and to a great extent the present
condition is. one Of alternate pools and
bars. The low water depth over bars
Is about three feet, n the width Of
the river one-third to one mile. In
the deep reaches the width is 800 to
1900 feet and the low water depth in
such places is often IL feet.
Generally speaking, the navigable
low water depth of the unimproved
river Is three feet and of high water
only nine feet, the navigable depth does
not increase as rapidly as the water
height, since the bars rise with tho
stage Of the river. The river is also
incumbered with snags, which, how
yer, are becoming fewer, due to con-
slant operations.
THE least depth at mean low water
over the shoalest part at the localities
improved, is not less than six feet. The
maximum depth, June 80, 1908, at mean
low water from Kansas City to the
mouth is four feet, from Kansas City
to Sioux City three and one-half feet
and above Sioux City three feet.
Commerce has increased greatly on
the river from Kansas City to the
mouth, there being now TIVE boats reg
ularly running from Kansas City to st.
Louis, Two boats running from Jeffer-
son City and st. Louis, and several
boats running IN the Missouri to the
Gasconade and Usage rivers. The eff
feet has been to equalize and keep
down freight rates, the actual river
rates being about 80 per cent of the
railroad rates."
The Improvement work on the river
in the last fiscal year largely has con-
sisted in the maintenance OF existing
works n ~snagging. Out Of an ap-
preparation of 100000 which became
available July 1, and a balance on hand
Of $36,392.51, Captain Schulz has left
1921, $50 for continuing work until an
other appropriation Is available.
The snag boat Missouri, during the
fiscal year removed TIC snags, 20 wrack
heaps, two sunken launches and 1882
leaning trees. Dixie work in the in
terests Of navigation was done at
Miami and projects have been APP
proved for similar work at Atherton,
No., and st. Aubert Bend, Mo.
Between Kansas City and Sioux City
h snag boat Mcpherson removed GA
snags, three wrack heaps, one wreck
and 447 leaning trees. At st. Joseph
$780, 900 is being spent in building bikes
to protect h railroad bridge and the
$4,000 towards this work. Fol work
in Bouton bend $4,000 is to be spent
this fall.
Above Sioux City the snag boat
Mandan removed 43s snags, SO miscel-
laneous Instructions and 434 leaning
trees. Fol revetment at Bismarck near
ly $4,000 was spent.
In the year different railroad ines
built 1880 feet Of revetment at or be-
low Kansas City.