Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-28
HULL TO HAVE
RIVER SURVEYED.
SEEKS TO INVESTIGATE SUBJECT
OF NAVIGATION OF THE
DIES MONIES.
THIS IS FIRST MOVE
Congressman Has Endorsement OF
Three Commercial Bodies in Des
Moines and May Have
OttumWa's.

Congressman j. A. T. Hull of the
Seventh congressional district, is
about to introduce measure in con.
gress says the Des Monies Capital,
10 survey the Des Moines river from
the capital city through Ottumwa, to
the Mississippi at Keokuk.
The Capital" comments that OF.
tumwa is the only other large city on
the river outside of the capital city,
but there are scores of smaller cities
which would be benefited by the deep
ening OF the stream for shipping pur-
poses. Ottumwans are in hearty ac-
cord with the measure and will put
their shoulders to the wheel with Des
Moines in an endeavor to have the
measure made law.
Following is the Capital article:
Congressman J. A. T. Hull will
shortly submit bill to the house Of
of the Des Moines river from it's
mouth as far upward toward the
source as navigation would be practi-
cable. This is the first big movement
to make that waterway navigable
lions of dollars annually in freight
rates. Back Of this measure for river
improvement is the undivided sup
port of the shipping interests of the
entire state, for indirectly all Of, them
would be benefited by the return of
river navigation.
Locally Mr.. Hull has the hearty en-
dorsement of the three commercial
organizations of the city, which will
aid him in this cause the best they
can. Each has appointed two repres-
entatives to committee which will
have the matter in charge. A. G. Mil
Ter has been appointed chairman be.
cause of his membership in, these
three booster clubs On this commit
tee George B. Hippee and Lucius Will
son will act for the Greater Des
MONIES committee; j. A. Mckinney
and o. o. Hauge for the East Des
Moines Commercial club; and Len
Harbach and Dan Patton for the Com.
mercial club
During Representative Kasson's
term in congress the graft and mis-
management of the old Des Moines
River Improvement company caused
him to have the sovereignty over the
Des Moines river coded to the state.
BY this action the river became non.
navigable and bridges we're construct
| ed across it and all river traffic was
blocked. AS result the company
then operating line of steamers on
the Des Moines dissolved and naviga-
ton ceased. One Of the first tasks that
Captain Hull will undertake will be
to have this transfer Of authority
over the river annulled If he is sue
cessful, as he must be, the Des Moines
will again be under federal control
and will be classed with all navigable
streams.
The survey of the Des Moines will
determine whether it will be slack
or open waterway, whether it will be
made navigable by constructing wing
dams or dredging channel for it's
| length.
A half century ago steamers piled
the Des MONIES river, coming UP the
, Mississippi from the gulf and down
stream from st. Poul. That was be-
fore the railroads had reached the
center of the state and their coming
was large influence toward killing
| shipping by boat. In the fifty years
/ that have passed since steamer last
moored on the banks of the Des
Moines near Court avenue millions Of
people have settled in the middle
west and the country has become de-
| veloped. 1t would take a big line of
steamers to handle the local and trib-
utary business today because of the
growth and progress that has oc-
| Cured.
| Besides this city. Ottumwa is the
only large one situated on the Des
Moines river between here and the
Mississippi. Keokuk Is at the junction
of the two streams and the river is
navigable there. Although there are
of towns and small cities and the rives
passes through fertil and thickly
settled country. Grain from the north
western part of the state could be
| shipped to Des Moines, transferred to
a boat and sent bv the river to the
Mississippi, up that stream to the Illi-
nois river and through the canal now
being constructed in that state, to
Lake MICHIGAN. The cost of shipping
| in the seemingly round about way
would be less than hald that rate now
charged by the steam road Meas
urement shows that the water haul Is
not SO much longer as at first suppos-
ed
The openine Of the Des Moines river
would be the making Of the capital
city. 1t would Immediately became
the shipping center for over half the
state, because no shipper would use
the land haul when the steamer af-
forded him saving Of half.
| If the river is opened the steamer
will Immediately become a respected
rival of the freight train The bust
ness of the railroads will be greatly
affected and they can be expected to
oppose all LEGISLATION to make the
stream navigable. The Rock Island
now follows the Des Moines from
/ Keokuk to Eddyville. a distance Of