Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-02-15


in a common market whether he lives
on the Missouri or the Mississippi
He adds to the regular cost the freight
rates to the point of distribution and
he adds his pronts and then the con
sumer pays the whole thing. So that
it has been the people of the west
that have been affected; producers
and consumers alike - by that dis
elimination. This is what the people
complain of.
North Dakota Has Good Rates.
You are enjoying here a pretty
good rate; | congratulate you upon
it. But every busnel of wheat out
of your wheat fields in this part of
North Dakota should go to Liverpool
for cents less a bushel than now
then cents would be added on every
bushel of every farmers grain in
this country. That is not what would
happen if the Missouri river was an
open highway to the sea.
=. Rational Appeal to Congress. :,
Now gentlemen of the convention,
this Missouri river question is an en-
tirety. It cannot be separated. It is
a proposition of 1900 miles of navi-
gable river. If there is any man in
this convention from any community
that has any idea that anybody con.
nected with this movement in any
place of responsibility or leadership,
stands for anything else, let him alb
solve himself of that idea and let him
do it quickly. For myself, am for a
sane and rational prograM of improve
ment for the Missouri river, the whole
river, such one as will appeal to
congress. Any other. program would
fail. any other program would be in
sufficient, any other program would
be narrow; but we must face the prop
I'osition squarely.
At that splendid convention down
at Sioux City the other day, the peo-
pie represented there were kind
enough to place me in leadership. in
this movement. l happen to enjoy at
the present time, if enjoyment is the
word, a place of power and RESPONSE
bility as member of the great rivers
and harbors committee of the national
congress. And say to you that in
the two places, as president Of this
great Missouri River Improvement
Congress with interests that are so
masterful and important, and in that
committee room where may sit down
with nineteen other men to figure out
next year bill to appropriate perhaps
fifty millions of dollars, must have
your confidence, your cooperation in
sane and rational program.
Necessity Of Organization. 's'f
Now just one word and l am
through. I have said / want every
man of this convention to be mem
Der of our Missouri River Improve
ment Congress, and want to say just
word about that. What does it
mean? We ought to have three thou
sand members. We ought to have
that many quick. We must have and
maintain splendid improvement as
ISOLATION. We ought to have man
OF brains and energy to prepare data
and information. and showing for
the congress Of the United States. We
ought to have a canvass of this VAL
ley from Fit. Benton to the mouth to
show what commerce. might be de-
veloped upon every stretch of the
river If the boats were put upon it.
We ought to go down to congress
with the facts and figures and we
cannot do 1t and never will do it un-
til we undertake to do it in this way.
and that will cost money
Secretary Call has come I'D here
from Sioux City and he is ready to
receive contributions and member
ship. want to leave this word with
you. have not accepted this leader
ship that you have imposed upon me
at Sioux City for any other reason
than to put before congress the de-
and information.
A few years ago we went before the
Interstate Commerce Commission at
Kansas City to try to be put upon the
same plane as st. Paul Commissioner
Prouty, chairman of the commission.
said to US: "Why, We cannot do that;
st. Paul is on a navigable river and
you have let your river dry up. That
was the word. We propose that the
Missouri river shall dry up" no more
Address Of Governor Burke.
At this late hour and after the
splendid exposition that you have
heard of this river problem this At
ternoon, ! do not propose to detafn
you very long. 4 want to say though,
| that this afternoon before the con
vention convened, / was accompan.
led by Congressman Ellis together
with Mr.. Call, through the basement
| and Sh0uod IF tr,n,,o - E&