The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-02-26
BOIL WEEYIL FIGHT
BEGINS IN EARNEST
Rapid Spread Of Pest in
Oklahoma ExciteS Gov.
efnment Experts


Washington Feb 26 Memorials
drawn up by the Trans Mississippi
Commercial congress at Muskogee last
Year in the interest of river aud har.
Dor improvements aud introduced IN
the national Legislature by the various
members of the oklahoma congress
sional delegation recalls the feast
bilty of the Improvement of the Ar
kansas river which is ore of the sew
eral PROJECTS discussed pro and con
during t5l recent Bluskogee conyen-
tion. According to the meomrailists
this stream which course its way
through Oklahoma has always been
considered nayigable waterway but
for obvious erasons during the terri
torial existence has been permitted
to deteriorate until its commerce so
important had disappeared almost en-
tirely from it's surface
Government reports are quoted to
show that the Arkansas river has been
considered a nayigabe stream for the
past so years Captain Anerts report
OF 1870 submitted to the 41st congress
showed that 20 steamboats, averaging
300 tons burden plying between Fort
Gibson. Oklahoma aud Little Rock
Arkansas, New Orleans, Louisiana
Memphis. Tennessee. ST. Louis and
cincinnati dong total volume of bust
mes OF more than $5.OOO,OOO annually
Captain Taber in his report in 1855
says Of the expenditures on the Arkan-
sas that it has been OF such practical
value TO navigation that accidents are
practically unheard OF and the river
with the exception of several unim-
proved shoals is in excellent navigable
condition as high as Fort Gibson
I In those years according to official
reports steamboats, maintained their
regular schedules by night as we'll as
day and at medium stage Of water
at that
I To quote Captain Taber again:
There is no doubt that two foot chan
mel can be provided whenever the de.
volopment of the country warrants II
and the river should be for all nur-
poses of law rated as navigable to
/ Wichita. Kansas. For over two years
/ have engaged in personal converse
ton as opportunity occurred with old
navigators of the river and old resi-
dents along the banks and with my
Iobiect concealed and have received
uniform testimony that in the past
years the Arkansas river flowed
through a much narrower channel
and that then but for the snags nc
boats such as now navigate had any
dificulfy in doing so"
Another member of the United
States engineer corps. Lieutenant Col
onel Amos Stickey. in a report made
in 1900 estimated that ii would re
auife S26.677 900 10 provide six foot
channel for the 2SS miles of the river
from Muslsogee Hyde Park landing tt
Little Rock.
In conclusion the memorial says
"lt is our purpose IN the details mar
rated TO emphasize the fact that the
present neglected condition OF the Ar
zanas river especially upon the nppc
reaches through Oklahoma, is not Z
natural condition and that 1t is th'
plain duty OF the government 20 re
stGrethis stream as a commercial az
terry aud make Il q blessing to th'
800 900 OF people OF this state an'
the people OF the other populous see
tions ia other states 20 which il d
tributary"
The above reports together with
concurrent resolution adopted by th
legislature have already been referee
10 the house COMMITTEES on rivers an
harbors where they will be given al
tenti0n By Chairman Burton shoui
the administration decide IN favor O
river and harbor appropriation bi
at this session of congress.
Especial emphasis Is laid upon "a
fact that water transportation can b
! had az one-tenih the cost of the rate
charged hy railroads and that the COS
q Of improving the Arkansas river woul
4 Approximately cost the same as, th
d construction Of a double track railfoa
y along the banks OF that part Of th
a rlser thar needs Improvement
The rich natural resources of a
X new state according TO this resolutio
Il demand immediate action In the pren
= ises. The business Of the country
4 is declared is growing more rapid tina
e railroad expansion and that this in
4 self Is great argument IN favor
y an annual appropriation Of $4,000 "a
= by the government for the improY
s meni OF the waterways OF the Unite
States.
4 The rapid spread 81 the boil wee.
b pest IN Oklahoma has attracted q
. attention u the denaIlmenl QL aEl