Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-01
GETTING RESULTS
Upper Mississippi River I'm
provement Association
Has Gained Much,
AND EXPECTS STILL MORE
Secretary Sends Out Circular Letter
Reciting Manner. in Which it
Has Been Recognized.

In circular letter sent out by l.. B.
Boswell, secretary of the Upper Mis-
. sissippi River Improvement associa-
ton. to members and those interested,
/. the importance, of standing steadfastly
by the declarations that have been
adopted from time to time at the meet
lngs or the organization, is pointed out
with characteristic vigor. Referring
TO the success that has already been
met with in getting what the associa,
ton desires, the circular says:
1T will be interesting to all con-
cerned to know that, under the eapa-
be direction of Major G.. S. Richie. u.
> engineer in charge of the river be-
tween the Missouri river and ST Paul,
plans have been matured for carrying
Out the permanent improvement of the
upper river. 1t is stated that, during
the present season, there will be spent
$4,000 on improvements between Rock
Island and Burlington, and $4,000 be-
tween Burlington and Hannibal The
area for this seasons work covers the
upper river between the mouth of the
the ultimate project being, securing 6
foot depth in the channel
Contracts Are Let.
This work has been subdivided and
contracts let, SO as to cover practically
three divisions. From the $500, 900 al
letted for the first years work, it was
required to take an amount sufficient
TO construct new dredges, barges, etc.
SO the engineers would have sufficient
instrumentalities at their command to
proceed in satisfactory manner to-
( ward the ends in view.
fV Through an unwise policy hereto
fore pursued by congress, sufficient
funds were not appropriated to enable
the engineering department to main
tain depth of channel and at the same
time keep up its equipment, and not
until the efforts of our association
were successful has~there been at COM
mand of the engineers an amount to
. meet proper annual requirements.
Once equipped for the work, the en-
gineers will be able to proceed with
their plans and projects in a way that
will be satisfactory to all concerned.
To accomplish this, however, at least
$2,000.000 per annum should be allot-
tied to the upper river. from the mouth
OF the Missouri river to St Paul. with
sums proportionate to apply from the
mouth of the Missouri river to the
port of New Orleans, where, with a
depth of $50 feet, there is no difficulty
In finding sufficient water to float any
vessel which can enter the passes
Our efforts should now be directed to
ward influencing congress to meet
these requirements.
''The president of the United States
has bestowed a graceful and fitting
compliment upon the Upper Missis
sippi River Improvement association
by recognizing it through an invita-
tion which he has extended to Presi
dent Thomas Wilkinson to attend a
convention of governors, senator's, rep
resentatives, members of the cabinet
the Inland Waterways commission, and
representatives of other waterway i'm
provement associations, which will be
held in the White house May 13 ant
: Is. $685. In his invitation extended
to President Wilkinson, President
Roosevelt says: 4 invited the cooper
alton of the Upper Mississippi River
Improvement association in bringing
this matter before the people, and II
gives me added pleasure to invite you
p as president OF the association, te
take part in the convention This
invitation from the president of the
United States places our organization
-a+- ..-s..ss-s. "a, .s-ie4s A.