University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1909-09-27
TO ASK FEDERAL
. AID FOR THE RIVER
NJ. c.. Quinn Believes Much
Will Be Accomplished
at State Fair.
CONVENTION is CALLED
Counties Damaged by the
Recent Overflow Are
Interested.
CONVENTION is CALLED

That the Missouri River convention
which Governor Hadley has called to
meet in Sedalia at the State fair. will
u- much to arouse sentiment in favor
OF river improvement, is believed by
NJ. G.. Quinn, of Columbia. who aided
in having the call made.
After the flood of last summer had
done So much damage. | consulted
many of those in the overflow district
and they all felt that they were up
against it. said Mr. Quinn in dis
cuSSing the call. Il suggested that we
ask the governor to call the convention
in order that it might have tone and
sanction of authority. The Missouri
river counties where the flood suffer
er> live are the ones interested.
| The only object is to redeem these
rich bottom lands from disastrous over
flows.
1T is Il popular fallacy,' continued
Mr.. Quinn. that the Federal govern
mcnt has the legal right to appropri-
ate money to prevent overilows and
for the protection of private property.
The United States has absolute control
OF the river so far as navigation is con-
cerncd and the two interests should
work together for river Improvement.
To Ask Federal Aid.
I'VE are going to ask the national
government to appropriate 10 million
dollars for navigation and the State,
If it can legally do so. to give 10 million
dollars for levccing the river to pre-
vent overflows
While we are lying in heaps like
drowned rats. we are not asking the
State to give us Il penny. We simply
ask the State TO lend us her credit tenn
porarllv until we can do the levccing
We expect to pay every dollar of the
cNp"n>e-principal and interest-bv an
advalorem tax on the lands benefited
and crop tax on the products of the
lands usually inundated An annual
tax of ten cents Il bushcl on corn and
five cents Il buShel on wheat raised
on these reclaimed lands will make
these levee bonds as safe and secure as
any bonds on the market In nv opin-
ion this will be the work done at the
convention in October. This convention
will have no legislative functions but
ii will mold public sentiment that will
result in legislation.
We expect to have Governor Had
ley. Senator William J. Stone. Senator
William Warner, and congressman and
prospective Congressman from the over
flow counties make addresses at the
convention. We hope to have persons
from st. Louis and Kansas City who
are interested in navigation with us.
\ transportation corporation with cap
ital stock of 10 million dollars to nav
igate the Mississippi river and its trib-
utarieS has been formed in st. Louis
A Missouri river company has been
formed in Kansas City with , million
dollars capital
Hopes for Good Results
When all these forces combine with
the farmers in the river district it will
give voice and volume to the appeal
not to be ignored. | have great hopes
that much good will be accomplished
at the Scdalia meeting
Mr.. Quinn has already begun work
in Boone county. He has surveyed the
levee district below NIcBaine and is or
ganizing for work. He has figured that
it will take 10000 cubic yards OF
earth to build levees necessary to pro-
tpct 400 acres of overflow land on
Perche creek and the Missouri river.
He says that if the proper machinery
an elevated grader and an engine is
cost of five cents ii cubic yard. The
lcvce will be on an average, seven feet
high and eight feet wide on top. with
IL slope of eighteen inches horizontal to
one foot in elevation. to the base
Il expect to organize at the No
vember term of the Boone county court |
If we had been protected the last two
Years by such il levee. we would have