The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1909-08-05
NEWS AND VIEWS
Of WASHINGTON
Interesting Letter From Our Special
Correspondent.
NO NAeIGABLE RIVER IN IOWA
OF the 295 Streams in the United
States Used for Transportation,
This State Is Credited
With None.
(By Cyrus Stoddard.)

washington, ~. u, july ol.-Ol INC
295 streams in the United States US
ed for transportation, Iowa contains
none. These streams represent to-
tai of 26,400 miles, and of this amout,
the Mississippi river and its fifty tribu-
taries comprise little more than one
half. The length of the father of wa
ers, from the Gulf to Cass lake, Mimi,
head of navigation, is 2,429 miles
These facts, together with vast
amount of information relative to the
waterways of the United States, are
contained in the latest report issued
by the Commissioner of Corporations
of the Department of Commerce and
Labor.
There have been constructed in the
country over $500 miles of canals, OF
which 2,444, costing over $S0,OO0,OOO,
have been abandoned. Inere are state
canals in Illinois, New York, Ohio and
Louisiana, the Erie canal in New York
being the longest, 355 miles, with the
Ohio and Erie canal in Ohio, a close
second, with 326 miles. Sixteen pri.
representing a total of 632 miles.
The only mention of Iowa in the en-
tire report Is in connection with the
Des Moines Rapids canal at Keokuk,
which is given as $50 miles long, with
three locks, and upon which the gov.
eminent, up to June 80, 1907 had spent
total of $1,262, 010.5S. A navigable
river is not necessarily used for COM
mercial purposes, hence it is that no
rivers In Iowa are mentioned in the
report. A large map of the United
States accompanies the report, on
which is shown every river and canal
used for transportation purposes.
b sSS
Even the farmers do not always
agree as to the probable effect of the
tariff duties, whether they should be
lowered or raised, as respects the pro
ducts of their farms. 1t all depends
on the farmer as the following story
told by Senator Depew, will illustrate
why" said the New Yorker, talk
ing to group or representatives, 1.-THE
farmers of the middle west don't want
anything done with the tariff. l was
recently talking with an Iowa farmer
in New York, who owns a large farm
out in the Hawkeye state and he sale
to me, why don't you fellows quit
fussing about the tariff and go home,
The tariff is all right. We farmers
don't want any changes. We are now
x,rhn tni
our potatoes, &c for. our hogs, and 9th
er prices in proportion. What's the
use of monkeying with the tariff under
such conditions?' And | suppose,
continued the Senator, that that l!
the sentiment of the farmers of tina
section of the country
VINO was the farmer" was asked
what part of the state did he COM
FROM"
30, his name is w. C.. Brown. He
got big farm out there, but just nov
he is working in New York as pres
dent of the New York Central raj
road" Then Chauncey smiled, and S
did the others.
Original pensions of S12 per mont
have been granted to Mrs. Lydia
Bales of Richland, and to Mrs. Catt
arine Kirkpatrick, of Oskaloosa. Rev
William Porter, of Aloha, received a
increase to s24 per month; James +
Tanner, Rose Hill, to SIS per month
and James Loughridge, Oskaloosa, t
$40 per month.
pSE
]. G. Maybray ana wife, of Abba
who have been visiting IN the Eas
visited Congressman Kendall on tn,
way down into Old virginia, wher
they will spend few weeks at MI
Maybray's boyhood home. Both wer
pleased with Washington, and hal
pened in the city on Friday, when bot
the house and senate were in session