Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-11-09

/ INC SpI1AS VI 1.-Two. 4AOACAOAO NAN
canal is still in its infancy. Notwith-
standing the fact that it has not sat
| isfactorory eastern outlet-though 1t
will have if the proposed deep water
way materializes, giving outlet to
Chicago, as well as the present one
to the Illinois river-there is the be-
ginning already of valuable traffic
on it.
Terminal facilities, not only at
wharves on the rivers, but also along
! the canal, were declared by the COM
missioners to be conspicuously lacking.
At a place like Rock Island there
should not only be proper terminal
facilities on the river bank, but there
should be a belt line railroad that
would insure easy interchange of traf-
fic between river and railroads. The
feeling is that these terminal facili-
ties should be provided locally.
AS to the proper power to be used
on canals. the gentlemen give another
endorsement to Hennepin. Horse pow
er is the cheapest. In Europe a maxi
mum speed not exceeding three and
half miles is believed to be the best.
Greater speed than this increases the
cost of transportation out of all pro-
portion to the gain in time. If the
greater speed is attained by the use
of steam, the cost over horse power
is very large And If it is attained by
electricity, it is still much larger. And
each new mile Of speed added by cleo
tricity costs very much more than the
last mile added The ideal substitute
for speed when large quantities IF
freight are to be transported is the
making of additions to the length Of
the tow. A tow of six boats, for in
stance, can be increased to a tow of
10 boats without adding more than
about 10 per cent to the amount of
horse power required for the propul-
sion.
Members OF Party
Senator Theodore E. Burton, Ohio,
chairman.
Senator F. NJ. Simmons, North Car
DINA.
Representative D. s. Alexander, New
York, chairman of the rivers and har-
bors committee of the lower house.
Representative F. G. Stevens, Min
nesota.
Representative I. P. wanger, Penn
sylvania-
Representative j. A. Moon, Tennes-
see.
B. H. Russell, secretary of the COM
mission.
The tour Of the Mississippi is being
made on the q. S. steamer David Tip
ton, and besides the commission the
boat party includes:
Colonel w. H. Bixby. engineer in
charge Of entire Mississippi river.
Major c. S. Richie, engineer In
charge Of upper Mississippi.
Captain s. P. Edwards, in charge Of
Dubuque division.
Senator Moses Clapp, Minnesota.
Approves ST. PauI's Project.
Senator Theodore E. Burton, head
of the waterways commission, ap-
proves st. Paul's project to lift the
Mississippi river to a new bed and
improve the head Of navigation at
that point by the construction of a
new channel. creation of new levees |
and building of extensive harbor
works which will make st. Paul the |
finest port on the river. Senator |
Burton said:
''It seems to me that the improve
ments which have been so carefully |
laid out are advantageous from every |
They will give ST. Paul |
admirable facilities for the handling |
of future river traffic, will relieve |
railway congestion and will provide
immense space for warehouses which |
must be constructed along the river |
when the river again begins to carry
its share of traffic. / am surprised at |
the apparent moderate cost of the |
work and it seems to me that ST. Paul |
shows wisdom in planning these |
works. now, when they can be con-
structed cheaply."
Sharp Turn In River.
The present turn of the river with
in the district covered by the propos-
ed harbor improvements, is very
sharp. Members of the commission |
agreed after inspecting the district |
that the new channel, with a more |
gradual curve to the channel, will |
provide a better current, tending to |
maintain better channel. The sides |
Of the made channel will be protect
ed by rip-rap and concrete, giving the |
river better bed than it has at the |
present time.
Senator Burton was much interest
ed in the character of future traffic |
which it may be possible to divert to |
the river and made searching in |
quiries into the present wheat and |
flour shipments of the northwest, |
their routing and the volume export |
ed. He also inquired into the north |
vests coal supply to ascertain what |
amount of the annual consumption is |
drawn from districts such that an i'm |
proved river would make 1t possible |
to divert shipments to the river. With |
other members of the commission he |
inquired into the growing movements |
of local package freight and the pres
ent passenger business on the river. |
Much Business for River.