The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-04-01
RIVER AND HAReoR APPRoPRlA.
TON BILL GIVES PROMISE OF
TAKING SUCH RANK
AND SOLVING MEAT SUPPLY
Seeks importation Of the Hippopota-
mus and Other African Water Ami
mails for Destruction OF Water Hya-
cinths in Rivers and For Food

Washington. D. c.. March 3l.-The .
river and harbor appropriation bill, .
which In all probability will De re-
ported to the senate this week, will
carry between fortyoight and fifty I.
million dollars and IN many ways
gives promise Of being the most scien-
tifically prepared bill which the com
mittccs of the two houses. dealing
with the rivers and harbors OF the
United States. have ever reported. In
addition To liberal appropriations for
the larger projects, il will carry some
Interesting items affecting the smaller
rivers of the United States. which
are sought TO be improved for the ben
eft of the communities along their
courses. and il will carry in the neigh
borhood Of $4,000 for the destruction
of the water hyacinth which grow lux.
uriantly In some of the streams OF the
south. seriously interfering with nay
igation. These hyaCinths originally
game from Florida. When New Or
leans had its exposition in lNSl-5 the
water hyacinth was brought from
Florida and sold "a a curiosity to Wis
itols attending the exposition. They
were planted in the states OF Louis.
ANA aud Texas aud 50 rapid was their
growth that instead Of being a deco
a,Nc plant they have almost become
curse to the people liyin- along
southern waters. particularly in the
bayous of the Pelican state.
Congressman Broussard OF Louisi.
ana. realizing that the work OF the
engineer board OF the army. looking
to the destruction and determination
OF the water hyacinth, has been but
drop in the bucket contemplates the
introduction of the hippopotamus as
means to bring about the eXtermi-
nation of the hyacinth and to that end
has introduced bill in congress ap-
prOptiating s2j0,OOO to begin the prop
agation OF this animal. Recently a
hearing was had on the Broussard
bill before the committee on agriCul'
turC at which We're present Captain
Fritz Duquesnc formerly OF the liuer
army, Doctor Irwin and Major Burn
ham. naturalist who has had a
great deal of experience both IN At
rica, in this country ana In Mexico
This hearing has aroused the Ncry
uvclicst interest and the newspapers
of the country are devotng columns
10 the discussion. OF what gives prom
Use of being OF the tirst importance
IN solving the problem, or AT least 20
ing far toward solving the problem,
of our meat supply
Congressman Broussard in speaking
Of his dill said. II the government
fails TO appropriate the amount ask.
ed tor in my bill am in position TO
say that the Introduction of the hip
popOtamus into at least some of the
bayous OF Louisiana will be undertak.
en- by commercial company shortly
to Dee organized Their Introduction
into the Waters Of the south is be
lioyed to be wholly feasible for the
climatic conditions of my state are
very similar to those that prevail IN
Africa, the home of the hippOpotI-
mus
African streams and African rivers
are kept entirely clean of water hya-
cin,h by the hippopotamus and oth"r
animals like the water buffalo. The
pictures of the Roosevelt expedition
show the rivers of Africa clean Of
aquatic plants like the water hyacinth
and our streams could be cleaned up
the same way and navigation made
possible where 1t Is now impossible
for steamers To operate, on accouu.
OF the rank growth of this plant which
We have been eudoayoring 20 eNtermi.
nate for many years by spraying,
dredging and cutting Then again the
introduction OF the hppopotamus
would so TAR toward solving the prob
lem ,t our meat supply
The flesh OF the hippopotlmus is
highly esteemed and when salted
and cured is known in the Cape VI
Good Hope as Zee-koc speck, or
+ lake-cow bacon. The fatty mass ly-
ing between the skin aud the flesh or
muscles is considered one of the pur.
est animal fats and is in great demand
among the Cape Colonists These mas
siye animals were 10 the English set
/ tiers in Cape Colony what our buf.
talo wa sto the pioneers in the set.
tlement of our great prairies and like
the buffalo We're heedlessly almost
oNterminated. Then again the African
buffalo, the bush-buck and reed.buck