Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-04-22
RIVER NAVIGATION
DEPENDS ON SYSTEM
OF BRiQiUjEETTiiNGC Coat
Colonel Mcclure Evolves Plan
of Making Merchandise for
Commerce.
BY DoANE

ANANNB - ~f'
hnce at the waterway convention at
Pierre this week exceeded the eXpecta-
tons of the promoters. More than 10
prominent citizens of the state were
present from outside own and a gen.
uine impulse TO navigation sentiment
with a substantial promise of immed-
late practical results came from the
conferences. The key to the situation
seems to lie in the successful briquet-
ing of North Dakota Ignite.
Colonel Pattison +. Mcclure assured
the convention that transportation
would be supplied the m briquet-
ed Ignite in cargo lots could be Sc
cured. Parhaps the most interesting
facts developed by the convention were
pertaining to briqueting.
This is not an experimental PROPOSE
ton in any sense. Official figures were
produced to show that the process has
been employed in Germany for more
than 400 years with the greatest sue
cess; that the brown coal OF Germany
is the equivalent of our Ignite; that
last year Germany briqueted more than
Is, 000, 900 tons of brown coal; that
other European nations briqueted pro-
portionate quantities. The fact was
emphasized that vast quantities or this
brown coal lie exposed on the banks of
the upper Missouri; that ineXhaustible'
amounts are so accessible that it can,
be loaded directly from the mines
upon river craft; that the expense of
delivery OF this fuel at wharves in
South Dakota by river should be but
nominal. Figures were produced to
show that IL can De laid down at Mo-
bridge, Pierre or Chamberlain at from
$3.50 to $3.50 per ton. That it exceeds
the best anthracite In heating proper
ties in the ratio of 13 to II; that is, the
best anthracite has IL, 700 British Their
NAL units per pound, while the briquet-
ed Ignite has $4,000 British thermal
units per pound. That 1t is a cleanly,
pleasant fuel to use.
Mr.. Matthews, of st. Louis, cxhib-
tied many s~tereopticon views howin
the TRANSPORTATION of Goals and lignites
on the rivers of Germany which natur-
ally are vastly less n~avigable than the
Missouri.
The proposition opens up possibili-
ties Of the greatest moment to all OF
South Dakota. 1t means that a fuel
of the quality of the best Ignite can
be sold at every railroad station in
South Dakota for not more than Sc per
ton. and in many places for a less.
price. 1t places the transportation.
problem entirely in the hands OF our
own people. 1t is a safe, stable and
tried business proposition, involving no
complications more serious than those
involved in mining and bringing coal
here from the east.
ALI that is required is the same bust
ness enterprise and organization which
is GIllDlOytu III the tdSJGI COdl DuSl-
ness. What the Germans have done
successfully for centuries we can GER
tainly do with equal success here. There
Is no obstacle in the way than which
greater obstacles have been overcome
by the
Captain 1. A. Baker, of Bismarck,
who has practical faith in navigation,
because he has a large investment in
a fleet upon the upper Missouri from
which he derives & fine evenue, dis
cussed the Missouri river in its present
condition as a rate maker and showed
very conclusively that it does have a
very important bearing in the making
of rates by reason of it's po~tentialitfes
although it is scarcely navigated at all,
and it may readily be inferred what
effect actual navigation would nave
upon rates throughout the course of
the stream.
Hale and hearty after GA years Of
actual service in navigating the Mis-
souri,, Captain Grant Marsh, OF Bis
marck, was in attendance and added
very much TO the value of the counsel
by reason of his long and practical
experience.
Hon. E. A. Williams, mayor of Bis
marck, though not a practical river
a has nearly half a century of
observation and intimate relations
with the river traffic TO give weight to-
I AiAo "olbSs 10y 1iS ~ eNiiNt Oh W IA
Jams was speaker of the Territorial
House, nearly 40 years ago. and was
for many years the standing member
Of the Bismarck region.
One of the most interesting features
of the convention was a paper by JOS
eph Mills Hanson, of Yankton, in which
he reviewed the achievements Of the
old Missouri River commission, which
was abolished in 1902. Mr.. Hanson has
examined the work done by this com
mission In the lower reaches Of the
river and finds that the revetment
work placed there IS or &C years ago,
and which for many years has had no
repairs whatever, is in excellent condi-
ton and essentially a permanent i'm
provement, holding the bank and main
tanning a deep channel. This stretch
of 40 miles is practically the only piece
of work done on the Missouri river
with the honest intention OF improving
the navigation. Most Of the other
money has been spent in a desultory
way to protect a town front or to give
stability to a railroad bridge site. The
fact that this 40 mile stretch has kept
SO well without any attention what
ever j~ustifles the faith that the whole
course of the stream, once improved,
will require but nominal repairs an
nually. Mr.. Hanson produced figures
to show that the value OF the land re-
claimed by the Improvement of the
river at the nominal value of $50
per acre would more than pay the
total expense Of permanent revet-F
ments from the mout to the source, to-
say nothing whatever of the value Of
navigation.
Among the old timers present was
Hon. Abe Van Osdel, who has done a,
good deal Of private revetment work
to save his extensive estates along the
Missouri below Yankton. using simply
brush and fence wire to prevent the
erosion of the banks. In this way he
has saved his land while many ad-
joining farms have gone wholly or in
part INTO the stream.
The president of the State Woman's
Suffrage association coyly slipped up
to the chairman of the convention with
a resolution endorsing Votes for
Women" which the member were too
gallant to oppose and 1t was passed
unanimously.