Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1910-08-09


address 'l912' In care of this paper.
lwlllP Hfd FAiEiusas' iig up"'TduSGlyitt
| him am authority on the feasibility OF
the navigation of the river that sweeps
past this city While In Cincinnati re-
Gently Mr. Kates was in confercnc,
with some of the important officers
Of the National Rivers and llarbor'
Congress, and the following tOuche!
upon one of these meetings:
Cincinnati o., Aug, !, 1910.
"Mr Philip Kates,
Tulsa, Okla.
MY dear sir;
Following is our conferences on the
subject Of the navigation of the Ar
kansas:
Concerning the formation of an
Upper Arkansas River improvement
Association, would say that the detail,
of this matter were gone into at the
time we met, therefore ii is only
necessary to repeat in part what
said.
"l cannot counsel too strongly that
YOU call Convention of all localities
interested in the Arkansas River and
its navigation between Tulsa and Ft
smith or Little Rock, which would
comprise the Upper Arkansas River
You have been furnished with such
material as | could give you relating
to the formation of an improvement
association
Concerning the navigation Of the
river:
THE writer was actively engaged in
navigating the Arkansas River, as
captain of steamer, for a period ap'
proXmating three years and believes
that his experience iustifies the state
mcnt that the Upper Arkansas River
is navigable in its present condition
which condition is susceptible of great
Improvement by the Federal govern
ment, provided, always, that the prop
er kind Of craft Is used In the naViga-
ton, and replying to your writer
question AS to what | consider the
proper craft for such navigation,
would strongly advocate the building
of light draught, single deck, stee
hull boat Steam power, use YOU
cheap crude oil for fuel. As to the
dimensions of such boat, | would sug
gest compartment steel hull, Of no
to exceed ll0 feet in length and 9.
feet beam. without attempting L
go into detail as to power, etc,
am certain that such boat could b,
built practically unsuitable that woulC
not draw light, to exceed II inches
of water and would carry about l0(
tons of freight on less than two feet
Just such craft operate on rivers lik,
the Arkansas and have proved sue
ceSsful Steamers have been sen
from this city to the Rio Grande river
and steamers are now successfully
navigating the Upper Missouri river
also the Snake river in Idaho, eacl
of the streams named being of tn,
same character as the Arkansas.
Concerning the question of watel
competition and its bearing upor
freight rates.
THAT water competition not only
reduces, but regulates freight rates Il
too well known to admit of any argu
menr. Practically every section o
the country that has a direct water
connection, where navigation Is at
tempted and carried out, even through
the seasons and length of water ser,
vice be short benefits throughout tn,
entire year by the water rates, for, al
you know, there Is now a law thai
prevents railroads from raising and
also reducing, at twill, their rates
when competing with water routes.
Trusting that In the foregoing
have covered in the main the points
named in your communication anC
assuring you that both individuals
and officially, | am at the service NJ
yourself and all friends of Ehe Ar
kansas river, am
Very truly yours,
-. f., ELLISON.
Secretary"