The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1910-04-07
RIVER NAVIGATION
DEPENDS ON SYSTEM
OF BR|QuETING COAL
Colonel Mcclure Evolves Plan
If Making Merchandise for
Commerce.
BY A ROBINSON.

Pierre. S. d., April 5.-The attend
Pierre this week exceeded the expecta-
lions of the promoters. More than rs
prominent citizens OF the state were
present from outside towns and a gem
uine impulse to navigation sentiment
With a substantial promise Of imrned-
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 F. Mcclure assured
the convention that transportation
WOULD be supplied the moment 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 ems Official figures We're
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 b%riqueted more h
10. 200. 900 tons of brown coal: that
other European nations b%riqueted pro-
portionate quantities. The fact was
emphasized tat vast quantities of this
brown coal lie exposed on the ank of
the upper Missouri; that i~nexhaustible
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 blu
nominal. Figures were produced to
show that: IT can be laid down at Mo-
bridge, Pierre OF Chamberlain at from
$3.50 to $3.50 per tor. That it exceeds
the best anthracite In heating proper
ties in the ratio of 13 to IL. that iS, the
best anthracite has 10000 British Their
NAL units per pound, while the %briquet-
cd Ignite has 1900 British thermal
units per pound. That 1t is a cleanly,
pleasant fuel to use.
Mir. Matthews, of st. Louis, eNhib-
tied many s~tereopticon views showing
the transportation of Goals and lignites
on the rivers of Germany which natur-
ally are vastly less navigable h a 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 IS per
ton, and in many places for a less,
price. 1t places the transportation
problem entirely in the hands of u
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 BUSH
ness enterprise and organization which
is employed in the eastern coal BUSH
ness. What the Germans have done
successfully for centuries we can GER
tainlS do Will equal success here. There
is no obstacle in the way than which
greater obstacles have been overcome
by the
captain L. A. Baker. of Bismarck,
who has practical faith In navigation,
because he has a large investment in
q fleet upon the upper Missouri from
which he derives a fine revenue. 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
t! of rates by reason of its potentialities
although it is scarcely navigated at all,
and it may readily be inferred what
effect actual navigation would have
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. +. A. Williams. mayor of Bis
marck, though not a practical liver
man, has nearly half a century of
observation and intimate relations
With the river traffic to give weight to
his words. BY the way General Will
Jams VAS 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 ape by JOS
eph Mills Hanson, of Yankton. in which
ne 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 hat the revetment
work placed there is or 20 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 "a miles is practically the only piece
of work done on the Missouri river
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 we'll without any attention what
ever justifes the faith tina the whole
course of the stream once improved
..Eill require but nomina repairs an
nually. Mr.. Hanson produced figures
to SHOW that the valu of the land re-
CANNED DN lne Improvement OF tne
river at the nominal value of $50
per acre would more than pay tn,
total expense of permanent revet-
ments from the mouth to the source. t.
say nothing whatever of the value O
navigation.
Among the old timers present was
> Hon. Abe Van Osdel, who has done T;
good deal of private revetlnent worl
) to save his extensive estates along tho
, Missouri below Yankton, using simpl,
! brush and fence Wire to prevent TIN
{ erosion of the banks. In this way h
| has saved his land while many ad
3 joining farms have gone wholly or i,
; part into the stream.
, The president of the State Woman
Suffrage association coyly slipped III
0 to the chairman of the convention witt
a resolution endorsing "Votei 70
Women," which the members weSe to-
gallant to oppose and it was insse,
Unanimously.