The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1910-04-07
RIVER NAVIGATION
DEPENDS ON SYSTEM
or BRIQOETING COAL
Colonel Mcclure Evolves Plan
of Making Merchandise for
Commerce.
BY poANE

IltTES TINS week tNCGSueu the tApSCtd-
tons OF the promoters. More thar 10
prominent citizens of the state We're
present from outside towns and a gen.
uine impulse TO navigation sentiment
with q substantial promise of immed-
late practical results came from the
conferences. The key to the situation
Gems to lie in the successful briquet-
Ing of North Dakota Ignite.
Colonel Pattison F. Mcclure assured
the convention that transportation
would be supplied the momen briquet-
ed Ignite in cargo lots could be Sc
cured. Parhaps the most interesting
facts developed by the convention We're
pertaining to briqueting.
This is not an experimental proposi-
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 coat of Germany
is the equivalent of our Ignite; that
last year Germany briqueted more than
Is, 900 900 tons of brown coal: that
other European nations briqueted pro-
~portionate quantities. The fact was
emphasized hat vast quantities of 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 it can be 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 10: that is, the
best anthracite has 1900 British Their
ma units per pound, While the %briquet-
ed Ignite has 1900 British thermal
units per pound. That it is a clearly.
pleasant fuel to use.
MIR, Matthews, of st. Louis, oxhib-
tied many stereopticon views showing
the transportation of Goals and lignites
or the rivers of Germany which natur-
ally are vastly less navigable than the
Missouri.
The proposition opens up possibili-
ties OF the greatest to all OF
South Dakota. 1t means that a fuel
of the quality of the best Ignite can
South Dakota for not more than Sc per
ton, and in nan 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 n bringing coal
here from the east.
All that Is required is the same busi-
ness enterprise and organization which
is employed III the eastern coal bust
ness. What the Germans nave one
successfully for centuries we can GER
tainly dc with equal success here. There
is nj obstacle in the way than which
! greater obstacles have been overcome
by the Germans.
Captain l. A, Baker, Of Bismarck,
who has practical faith in navigation,
because he has a large investment in
n Acct ,,y,n, f1a ,,prar NTsccD,,i f,o~,
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
of rates by reason of It's potentialities
although 1t 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 E. A. Williams. mayor of Bis
marck, though not a practical river
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 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 q 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 don by this com
mission In the lower reaches of the
| river and finds that the revetment
work placed there 15 or 20 years ago,
and which for many years has had nc
repairs whatever, is in excellent condi-
tion and essentially a permanent Inn
provement, holding the bank and main
of As miles is practically the only piece
of work done on the Missouri river
with the honest intention of improving
the navigation. Most or 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 As mile stretch has kept
SO well without any attention what
ever justifes 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 ths
river at the nominal value of So
per acre would more than paw thu
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 wa.
Hon. Abe Van Osdel, who has done /
good deal of private revetment worl
to save his extensive estates along tn,
Missouri below Yankton, using simpl,
brush and fence wire to prevent In,
erosion OF the banks. In this way h,
has saved his land while many adj,
Joining farms have gone wholly or Ii
part into the
The president of the State Woman,
, Suffrage association coyly slipped III
to the chairman of the convention VIII
t q resolution endorsing Votes ia
Women" which the members were 10,
gallant to oppose and 1t was passed
: unanimously.
, CLUB TO ADVERTISE HURON.
Huron. 8. D.. April 5.-The new Of
fccrs of the Huron Commercial clul
have entered with much enthusiast
upon their labors. Friday nights SEES
stor OF the club was ona ~ 40