Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1910-01-19
OUGHT TO SUPPORT
 BOTH PROJECTS Secretary Caldwell of the Board of Trade, Tells of
 Benefits From Rates.
OPEN UP THE STREAM
Representatives in Congress Working to That End-JOc KObinson's
 Bill.

The publishing of extracts from tine report ot Major M. L. Walker, Uni- ted States engineer. in this district by our city papers, reminds me that l have received some letters and at least one protest concerning the ben eft or injury which Pine Bluff may receive from projects for work by the government OH the Arkansas river,
 ] think it would be well to follow up the different threads and aseer- tain what sort of cloth folks are try ing to weave.
 Out of the many investigations and reports by various Boards of t,ngi- neers it has been accepted as q final fact that the Arkansas river from Little Rock to it's mouth may he per manently improved by operating two dredge boats. supplemented by sna9- ging and occasional revetment there ny making the river open for naYi9a- tion at all times. The cost of these boats is fixed at $150,o00 each with a cost annually for operation 0f $59.- eco.
 This expenditure has been recom- mended by tae General Board of Ell sineers, the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors. the Secretary of War, and Major NJ. l.. Walker, Enited States Engineer of this district.
 Accordingly Congressman Joe T. Robinson has introduced a bill mali- ing the necessary appropriation of $40o,o0o.00. This bill he will press with energy in Congress and before the Rivers and Harbors Committee, and the War Department assured him and ne when l was recently in Wash ington that We had their good will, as a matter of official approval
 There is a second project on foot. which gets it's inspiration from Lit tie Rock, and which ought to com mand our hearty cooperation.
 The United States Boards of Engi- neers have heretofore held that there could be no permanent improvement of the river between Little Rock and Muskogee, without the construction of locks and dams, and that such works could not now be recommend ed, but that temporary relief. giv- ing an open river for more months in the year could be secured by dredge Goats.
 Last summer Little Rock secured a hearing from d special board on a mp as Ozark, for the purpose of op- ening the coal fields to river trans portation. The report of this board, has not been made public, but it is privately rumored that they are faV- orable to the project as d means of giving the Arkansas Valley cheap fuel.
 Senator Clarke is enthusiastic in his support of this movement, just as Robinson is struggling for the permanent opening of the lower river. They are cooperating with each other with the hope that the way may be opened for Arkansas to become more of manufacturing state as we'll as secure cheaper trans portation along all lines involving heavy shipments.
 There ought to be no conflict be- tween the two above projects. which have Pine Bluff and Little Rock as their respective centers. At the same time the upper river should not be opened and the lower river left damned up. Pine Bluff consumed s0,000 tons of coal last year and the opening of the river to the coal fields near Ozark would mean much to us. To open up only little stretch from Little Rock north to Ozark would be an injustice to the consumers of coal below Little Rock.
 It is properly expected that all the Arkansas deleeation will work for the execution of both these projects. for they both rise above anv mere local interest and concern the welfare of the whole state
 !. L. CALDWELL.
 PILES CCREn IF e Tn IL nAYS.