The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-07-01
.LARIMORE WOULD
USE MISSISSIPPI
WELL KNOWN NORTH DAKoTAN
TAKES EXCEPTIONS TO
STATEMENTS AT GOOD
ROADS MEET.

Larimore, N. D., June 2s.-To The
Forum: The writer attended the
good roads convention at Fargo and
was deeply interested in the remarks
Of the speakers and the resolutions
adopted by the meeting. Mr.. Gross of
Chicago presented convincing argu-
ments In favor Of legislative enact
ments that would put road improve
ments under proper supervision and I
would advise that II possible, his SER
vices be engaged to lay before the
members Of our state legislature his
suggestions regarding suitable legis-
lation. 80. .-~.a ..A...,. PCS 49,.
I could not, however, agree with Mr.
Gross in his manifest hostility to the
improving of our nayigable waterways
He stated that if the. Mississippi riv-
er ran east to the Atlantic seaboard it
could be made an important factor in
transportation, but as it lead to the
Gulf Of Mexico 1t could only be util-
lied in limited way. cannot quote
his exact language but the arguments
were to make good the claim that
rivers were better adapted to serve as
sewers for carrying off waste water
and refuse than floating steamboats,
and barges to carry our merchandise
and farm products to and from tide
water. Mr. Gross cited the great de-
cline in river transportation between
st. Louis and New Orleans, but did
not state that the railroads para1leling
the river took freight from river
points at a far less rate than from
the same distances where there was
no water competition, thereby COMPEL
ing shipments from noncompetitive
points to make good the loss sustained
in crushing river competition. I stat
ed to the meeting that Mr.. Hill said
to me- with fourteen feet of water be-
tween st. Louis and New Orleans he
would build barges and carry wheat
from st. Louis to New Orleans for
/ cent per bushel. Mr.. Gross stated
in reply that Mr.. HILL was demanding
something he knew he could not get
and did not want and was simply
demanding an impossibility so that
nothing would be done until long af-
ter the present generation was for
gotten. / have known Mr.. Hill great
many years and have never known or
heard Of his making a statement he
was not ready and willing to make
good.
Soon after Jay Gould bought the
Missouri Pacific railroad from Commo-
dore Garrison with others from the
list. Louis Merchants exchange I
sought his aid to start a barge line
between st. Louis and New Orleans.
Mr.. Gould replied that he would not
engage in transportatino where he did
mot control the right of way. If Mr..
Hill or some such broadminded man,
| for few years, had control of this
magnificent right Of way, compre-
hensive, systematic plan would he adj
opted ensuring a most economical
way for transportating heavy and low
valued merchandise
Mr.. Gross spoke of the millions of
dollars that had been appropriated for
the Improvement of the Mississipps
river and also said millions had been
wasted in the present system of work
Ing country wagon roads. contend
/ the failure in both cases Is the want
of a comprehensive system. If we UNI
dertake to erect building ten stories
high with the material that should
go into one story, the first storm that
comes would demolish the structure.
When an appropriation is made for
river Improvements 1t is spread out
over thousands of miles, little patch
here and there, and a large part of
this work goes out with the first high
water. Competent engineers could
formulate a system of river improve
ments that would prove as permanent
| as the Panama canal and of as great
possibly more, to oil cen
trail states between Canada and the
Gulf OF Mexico.
| 1t was argued THAT boats and barges,
not being amphibious could not go
to the farms for farm produce. IT. is
a well known fact that railroads have
terminals at st. Paul, Minneapolis
Kansas City, ST. Louis and many 9th,
er points and 1t would be economy tc
dump certain portions of their car
goes into barges to be taken to tide
- ets ~. ~sa