The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1912-07-25
WOULD NAVIGATE
RED RIVER
Proceedings Of the Red River
Navigation Associations
Meeting.
HELD At WINNIPEG. JULY ~
Number Of Speakers Suggest
Plans for Improvement
Of River.

glories of the old Red River route
was the object Of the gathering of
many prominent citizens from
western Canada and points in N.
Oak. and Minnesota in Winnipeg
on July 18th, under the auspices
of the Red River Navigation Asso-
citation. 1t was l0:3O before the
meeting was called to order and
while waiting, the interesting
stories of Red River navigation of
thirty and forty years ago whiled
away the time pleasantly for the
old timers as we'll as the bystand-
ers who drank in every word of
the tales and wondered, no doubt,
if this could possibly be true.
Mayor Wough of Winnipeg call
ed the meeting to order in the
board room and in a few words
told of the formation of the asso-
citation through the interested
people.
He went on to say that the far
mers of Dakota and Minnesota
could send their wheat via the
Red River and Hudson Bay route
to Liverpool and save one thous-
and miles in the transport of the
same and that he felt quite sure
that the province of Manitoba
and the federal government at Of
tawa would do all in their power
to develope Red River navigation
from the international boundry to
Winnipeg.
Automobiles motoring up from
Grand Forks were delayed, owing
to heavy rains this side Of Win
nipeg and did not reach the city
that morning in time to be present
at the opening of the session.
Mayor Murphy of Grand Forks,
who is the vice-president of the
association was with the party of
motorists and addressed the meet
ing that afternoon.
Prof Chandler said that this
project would not necessarily be
a very expensive one and he
thought the cost could be brought
within $250,OOO.
The second session of the Red
River and Hudson Bay Navigation
association convention was held
on July 18th in the board room of
the Industrial Bureau, with Mayor
Wough in the chair. The pro-
gram consisted of an open and
free discussion by the delegates
of the need for better waterway,
both in Manitoba and N. Dakota
and the best way to proceed to
secure the same.
Mayor Wough, of Winnipeg,
after expressing the pleasure Of
the association in having the DEL
egates from all along the line
present, called on Mayor Murphy,
of Grand Forks to outline to the
convention what had been done
by the association since the last
meeting in regard to the scheme
for the improvement of the Red
River to make it a navigable river
for its entire length. Mr.. Murphy
said: Il am particularly glad to
notice the improvements that are
going on in Winnipeg. No other.
city on the American continent
has such a future before it. The
city is destined to be the Chicago
Of the west and the improvement
of the river will mean a lot to the
city. But the improvement will
mean a lot to us all. We have OBJ
tained grant from our govern
ment Of 100000 for the purpose
Of having proper survey made.
This will be done shortly. The in
stallation of one lock by you has
shown us what can be done. Let
us keep agitating and by working
together we will be sure of sue
cess.
Mr.. G. H. Bradbury, of Selkirk,
explained what action the Domin-
ION government had already taken
in. the matter. II realize that the
improving Of the Red River is a
matter of greatest Importance to
us and the people on the other
side of the line. The Dominion
government has already spent
nearly one million dollars in
building the dam and sixty thous-
and dollors for future improve
ments of the River. There is now
uninterrupted navigation from
Winnipeg to the head of the Lake
and to be of any great benefit to