The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1912-02-23
DEEP WATERWAYS.

The following is a speech delivered by
Col. w. NJ. Wilson. Of Obion, who was
commissioned by the Lakes-so-the-Guli
Deep Waterway Convention meeting in
Chicago, to report to Congress. The
speech was inserted as part Of Con-
gresham Finis J. CARROTS remarks in
the Congressional Record, and is as fol-
lows:
"a deep waterway from the Lakes to
the Gulf is an economic proposition,
and when constructed viii double the
value Of Uncle Sans big farm. It will
open up the extensive deposits Of phos-
phate along the shores Of the Missouri,
Tennessee, and Cumberland Rivers suf-
ficient in quantity to enrich every poor
spot upon this great plantation. It will
open up way by which the 10000
miles of its tributaries may empty their
commerce into the mother stream.
Appropriate another hundred mil
lions or more. il necessary, on the Erie
Canal in order to accommodate the
commerce still seeking an eastern out
let. This will satisfy New York and
New England
This proposed improvement along
the Mississippi will encourage the Co.,
900, 900 OF the central portion OF Uncle
Sans domain to levee the rivers and
drain the swamps in their respective
sections, which when completed will
add nearly one-third to the Nation 5
wealth, as for illustration, levee and
drainage districts on the Kaskaskia and
Illinois Rivers in Illinois and on the St.
Francis River in Arkansas and Missouri
and on numerous other rivers in other
States have been established with perfect
success, and many thousands Of acres
in each system assessed for taxes at the
rate Of from so cents to 80 per acre is
since reclamation assessed at from $40
TO $50 per acre. Again, similar dis
trict to these mentioned has been or
ganized in Obion County, Tenn, with
the cost Of reclamation estimated at 80
per acre, but when reclaimed this land
will be worth from $75 to 500 per acre.
There are millions Of acres Of swamp
lands ia the Mississippi Valley as fertile
as can be found anywhere upon the
earth, and with the coming Of a deep
waterway along the Mississippi these
lands will rapidly give up their coat Of
filth and slime and become the finest
farm lands in America.
THE Lakcs-to-the- Cult Deep Water
way Association is asking the National
Congress to appropriate for q 14-foot
channel from the Lakes to the Gulf the
sum OF $3.50, 900, 900, which sum il ap-
propriated will cost the people OF the
United States 1.50 per capita, estimat-
ing the population to be 100000, 900,
When this channel is obtained, which
it will be, it will involve the expenditure
of perhaps 800. 600, 900 more to open
channel from Lake Superior through
the main artery to the mouth Of Illinois
River, which sum will have to be met
by five OF our States, one Of which has
already contributed $53, 100000 to the
general fund and shaking $40, 900, 600
more il you dare.
All depends upon the action Of the
National Congress. Wecan't straighten
a bend on any Of Uncle Sans rivers
without the consentof Congress. Uncle
Sam is even leaving one Of his children
to widen the channel Of Chicago River,
notwithstanding the city Of Chicago BY
the expenditure Of thirty-odd millions
has deerened the channel and saved
from death and disease many thousands
of her citizens.
III Congress will cooperate with rs IN