The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-06-11
TO THE
RIVER AND HARBOR BILL


is urging the adoption of an amend
ment to the River end Harbor bill
authorizing survey of Snake River
from it's mouth to Lewiston, with a
view to canalization, where necessary
The Senator believes it is entirely
feasible to so improve Snake River
that any vessels that can pass through
the Cello Canal can reach Lewis
ton. In order to accomplish this,
however, it probably will be necessary
to build sev eral short canals to over
come rapids, and the open stretches Of
the river will have to be cleared of
shoals and other distractions and the
channel deepened In the Senator's
opinion, the government would be am
ply justified in undertaking this
improvement, for it would give Idaho
a port On navigable water through
which the products of the state could
be shipped entirely by water to Port
land, and there transhipped, and sent
through the Panama canal to this
Atlantic Coast, and to the markets Of
the world. Until lewiston becomes
the head of navigation on Snake Ri
yer, the Senator says, Idaho will
never derive full benefit of water rates
On it's farm and other products, but
once it becomes possible to lead ves-
sells at Lewiston, and ship direct to
Portland by an allwater route, freight
rates from Idaho to the coast will
necessarily be reduced by the rail-
roads, which will be obliged to meet
water competition. Under existing
law, Congress can not authorize an APP
preparation fer SO improving Snake
River until after a survey and report
has been made by the Army Engi.
neers, but il survey is authorized
by the pending bill, it will be possible
to secure an appropriation for i'm.
provement next session if the report
of the engineers is favorable
| 1t was only after hard fight that
Senator Brady succeeded in retaining
in the Agricultural appropriation bill
his amendment carrying $4,000 to en-
able the University of Idaho to con.
tinue its experiments in wood distilla
ton, with view TO making it com.
mercially profitable to work over
stumps removed from logged-off landa
as well as the waste of lumber mills
Few senators, other than those on
the committee, believed that chemical,.
Of value could be recovered in paying
quantities from stumps and mill waste
and when Senator Brady maintained
that Pref. Shattuck had already dem
onstrated the possibilities of distila.
ton, several senators alluded sneer.
ingly to Shattuck as Mulberry Sellers
The idea that money could be made
by dstillins stumps and waste woods
seemed ridiculous to many senator's.
However, Senator Brady had exhibits
on hand to demonstrate the score CT
more products that have been recov-
cred by distilation; he had figures to
indicate the quantity of turpentine, al
cohol oils, dyes, and other products
that have been recovered by Prof Sha
tuck, and he had the endorsement OF
the Department of Agriculture. Had
it ndt been for the Senator's defense
: of this appropriation, it would have
} been voted down, principally because
senators We're ignorant Oh the sub.
ject Senator Brady, however, con.
vinced them that there are millions
} in it, and that stump distllation is
| not an idle drea, but carefully work.
; ed out and proven process. If the
House accepts this amendment, the S
) 900 for the University of Idaho will
, be available July first.
Senator Brady at the request Of
the Plummer Highway District, intro.
, duced bill appropriating 100000 to
be expended by the Secretary of the
: Interior in cbn Structipp n cvctop ~