Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-06-20

sas. The river in places almost en-
tirely disappears through subter-
ranean current but returns, bearing
and hestowmg productipeness and
| prosperity 20 this great grain growing
belt At the threshold OF Hutchinson
where We cross il for the last time, Il
~ much more manifest, and It's In
Crease and perpetulty is permanently
established. At Van Ruren, Il has in
creased wonderfully. and at Little
Rock Is classified as one of the great
rivers Of this country
twenty-five miles east Of Kansas
City, We cross the Missouri river on
enc of the most conspicuous and spec
tacular bridges in the United states.
II is of three very high semi-circular
spans, and is approached from the
west by rough, rolling ground, and
on the east is reached by an artifi-
cial fill of millions OF cubic yards of
earth, Joined by a tremendous trestle
that connects with the bridge proper.
This magnificent bridge has recently
been rebuilt, bent by bent span by
span, without stopping trains or loss
of life. II now ranks as one OF the
foremost bridges of the United States.
II Is triumph and credit TO its
builders, spanning the Big Muddy"
or "Old Mi2zou,' as II is sometimes
called. us spider spans space IN high
places. The Missouri river has Us ex-
IRENE source in the mountains of
Montana. Is first known as the Cal
latin before it becomes the clear,
swift, rocky Yellowstone, later uniting
with the Milk at Buford, n. ID.
In the early days OF river naviga-
ton, steamboats, maintained regular
service as far as st. Joseph But that
tedious class Of transportation became
obsolete with the superseding Of ae-
tolerated railroad service.
River Dcfies Boat Traffic
Kansas City has tried long and en-
ergeticaily 10 re-establish u packet
line to st. Louis, but the constant set
Ting of sand, changing of channel
and general unreliability Of the river.
has rendered It lmpracticable and well
nigh impossible The new bridge is
of sufficient height TO clear the best
boats without lowering their masts:
and, as now and then one Is seen
struggling up stream, il suggests the
complete contrast frCm early-day
river boats TO present-day railroads.
The Missouri has It's annual high
tide" usually In June, due to the Pc
rlodical melting snow in the far north
west, and causes much apprehension
and fear. but little damage. II prac-
tically drains a large area OF north
west Wyoming all of Montana, North
and South Dakota, Nebraska and Kan
sas. From Bismarck TO Pierre, its
course is due south, then. supple
mented by many large affluents, con-
tinues in a southeasterly direction.
Next comes the mighty Mississippi,
All! The big boy Some river indeed.
The father Of living waters" flowing
majestieally and serenely through the
very heart of the continent, amalga-
mating all the lesser streams from
east and west into one vast volume of
Keeling running water. seeking an
outlet of their combined aggregation
through its distant delta, contaminat-
ing the blue waters OF the south with
the gray OF the north. leagues and
leagues away, and Is at last lost I'm the
unfathomable depths of the sea.
Memphis. VicksburE, Baton Rouge,
New Orleans, are all singularly situ-
ated on the left bank Of this tremen-
dous stream.
Bridge at Madison Imposing.
The road crosses this great river
at Fort Madison on an imposing
bridge of immense dimensions and
strength. but not as high nor conspic-
uous as the one near Kansas City. The
river itself Is sight to behold
broad, deep, immense, illimitable, inn
- bounded by rich rolling
land cultivated like a German garden
from generation to generation. Moth