The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-08-17
Congressman Speaks in Regard
to Deakyne Report.
Many States Represented Mt
Kansas City Conference.
BRING DOWN FREIGHT RATES
By Making Missouri River a
NaEigable Stream.
Deakyne Would Limit Work 10
Removing Snags.

Kansas CITY Mo, Aug lin re
Spouse 10 a call issued August oy
the local Commercial club for a con-
ference concerning report OF Lieut.
Col. Herbert Deakyne, war depart
ment engineer, on the adNlsaolllty OF
improving the Missouri river at gov
eminent expense, congressman, dele
gates from river associations and rep
2 reSantativeS from commercial and
civic organ izatIons fom Missoui- Kan
saS. Iowa and Nebaska met here to-
day
In his report. Lieut.. Col Deakyne
asserted that the present and rea-
SouabIe prospective commerce OF the
Missouri river between Kansas city
and the mouth was not sufficient TO
warrant the continuance OF the pres
ent project" He recommended that
the present project be modified so as
to provide for snagging alone at an
estimated cost of $4,000 per year and
that all other work be stopped
The plan for improving the Missouri
river as outlined by a commission OF
army engineers and approved BY con-
greSs was to appropriate S20,00o,OOO
at the rate of S2.O00.O00 i year for ten
years to clear the river so as 10 in
sure a 6-foot channel. adequate for
navigation purposes from Kansas City
TO 81 Louis SIX million dollars nave
been appropriated for the work since
1870.
\ Waterway to the Canal
Discussing the report OF Lieut. Col
Ded kyne. CONGRESSMAN W 6OIIe1II0
OF Kansas city said.
a crisis has come for the indus
tries of the Missouri valley If this
section Of the country, located the
fartnest of any on natural trade
rou-e. IS To derive any benefit from the
Panama canal the Improvement of
the Missouri river Is instantly appar-
eut. The Mississippi river presents
natural outlet into the Gulf of Mexico
for South American trade II this IS
taken advantage Of, especially by our
grain shippers. additional profit can
he secured through the cutting out OF
the middleman in the form of the
English lObber- As the situation now
stands, We snip raw wheat TO England,
chiefly TO Liverpool. where it is
turned into the finished product and
sent in English bags to the South
American trade. English labor bene-
fits thereby and the by-products are
lost 10 US in the transaction With the
esta blishment of hydro-electric plants
in the Missouri valley, and there are
many fine points where they are avail
able. the middIeman is cut out and
additional profit is put into the pocket
of the grower.
The same situation holds good for
much of our canned goods and COM
modities- With direct trade routes
long hauTs are obviated and additional
profits enjoyed by the producers Rail-
road freight rates have been brought
down by the recent activity on the riv-
or, showing the result of healthy COM
petition.
Many Congressman Attend
The following congressman were ex-
peeted to attend the conference here
today. according to George II.
Forsee. industrial commissioner of the
local Commercial club:
Missouri: J. w Alexander, D W.
ShaekIeford, g W. Hamlin. C F.
Booher. William l. Igoe. w. P. Ber-
land. Jacob z Meeker.
Kansas. D. r. Anthony. jr-; Arkan-
sas. :. NJ Taylor; Iowa, G. n Haugen,
F. J. Steele; Nebraska. c. .. Lobeck;
Minnesota. George r. Smith.
The following directors of the Ma
GOnal Rivers and HarboFs congress al
50 were expected to attend s y.
Thompson, Washington. D. c; J. ".
Cooper. St Louis: Harry l. George. St
Joseph, Irving C Norwood, Daven-
port, Ia, George V. B. Hill, Mipnea-
polls. and w x Kavanaugh. St Louis.
The following delegation of St Louis
business men accepted invitations
TO attend: Cyrus P. Walbridge, James
c Harvey, Charles E Thomas. Joseph
Streckfus. Henry w Leyhe. John E.
Massensale, E F Bisbee and Judson
H Boughton-
Representatives OF commercial
bodies in Omaha. St Joseph. Jeffer-
son City, Sioux City, Iowa. St Louis,
Atchison, Kansas and LeavenwGrth.
Kansas. promised to participate in the
70 f.