The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-08-26
Upper MIsslssIppi River Improve
mont Association. Through its
Officers, Outlines Import
anes Of River.
ADVANTAGES IN TRADE
Six Foot Channel Would Justify *
psnss q Considering large
Amount Of Freight which
Could b Moved.

The following letter concerning traf
nc on tho river has been sent on.
from the ONCE Of L. 3. Boswell, secre
Itary OF the Upper Mississippi Improve
lment association. It ID being sent e
Al cities along the river for the pur
pose OF pressing home the Importance
LOT trafic on the river.
Here II the letter which has beer
Ireceived here:
QUINCY. III, Aug. "a. 1s15.-Te
shippers. commercial associations
icivic governments. the press, members
and others interested In waterway:
Many industries are realizing the val
lue and importance Of river transpor
ttation. and are looking forward to the
economic savings that may be obtain
led by its full utilization Ia the move
Iment OF freight.
Press reports show a large industry
will locate at Granite City, H., for tn.
manufacture of coke and iron. It will
bring iron ores by river from Alabama
Tennessee and Ohio river points This
VIII open the way for pig iron meters
ito. obtain supplies via water at re
lduced cost Of transportation.
Sc. Louis and other cities arc pre-
pairing modern terminals for handling
freight to and from boats and barges
The Inland Navigation company
represented by Capt. John H. Bern
hard, expects to inaugurate through
service by its new barge lines com
mencing in October Of this year Il
Els reported that other construction
companies are also preparing to In
stall tugs and barges Of modern con.
lstruction.
The enormous tonnage available,
when diverted to the river, will dem
lonstrate it will move by water at q
large saving In transportation costs
land will also justify continued expend-
!iture by the general government In
the construction and maintenance OF
Ia permanent depth OF six feet at low.
lest stage OF water In the channel OF
the upper river.
This association is engaged In q
scommendable work. It induced con
|gress to appropriate required sumo
for permanent improvement OF the up
per river. II WAS the first to call
public attention to the necessity Of
adequate port terminals and to submit
plans for same, as itris still doing. II
secured the passage Of laws making
possible the construction OF modern
tl0Im1udlS Dy CltiSS huU COWuS. ~ HOS
been instrumental, through It's actiy.
titles. in keeping before the public the
importance OF the commercial use Of
the river. It now has a strong com
imittee appointed, consisting of repre-
Isentatives Of the shippers, which II
actively engaged in working out q
feasible plan Tor the development and
operation of new river Transports
ton system. It's sole object and pur.
pose is to secure at the earliest NOM
ent the full use Of the Mississippi
river and It's tributaries for econom
lical transportation of freight. and, In
this movement, as their representa-.
tive, It merits and invites the con.
Itinued hearty cooperation and support
lof all Industrial and commercial in.
lterests in the upper valley.
Respectfully,
UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER
IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
Thos. Wilkinson, President
Lewis B. Boswell, Secretary