The sun., 1917-09-09
River Traffic on
Eve of Greatest
Expansion in Ma
ton 'sHistory, and
Possibilities Are
Unbounded
By q. r. CEYER.

TINE inland waterways Of America,
notably the Father Of Waters,
L are on the eve Of the greatest
period Of expansion since the palmy
days when thousands of river craft
Piled the inland streams carrying the
bulk Of the nations commerce. Before
many months of Americas participa-
ton IN the war have passed the Missis-
sippi River will be tho scene Of an
sctivity which will gladden. the hearts
Of the few remaining pilots Of the
days Of Mark Twain. and by the time
the navigation season opens in 1918
definite plans will have been completed
for making the Mississippi River the
countrys greatest artery Of commerce.
War time exigencies which have
made necessary the utilization Of such
latent resources, combined with the
congestion n'traffic which has existed
On all the railroad lines for months.
are certain to bring about . golden
harvest for the rivermen. The mobili-
zation Of river craft capable Of doing
some duty in the present emergency
is proceeding on an unprecedented
scale, comparable only to the mobiliza-
tlon Of oceangoing freighters.
Packets and boats which have been
rottlng at their wharves for years
are being refitted for active service.
and at almost every important port
along the 1000 miles OF waterway
feverish activity can be noted. Soon
freight OF all descriptions will be puff
ing up and down the river again. and
their owners will be reaping a harvest.
Rvermen Of all descriptions unite in
predicting the greatest season for in
land navigation in nearly half a CEN
tury with permanent continuation
OF the boom. These predictions are
based on the belief that the Govern
ment will take an active part in the
mobilization and utilization Of river
craft. and all boats capable Of service
Will be drafted for Government service
and inland navigation control placed IN
the hands OF a central transportation
body.
At no time in tho last hundred years
nave conditions been more auspicious.
que to the long and continued activi-
ues OF the army engineers who have
peen whipping the river into condition
70 bear Its natural share OF the bur-
den OF commerce in the middle West.
kXCeDt ynF JDk te A
ing fixed. the Father of Waters Is
havigable for boats Of six feet draugEt
from the Gulf Of Mexico to the river
front at Minneapolis. The last great
obstruction TO traffic, the famous lie
Claire Rapids. is being removed by
army engineers. and by 1920, or earlier
perhaps, the last Of this three mile
Nretch OF Jagged rocks. which, e1as
caused rivermen moro grief than any
other spot on the river. will have been
eliminated
HiastinE . lie Claire Canal.
For more than a year engineers
nave been blasting a canal through
'he rock bottom. and the merchant
ships OF the river soon will pass this
dangerous stretch with tho aid of one
o, the largest fresh water locks In
the world. 1t is probable that tie
pressing demand for greater trans
porta,ion facilities will result In the
Work being rushed to completion
within 1918, This can be done by
making available all OF the appropria-
uon required to finish It. Up to the
present the engineers at work have
confined their efforts to what could
be done within the current annual ap-
Preparation.
Rivermen expect the revival of navi-
sation on large scale will help ma
terially TO solve tho nations trans
portation problem. Tho congestion OF
Hafhc In the middle West has been
30 serious for months that grave
uouets are entertained as to whether
.he railroads will be able to move the
huge crops which the middle West
VIII contribute this summer and fall a
ns snare in the war against Germany
Middle Western Industries have been
seriously handicapped for months
freight cars could not be had to move
hhlshed products to the coast or brinG
'aw materials into the interior.
thousands Of small elevators scat
'ered about the wheat belt have beer
overnowing with wheat and corn and
o,her farm products for months. Com
plants have been common of graiE
shipments held up for weeks and ever
months, so serious has been the cal
shortage
There need not have been any suci
shortage Of food products a. brough