Carthage courier. (Carthage, Tenn.) 1913-current, 1921-05-26
INSPECTION TRIP
UP CUMBERLAND

A party of progressive business
men of Nashville last week accom-
panied Major J. L. Schley on an in
spection trip up the Cumberland river
aboard the Str. 10 Horton Fall. Ma
jor Schley is in charge of the govern
ment work on the Cumberland and the
trip was made in the hope of getting
him to recommend an additional APP
preparation to Congress with which to
extend the work of canalizing the
stream above Lock 8. 1t is understood
that the Major was deeply impressed
with conditions along the river, and a
favorable report from him is expect
ed and devoutly hoped for. Among
those in the party were H. G. Hill,
president of the Nashville Navigation
Co., w. H. Clark, sec.-treas., Capt.
w. l.. Berry, general manager; w. c.
Weaver, M. E. Derryberry, Robert
Orr, Hunter Perry, who are also con-
nected with the Navigation Company;
Wilbur A. Nelson, state geologist; re-
pcrters for the Nashville Banner and
Tennessean, and others, most all of
whom are actively interested in the
further improvement of the Cumber-
land. Carthage was honored by a
short visit by the party, after which
they went up the river as high as
Gainesboro, where the boat was forced
to turn back on account of low water.
Carthage has always manifested a
keen interest in the Improvement of
the Cumberland, and we are justly
proud of the achievements accomplish
ed in this connection by distinguished
sons of this city. Some thirty years
ago, Benton McMillin commenced and
vigorously pushed the work of canal
izing this wonderful stream above
Nashville, and locks from Nashville
to Lock T., a few miles below Car
thage, are fruits of his labors The
project to build locks above No. z en-
countered many setbacks and at one
time the cause seemed almost hope
less; but through the persistent and
methodical work of Corden Hull, as
sisted by various commercial organi-
cations and people, an appropriation
was secured, and the construction of
Lock 8, a few miles above Carthage,
was commenced short time ago. Mr..
Hull was tireless and ceaseless in his
efforts TO secure this appropriation
and to him, more than any one else,
liAC PCOPIC ctLC IIA0SOGCu 1OI LUCK o.
Having contributed so much to
the success of the work already ac-
complished, Carthage is unwilling for
the work to stop here. To continue
the canalization of this great river
will mean much to the people of the
Upper Cumberland section. 1t will
assure them permanent transporta-
ton the year round, the value of
which can hardly be estimated. Navi-
gable rivers are natural highways;
they belong to the people and can
never pass from them into the hands
of private monopolies; they regulate
competition and prevent extortion in
freight rates. For these reasons,
work above Lock to its source on the
Cumberland, reaching as it does, into
vast territory, rich in natural and
mineral resources, timber, live stock,
farm products, etc, should by all
means be completed. 1t will guaran-
tee to our people for all time that
they will not fall into the clutches of
private transportation corporations
The Cumberland is, perhaps, one of
the longest navigable rivers in Amer
lea, being about seven hundred miles
long. 1t runs through one of the
most fertile and productive valleys in
all the world and, owing to its crook
edness, it serves and is available to
more people, relatively speaking, than
any other stream in the country.
1t goes without saying that all
the people benefited are duly CRATE
full tc those instrumental in the wond-
erful improvement already made on the
Cumberland; and they are ready and
willing to lend every assistance to
the end that locks and dams may be
placed from her mouth to her source.