The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-29
RIVER IMPROVEMENT.

"A saving of $500 in freight rates
on recent single shipment of 100000
bushels of Nebraska, wheat moving by
river and ran from Omaha to New
Orleans is pointed to as an example
of the economic possibilities of water
way transportation by James K.
Smith. president of the Mississippi
Valley association, in urging support
of the rivers and harbors bill which
is expected to come up in the senate
soon. Mr.. Smith predicts the favor
able action of the senate on the bill.
which provides for federal develop
ment of the country's inland water
ways.
Great Importance is attached by
President Smith to the recognition of
the Missouri river by the house in
'sanctioning an amendment to the
rivers and harbors bill authorizing
survey TO determine the cost of six
foot channel in the Missouri river
from Kansas City to Sioux City, Iowa
While the development of the Mis-
souri,, as a connecting link of the en-
tire system of valley inland rivers,
is of paramount interest to the valley
territory as a whole, special signifi-
canoe should be attached to its devel-
opment by the interests in the states
of Nebraska. Kansas, Iowa, North and
South Dakota, and Montana. he says.
In speaking of the Missouri river
and its possibilities as an economic
carrier of commerce, Smiths state
ment says in part:
saTHa GREAT ~ rya tn 81
ers. manufacturers, merchants and
shippers generally. OF the vast terri
tory tributary to the Missouri river,
from it's mouth to the end of naviga-
ton, in giving them access to and
from the sea, is beyond computation.
as no one can vision at this time the
great possibilities of the complete de-
velopment of this important portion
of the United States. which develop
ment can never be accomplished
without the use of this great high
way of commerce, which was created
for the purpose of supplying Transport
tation to the Inhabitants of this i'm
portant arol-"
Efforts TO restore the Missouri river
to its one-time position as an artery
and at great expense. but always have
failed. The plan of the Valley asso-
citation probably will fare no better.
The government has spent much
money on the river in the past with
no appreciable result. Any future ap-
preparations probably will be wasted
so far as any l-efits to the public
are concerned.
BY expe-.ding a large amount of
money. 1t is possible that a six-foot
channel might be established in the
Missouri, but it would cost more to
maintain it than it would be worth to
the public. The truth is that interior
rivers of this country are not what
they once were. There was a time
when steamboats, piled on the Kaw.
To suggest such a thing now would
be to invite ridicule.
In the case of the Kaw and the
Missouri the beds OF the stream have
some too near the surface Of the wa
ter. This is due to the blowing up Of
the land. causing it to absorb the wa
ter that once ran into the streams.
No expenditure. however great. could
restore these streams to their former
condition.
The plan of the Valley association
looks like an effort to put the money
of the people into the pockets of a
few individuals. Missouri river i'm
provement would be fine thing if it
were practicable. but it isn't