The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-12-28
.SOR LIE Ma N ES
COM MITTEE TO
REPRESENT n. D.
Judge A. NJ. Christianson of
Bismarck Is Selected As
One of Three

Christianson,> Bismarck; James Bar
rett, Devils Lake and G. B. Metsz-
gar, Sr., Williston, as members of
committee to represent North Da-
kota in a new district of the Missis-
sippi Valley association has been an
nounccd here by Governor A. G.
Sorlie.
The appointments were made at
the suggestion Of Stewart Gilman,
mayor of Sioux City, Ia, whose idea
is to improve navigation facilities on
the Missouri river with a view to
reducing freight costs.
In letter to Governor Sorlie,
Mayor Gilman pointed out that the
directors of the Mississippi Valley
association had approved a plan to
create a new district to include
Sioux City and northwestern Iowa,
the Dakotas and Montana. Gilman,
who was appointed a member of the
executive committee representing
the new district, said in his letter:
"When ! was first interested in
the waterways movement some 20
years ago, your state and your sis
ter states, whose capitals arc all To-
Gated on the banks Of this river, took
an active part in the movement and
they should again take up the bur-
den.
Means Big Saving
ITO give you concrete example
of river navigation, before this
barge line was put into operation
our sugar was bought from Cuba
or the San Francisco refineries at
about the same price. The service
of the barge line resulted in a cut
Of about 10 cents per hundredweight
OH sugar from New Orleans so that
the San Francisco refineries, in or
der to meet this, made q cut on their
sugar of 10 cents per hundred
weight. This means that the people
in the territory of Sioux City and
our wholesalers and candymakers
alone have saved 100000 a year or
more on this one commodity. The
extension Of the barge service to
Kansas City would mean a further
reduction in price and the same
thing would follow on the extension
of the river service farther north.
"With 10000, 900 tons Of freight
going out and 10000, 900 tons COM
ing into the territory between Kan
sas City and Yankton, the people Of
this section arc bearing a transpor-
tation cost Of $8O,OOO,O 900 annually
at the lowest computation, which is
charge our fellow citizens on the
two coasts do not have to bear.
ut is not solution Of the farm
problem and is not offered as such,
but it is practical business-like
matter which can. be proved by the
cold logic Of facts.
II think you understand that un-
der the rules of the interstate COM
merce commission, the joint rail and
water rates must be so arranged
that the cities that arc not on the
river receive the same benefit as
those located on it's banks.
Citizens Should Help
every citizen, in your state
should be definitely and devotedly
pledged to help you in carrying out
this program. The extension of the
barger service to Kansas City and
every mile it is extended north
means more for your state. There
are untold possibilities in connection
with the development of the enor-
nous wealth located in North Da-
kota.
"The suggestion you made with
reference to the creation of a great
reservoir in North Dakota is one
which should be considered and stud
led by engineers, and your states
connection with the great organiza-
tion all through the south, is neces-
sary. If you are properly repre-
sented on the board Of directors it
will greatly strengthen the possi-
bilities Of legislative action by the
United States government along the
lines you have suggested"
The reservoir which Gilman men,
tions is one on which q report re-
Gently was made by State Engineer
Robert E. Kennedy. It would be
formed by damming the Missouri
river 1t the Great Bend, just west
fof Coleharhor.