OCR Text |
Show MONEY FOR WATERWAYS. Tho amnnls estimated for tho im-provomont im-provomont of tho Mississippi, Iho Ohio and tho Missouri rivers sootn formidable, formid-able, reaching away, up over $100,000,-000. $100,000,-000. But oven that groat sum should not stagger a people, who, going into the Isthmian Canal proposition with the idea that it would cost about $17ii,000.-000, $17ii,000.-000, is content lo see it spend $500,-000,000. $500,-000,000. When we can, without I he vvinkingof an eyelash, spend throe times iy much on tho Panama canal as wo aro expected to spend, wo should not be dauulcd by an expenditure of oven $200,000,000 to mnk'o navigable cha'n-!iHs cha'n-!iHs in the Mississippi, tho Ohio, and the Missouri. As corrective of transportation rates, nothing could bo better than' Iho establishment es-tablishment of good navigable channels in those rivers. Tho Missouri ought, lo no made and kept navigablo up to Fort Ponton, whore, tho boats used to run in tho early days. Tho Mississippi should bo navigablo to St. Paiil. with a good channel all tho way, and the Ohio to Pittsburgh. Doubtless tho establishment, of such navigablo channels would bo partly by dredging, partly by the Fads system of jetties, and partly by tho impounding of waters at tho head waters of thoso streams and I heir tributaries, lo prevent groat iloods, and to provide water later in th? season when tho streams aro low. Tho opening of such channels would bo of immenso sorvico to the pooplo of this country in the transportation of heavy freights, and, as said before, in Iho regulation of freight charges. Tho money will bo woll expended, oven if a good deal moro woro required thnn the estimate as made. |