56 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 



type in its main physical features, and, from the navigation point of view, at 

 least, it may be said to have a marked controlling effect upon the main trunk 

 stream. The subject of its improvements, therefore, is not only of local interest, 

 but is of the greatest general importance, now that the improvement of the Miss- 

 issippi is receiving serious consideration." 



" And upon page ten of said Report the following is found: "Work al- 

 ready done furnishes me the means of approximately estimating the cost of this 

 improvement, which, if carried out on a large scale, and with liberal appropria- 

 tions, will not probably exceed $10,000 per mile. This would put one cost for 

 the whole 800 miles under consideration at $8,000,000, and from Kansas City 

 to the mouth of the river at $3,750,000. See ex. document No. 92, third ses- 

 sion. Forty-sixth congress. 



The single state of New York has expended over $80,000,000 in the con- 

 struction and improvement of 1,300 miles of canal within her borders. Whereas, 

 by this report to the War Department the internal revenue collected for a single 

 year from the district directly interested in the improvement of this river would 

 defray the expenditure in making this national highway permanently navigable 

 throughout its entire length, and one-half that amount would do the work from 

 Kansas City to its mouth. 



This report concludes with the following language : — 



"The benefits attendant on such an improvement can hardly be over-esti- 

 mated. With a guarantee that at lowest navigable stages a safe and permanent 

 channel, having nowhere a less depth than twelve feet, will be available, boats 

 and barges as large as any now used on the Lower Mississippi could be built and 

 safely navigated. They could also be provided with heavy power and staunch 

 hulls, such as would be needed to cope with the strong current of the Missouri 

 River. Snags, which now are great and ever-present obstructions, would be to 

 a great extent swept away by the deep scour of floods, and the supply of new 

 ones would be materially reduced by the general prevention of bank erosion. 

 The amount of sediment carried into the Missouri would be proportionately re- 

 duced by the same work, and very substantial benefit be thus directly received 

 by that river. The whole valley of the Missouri is extremely fertile, and if re- 

 claimed, as it would be by this improvement, would soon be all under cultiva- 

 tion, and the amount of grain which would seek the river transportation would 

 be enormous. The estimate for the whole work thus sketched out is $8,000,000, 

 which could, with due regard to economy, be expended at the rate of $1,000,- 

 000 per annum. At this rate the whole improvement would require eight years 

 for completion, or from Kansas City to the mouth four years, with proportionate 

 increase of time if the annual appropriations should be smaller than here indi- 

 cated." 



For the ensuing fiscal year the Secretary of War submits the following esti- 

 mate to be appropriated : — 



For the improvement of the navigation of the Missouri River, $1,400,000; 



