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;:,' ):.~::i.~'~:'~' ~.:~~~:~.':~;.::::(':.~;?,\V:;:::;? ~' : ..'-. ":-'. '.', . .:..-:.... .... . . ,. ....,... ..... ". .~ ", ' . . 0004111 MISSOURI RIVER FROM KANSAS CITY, MO., TO THE MOD rHo 7 damage in transportation and handling and less loss from pilfer!ng than they ha.ve experienced with rail shipments. The navigatIOn company attributes these conditions to Its fireproof and locked freight houses on the barges. It is claimed that with the improved methods of interchaI1ge of freight between rail and water, commerce originating west of Kansas City and dostined for St. Louis or ,Points still farther east, as well as that originating east of St. LoUIS and destined for Kansas City tlr points beyond, can be handled adva~- tageously by the navigation company. Some business of thiS character has already been donA, and the evidence points to its increase. The amount that may be handled in this way is purely conjectural, as the method is as yet oxperimental and in Its infancy, ~ut it is known that the total tonnage moving through this territory IS very large. 14. There have been presented to the board statistics of production and consumption of the territory tributary to the commercial center formed by Kansas City to show that the existing mellllS of rail trans- portation are already fully utilized and that in the nellr future they will be unable to meet traffic requirements, if such bo not the case t~-day. It is claimed that soon additional highways of commerco Will be II. necessity. Tho report submitted in Appt.nthx A' shows that the cost of constructIOn and mamtenance of ono additional singlo track road is quite comparable with the estimated amount required to complete the present project and to maintain tho improved chan- nel, ~hile manifestly the carrying capacity of tho improved water- way IS vastly greater. 15. It has been estimated that, WIth the channel held by revetted hllllks, thero would be n.vailablo for n.griculLuml purposes in the bot- tom land along the river between Kansas City and St, Louis, 500,000 acres, the greater part of which would be loss thlln a mile distant from the river, and a considerable portion of which is now nocessarily non producing. It is claimed that this arl)a would contribute very substantially to the rivor traffic. 16. Interested parties invite attention to the readjustment of transcontinental railway mt.es that is beng mado as a resul.t of t~affic through the Panama Canal. The effoct of th03e changes IS to ~v~ pronounced advantage to Eastern seaboard industries for the aCI~c coast trade, and thus to handicap the intorior manufacturers, and. ~t is claimed that thei'r only hope of retllining 0. competitive kl.hon is in having the benefit. of cheap wo.tt'r routes to the sea. . Improved channel III the Missouri woUld COIUWCt with thc effec- tIve channel already provided m tho Mississippi and givo such a route from Kansas City to the Gulf of Mexico. 17. Among the indirect benefits to bo anticipo.tod from the im- provbment of the Missouri River. are: (1) The revetment of the cav- Ing auks will give security to arljacent lo.nds, which can then bo protected from overflow by the constructIOn of levees, thus adding materially to the value of land and to the aroo. of production with a corresponding increase of commerce. Already in some of the pro- . tected territory, local levee districts have been organized and are in s{c1cssful operation. It has been stated that the general formation o evec districts is awaiting only the n.ssurance that tho improve- ment 01 the river will be continued. Thore is now a decided feeling 18ee page 147.