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<br />0003'84 <br /> <br />lI1ISSOl.:HI Rl\'EH, KAKS.\S CITY, I{A:\"S., TO FLORE:\"CE, ::\"EBR. 9 <br /> <br />l!l. The loss of land bv erosion is a serious matter. Much pro- <br />aucti\-e land is wushed illto the ri\'er during high stages, and some <br />loss of this kind is going on all the time when the )'iver is not froz~n. <br />Thel'e is a corresponding growth of land made b.v ri\-er depOSIts, <br />but the gl'owth is slow, while the erosion is rupid. For this reason the <br />loss of land by erosion makes a much greater impression than the <br />gain of land by accretion. Moreover, the gains do' not equal the <br />losses, even in theory, because some of the eroded material is carried <br />to the mouth of the riH'I' anti en'ntually to the Gulf of :Mexico. The <br />improvement of the ri\'el' would be dil:ectlv beneficial in the pI'll\'en- <br />tion of el'Osion. . <br />COOPERATIOK. <br /> <br />20. Inquiry was m:\(le as to the possihility that cooperation in <br />bearing- the cost of illlprn\'eml'nt might he han from States. cities, <br />asslJciatilJns. ('OI'}lol'ations. or pri\'ate parties. In a general way <br />tlip!'e apppal's to 1", a willingness to cooperate, uut it has not taken <br />tan/!,ih]e fOI'lIl. I thillk it is safe to say that unless there is u radical <br />change in the relation hetween the Fe(iera] Gm'el'llment and the local <br />~O\-el'nlllents or othel' parties in intl'rest. the cost of any l'xten'!o;ive <br />!nlP!'o\'ellll'nt will fa II almost entirel~' upon the United States. If <br />Imp!'O\'enll'nt were undertllkeu, the ]ocal intel'csts should, and no <br />douht \toultl, provide theil' own 1:lI\(lings awl facilities for the <br />han1lling awl tl'llnsfer of fl'eight. <br /> <br />CO:\"l'Ll;SIO:\". <br /> <br />21. In vie\\" of tIll' fact that the Government has emharked on the <br />unPI'o\'ement of the l\fissolll'i Ri\;er frOlI'\ Kunsas Cit.v to the mouth <br />~t :ill l'stimatl'll eost of $:!O,OOO,OOO, funds foJ' \\-hich lire not u\'ailable <br />In sllllicient amllunts fOl' the propel' pl'Osecution of tIll' work, and the <br />fUel (hut till' l'OIllUlerCe hl'low Kansas City lloes not yet show or <br />pl'Olllise H de\-c1oplllent cOlllmcnsurnte with the Im'ge' expenllitul'e <br />10\'01\'('0. it SI"'IIIS to he pl'ematlll'e to tak" lip the im!H'OVl'Il1I'nt of <br />"nolhl'1' long stl'etch of the ri\'el' at t.his tillle. The ri\'er above Kan- <br />811S ('ity is snaggedl'l'glllal'l,v, and I think this should continlll'. .\n'y <br />\\'ork l'eyoIHl this ill\'oh'es n gl'eatel' eX]>l'm,e thall ap]Wars to hl' War- <br />runtell by 1)J'esent or pl'ospecti\'e commpl'ce. The l'xpellllitlll'e of <br />/nonp\, fol' ~cattel'ed Hnd llIls\'stematic \\"01'1. is 1I0t I'ecommelldco. <br />Eitlll:I' the wOl'k shollld consist' of complete and systelllatic Pl'oh'ction <br />of hank and control of chnnllcl 01' it shoulcl hl' COli filled to snag'gillg. <br />:!:!, FOl' thesl' reasons I l'epOl.t thllt in m.\' opinioll the iillpl'o\"l'- <br />~e~t of thl' Missouri River from Kansas City, 1\:lIls.. to the nOl'the1'll <br />hmIts of Florl'nce, N ehl'., is not ad \'isable to allY greah'I' extent than <br />th~ l'Ontlllllanl'l' of snagging opl'rations, which al'e cal'ded Oil under <br />eXI~ting appro]ll'iations. <br /> <br />HlmllEn'1' DE.\){Y:\"F.. <br />T-ieut. Col., COI'IIR of 1~'/lfli/l"('1'8. <br /> <br />l FII'~t tndo1"~t'm('nt. 1 <br /> <br />Ot.t'ICF. Dl\'JSIO~ E~WI:-;EF.R. "'Esn:nK DI\'Is",:\", <br />St. [,mlis, M 0" fll ay ;?R, 191.j. <br /> <br />To the CUlt:!' 01' F,:-;(1J:\"F.ERS, lTXITED ~h.\TES .\n,lY: <br />h' I. FOI'\\'arcll'(l, conclIl'I'ing in the opinion of the ,listrict officel' that <br />t e improwment of the Missollri Riwr from Kansas City, Kilns,. to <br />