(St. Louis)  --  St. Louis wouldn't be here without the Mississippi River, but over the years it has become less significant to the area's economy.

 The "St. Louis Post-Dispatch" reports that the city, as well as other area port districts, are putting together proposals to make major improvements to docking facilities along the river.

   They are also trying to acquire over 70-million dollars in federal funds to expand ports at the riverfront and to attract more barge traffic as a way to make St. Louis more of a force in the global shipping industry.

   Because of crowding at ports in Los Angeles and Newark, along with escalating fuel costs and the Panama Canal growing, experts say it's a prime time for St. Louis to try to boost its economy using its natural features.


   (Copyright 2009 by VERTEXNews/Newsroom Solutions)