The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1874-04-30
CHEAP TRANSPORTATION,
Report and Recommendations
OF the United States Senate
Committee on Transportation
Routes.

AsSs~S~Ss
In the Senate, on last Friday, the
long looked for report of Mr.. Window,
in behalf of the Committee on Trans
portation Routes, which has been
travelling much and investigating
with diligence the past year. was
presented 10 the Srnate.
In presenting the report Mr.. VIM
dom said the committee have come
to the conclusion that no SUBSTANTIAL
reduction in the cost OF transportation
is to be anticipated from nnreguiated
competition between the existing
railways, nor is competition to be IN
dueed by authorizing the construc-
ton of additional lines, it they are to
be under private management and
control. Asto the power OF Congress,
under the Constitution. to regulate |
Interstate commerce, the commit /
tee find that Congress. IN its disere-
ton and under its responsibility To
the people, may first prescribe rules |
bv which instruments, vehicles aud |
agents engaged in transporting
commodities from one State into an
other, shall be governed, whether
such transportation is by land or
water.
2. That it may appropriate money
for the construction OF railways or
canals where the same shall be neces-
sary for the regulation Of commerce.
5. That it may incorporate q COM
pany to construct them
1. That il may exercise the right
OF eminent domain within State in
order to provide for the construction
OF said railways or canals. etc.
). II NAV. in the exercise OF the
right of eminent domain. take fof
public use, paving just compensation
therefor, any existing railway or
canal owned bv private persons or
corporations. These propositions are
discussed at considerable. length in
The report of the committee, and the
decisions of the courts from which
they were deducted are there cited
After a most careful consideration
OF the merits Of the various improve
men,s, taking into account the cost.
practicability and probable aayanta-
ges Of each, the committee have
come 10 the unanimous conclusion
that the following are the most fessi-
be and advantageous channels If
commerce to be created or improved
| BY the National Government, aud
Congress shall act upon this subject.
namely:
|. The Mississippi river:
,. 4 continuous water.liue ot adj
eouate capacity from the Mississippi
10 the city Of New York. via tie
northern lakes.
3. 4 route adequate 20 he wants
of commerce, through the central tier
of States, from the Mississippi river
via the Ohio and kanawha rivers, II
a point in West Virginia. thence BY
canal and slack-water or by freigh'
railway 10 tide water,
/. \ route from the Mississippi
river. via the Ohio and Tennessee
| rivers, to point in Alabama or Ten.
nessee, and thence by canal amt
slack water, or by a freight railway
TO the ocean.
The committee estimate the cos,
OF the Improvement to the Mississippi
river at sli.G00.000: of the
northern route. including the Fox
and Wisconsin River Canal. and the
/ IIenepin Canal, and the enlargement
Of the New York canals the cost is
estimated at 1900 900; of the cen
trail route, including the radical inn
provement Of the Ohio river to give
six or seven feet Of navigation at low
water. and Of the kanawha river Il
give six feet Of water, S2S. 100000
and the connection by canal or freight
railway to tide water in Virginia; .
canal to cost $4,000. 900 or railroad
tn cost SO 100000.
OF the Southern routc the improve
ment of the Tennessee river To give
three feet of navigation. and thu
construction Of canal or freight
railway to the Atlantic ,5cean at !
cost respectively Of ST., 100000 %
$50, 100000. Ii canals be constructee
the total cost will be abou, 10000.
900. II the railways be chosen. tho
total cost will be about 20,o0G,000
An actual expenditure Of from SO,
100000 to 25,00O,0o0 per annum vii
be required for six wears. when thu
whole work can be completed. The
resulting benefits will for all time an.
nnally repay for more Than the entire
cost. But am asked how the money
is to be raised for these improvements
Ireply, by system Of rigid economy
in all expenditures not absolutely
necessary, by which nearly enough
can be saved for This pupose.
?. By issue of public improvement
bonds; or third, by taxation; if the
latter policy be adopted, ! suggest
that restoration OF the tax on tea
and coffee will produce about $40.
| oto.ooo per annuni, when WIZ ~
sufficient to complete the entire work
in six years. The repeal Of that tx
has caused but little. if any: reduc-
ton in the cost Of this article, and it,
restoration would not ma eriallv in
crease it. At the end Of six years
the tax could be repealed, and the e
great public works would stand for
ever as monuments OF the WIS iom o.
the present Congress. ! do not be-
lieye. however, that it would be
necessary either TO issue hond- or TO
levy additional taxes.
The Inauguration of internal i'm
proyements indicated would SO slim
I u|ate the business energies of the
/ country that we would find il cas- er
/ to raise The additional revenue re-
/ CURED than is now to meet thu
existing obligations.