Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-05-07
The Question Of Cheap Transportation.
WASHINGTON. April "a


WASHINGTON, April "a.
In the Senate to-day Mr.. Window pre-
scented report from the Committee on
Transportation, and stated that the COM
mittee have come Ia the conclusion
that no substantial reduction in the cost
of transportation is TO be anticipated from
unregulated competition between exist
ing railways, nor is competition to be in
duced by authorizing the construction of
additional lines, if they are to be under
private management and control. AS to
the power of Congress under the Consti-
tuition TO regulate interstate commerce,
the committee find:
/. That Congress, in Its discretion and under It's
responsibility TO the people, may first prescribe
rules by which instruments, vehicles and agents
engaged IN transporting commodities from one
State into and through another shall be gov
erned, whether such transportation is by land or
water.
=. That 1t may appropriate money for the con-
struction OF railways or canals where the same
shall be necessary for the regulation OF COM
merce.
s. That 1t may incorporate companies with
thority TO construct them.
L. That il may exercise the right of emf nent
domain within a State in order TO provide for the
construction OF said railways or canals, etc.
B. II may, in its exercise Of the right OF eminent
DOMAIN, take Ior PUBIC use, paying just CompcH-
sation therefor, any existing railway or canal
owned by private persons or corporations.
These propositions are discussed at con-
siderable length in the report of the COM
mittee, and the decisions of the courts
from which they are deduced are there
cited. After most careful consideration
OF the merits OF the various proposed inn
provements, taking into account the cost,
practicability and probable advantages of
each, the committee have come to the
unanimous conclusion that the following
are the most feasible and advantageous
channels of commerce to be created or i'm
proved by the National Government, if
Congress shall act upon this subject,
namely:
l. The Mississippi River:
. A continuous water-lne of adequate capac-
ity from the Mississippi River 10 the City Of New
York ria the Northern lakes
B. A route adequate Ia the wants OF commerce,
through the central tier Of States, from the Msss-
sppi River, riG the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers, TO
a point in West Virginia. thence by canal and
sack-water or by freight railway 10 tide-water.
A. A route from the Mississippi River, ria the
Ohio and Tennessee Rivers, to point in Ala,
bamA or Tennessee, and thence by canal and
sack-water or by freight railway to the oceaa.
The Committee estimate the cost OF the
improvement of the Mississippi River at
$4,000, 900; of the northern route, in
Guiding the Fox & Wisconsin River
Canal and Hennepin Canal, and enlarge
ment of the New York canals, the cost is
estimated at S19000,000; of the central
route, including the radical improvement
of the Ohio River to give six or seven feet
of navigation at low water, aud OF the
kanawha River to give six feet of water,
S25 900 900, and the connection by canal
frnt .rI, ~ a. tnr in
Virginia, canal to cost 500 900, 900,
or a railroad S25, 100000. OF the south.
ern route the improvement of the Ten
nessee River to give three feet of naviga-
ton, and the construction of canal or
freight railway to the Atlantic Ocean at
cost respectively of $35 100000 or $780,
100000. If canals be constructed the
total cost will be about S155,000,000. If
the railways be chosen, the total cost will
be about $120,000,000. An actual expen-
Giture of from 500, 100000 to $4,000, 600
per annum will be required for six years,
when the whole work can be completed.
The resulting benefits will for all time
annually repay more than the entire cost.
But ! am asked how the money is to be
raised for these improvements. reply:
1. BY n system of rigid economy in all
tApCiiituitS Hbl uDSOlultl} ii'StSAhi y, ny
which nearly enough can be saved for
this purpose, 2 BY the issue Of public
improvement bonds or, 3. BY taxation. If
the latter policy be adopted | suggest
that a restoration Of the tax on tea and
coffee will produce about $20,000,000 per
annum, which will be sufficient to com
plete the entire work in six years. The
repeal of that tax has caused but little, if
any, reduction IN the cost Of these arti-
cles and its restoration would not
materially increase it. At the end
of six years the tax could be repealed,
and these great public works would
stand forever as monuments to the wisdom
of the present Congress. | do not be
lieve, however, that it would be neccs-
sary either to issue bonds or to levy addi-
tional taxes.
The Inauguration of the system of in
ternal Improvements indicated would so
stimulate the business energies of the
country that we would find it easier to
raise the additional revenue required than
it now is to meet existing obligations.
PHUNNYGRAMS.