The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-04-30
Whseliug geeister.
Cheap transportation


In the Senate on Friday, Mr.. Wins
dom submitted the report OF the Select
Com mittee on Transportation, which,
during the vacation of Congress-, was
engaged in investigating the condition
Of Interstate commerce and making
examinations in various sections OF the
country. The report is a voluminous
one, and discusses at great length the
production and price Of grain in vari.
GUS sections. OF this country, and
amounts OF shipments, freight charges,
means OF transportation, submitting tig
ures and statistics both in regard to
this and other countries, and discusses
the whole subject of Governmental
power ana ability with respect to agen-
cies OF transportation. The committee
could not make any estimate OF the
amount OF interstate commerce, but
think it safe to cay that it is ten times
greater than our trade with all foreign
nations, and that the amount annually
paid for transportation is more than
double the revenues of the Government.
Hence. the important problem
How shall cheaper and better
FACILITIES FOR TRANSCRIPTION
be provided?" In answer to this the
committee discuss the following gener-
al propositions
First. Competition between railways
and it's promotion, by additional lines
without regulation.
Second. Direct Congressional regula-
ton OF railway transportation, under
the power to regulate commerce among
the several States.
Third. Indirect regulation and promo
ton OF competition through the agency
OF one or more lines OF railway, to be
owned or controlled by the Govern
ment.
Fourth. The improvement OF natural
waterways, and the construction OF ar
tificial channels of water communica.
ton.
These propositions are then thor
oughly discussed by the Committee, and
narrowed down to the consideration OF
these alternate propositions, namely !;
Freight railways under Government
control, or wster.routes open to tree
competition. :,
The committee discussed at consider
able length the merits and advantages
OF a double.track freight railway be-
tween the Mississippi river and New
York city, and came to the conclusion
that such q railway, honestly con-
s,ructed and operated, and performing
an amount of business reasonably to be
Anticipated, could pay all the expenses
together with fair return on its cost
at rates for transportation of fourth
class freights, not exceeding y mills
per ton per mile. At this rate, ton o.
wheat could be carried from the Missis'
sinni river to New York for about
IS rs, or at the rate of 25 cents pei
buebel. The average cost during the
last five years by rail Las been about
SIG so per ton. or at the rate OF oO
cents per bushel.
The committee discussed the value Of
water routes, and came to the unani-
NOUS conclusion that the following are
the most feasible and advantageous
chan nels of commerce to be created or
i'm proved by the National Government
viz:
First. The Mississippi river.
Secord. A continuous water line Of
ADEQUATE capacity from the Mississippi
river TO the city OF New York, via the
northern Lakes.
Third. A route adequate to the wants
of commerce, through the central tier o.
States, from the Mississippi river, via
the Ohio and Kanawba rivers to 8
point in West Virginia, and thence by
a freight railway to tidewater.
Fourth. A route from the Mississippi
river, via the Ohio and Tennessee rlv'
ers, to a point in Alabama or Iennes
see, and thence by canal and slack
water, or by freight railway, to tn
ocean.
The cost OF the fret is estimated q
lSl6 100000; OF the second SIG ,OOO,OOo
Of the third sos 600 900, aud OF tn
fourth 100000. The committee
recommended that appropriations b
made at the present session OF Congress
for completing the surveys OF the entlr
systems OF improvements proposed, II
, order to determine accurately the cost
each route, and to enable the Govern
mept to enter at once upon the work,
: the came shall be deemed practicabl
, and expedient, after such surveys shal
have been completed.