Evening journal., 1888-12-22
IMPROVE The RIVERS.
with Waterway Competition the Rail.
roads Must Reduce Freight Rates-Ap.
propriations Wanted.

with waterway tompettton the Rail-
roads Must Reduce Freight Rates-Ap-
propriations Wanted.
BOAT Builder Of Milton, Del. writing
under date Of December IL, TO the Della
ware Farm and Home, says:
''The farmers of Delaware Justly de.
mand lower freight rates, and it is only
natural for them TO regard with Jealous
interest the choice Of a successor to Sena-
tor Salisbury But it seems 10 me that
they are overlooking a plain and certain
solution Of large part OF their trouble
They must have cheap and convenient
modes Of transportation to make farming
pay. Now, what cheaper and better trnns.
portation could there be FOR Delaware
than over its many rivers. provided they
were in a proper condition With our
rivers dredged so that small boats could
safely navigate them at low water. the
question Of exorbitant fTeights would be
solved. Then there would be competi-
tion. Delaware is fortunate IN its rivers
but the people of Delaware do not know
how to utilize them. Which one Of our
many rivers here in Sussex IS navipableg
Which one in Kentl Even the Chris
tiana at Wilmington is only fairly useful.
Then look at the crookedness Of many Of
our streams. There is Milford on the
Mispillion fully three times as far from
the bay as a crow flies. and tfen the
chances are that boat viii get hung up
on the bars near its mouth.
Now my idea is that tho farmers
should help the merchants and shippers
to get these waterways improved. In
short they ought to select United States
Senator who can get appropriations.
With boat line on every river in the
state, Delaware would double in value in
less than ten years. But boat lines can
only come after the rivers are improved.
and improvements depend on appropria.
tions. A strong, influential man, one
who has friends at court could do this
work. 1t takes influence to get appro.
priations. Mr. Bayard used TO have the
kind of influence it takes, before he be.
came Secretary OF State but 10
never bothered about appropriations. He
did not believe in internal improve
ments. Mr. Lore was that kind Of a rep
resentative, but he had no chance. lie
would have made q good Senator. Mr.
Gray has the ability and the influence
but he is like Mr.. Bayard. He is opposed
to internal improvements. Perhaps Ii,
thinks, too, that every time he votes fol
an appropriation for a Delaware river. h,
votes against the railroad corporation
which employs him The next Unite,
State Senator should be as able and infu
ential as Mr. Bayard was, aud willing a
the same time to work for the home in
ferests We want a strong man VIII,
believes in the doctrines of Washing
ton, jefferson and Madison. and on
who would have at least as mucl
interest in our rivers. as he would in tn
railroads and post Offices The farmer
of the Eastern Shore are almost indepen
dent o the railroad because Of thei
many boat lines to Baltimore We wan
our rivers and creeks so improved tina
we can have boat lines to Wilmington
and Philadelphia Then freight rate
will come down and stay down.
Mr.. Editor. don't you think, too tina
the next United States senator should b
big enough to be seen across a count
linel The whole state. and all the inter
ests in the state should be represente
and not merely a county III go as ia
as any man to secure the rights Of M
county, but iii 60 further to secure TIA
rights of my state