The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-11-25
MERCHANTS ASK
DEEP WATERWAY
Want Connection Between the
Great Lakes and the Gulf
of Mexico.
WOULD AID RATE REGULATION
Congress To BE Asked for ApproprIa-
tIons 10 Complete the Work Stimuli
taneousIy with the Opening Of the
Panama Canal.

Chicago Dispatch: Members OF the
illinois Manufacturers association. 10
the number of nearly 200. unanimously
adopted a resolution at their banquet
Friday night in which they voiced their
desire for the construction of a deep
water way by the government connect
Ing the great lakes and the Gulf of
Mexico, and urged the senator's and
congressman from this state TO use
every honorable means in their power
to secure an appropriation by congress
for the work.
The resolution as read by Captain
G. III. Smith OF Aurora. president OF
the Western Wheel Scraper Company,
following the address OF Congressman
Madden. in which he urged the people
OF the south 10 unite with the people
OF the middle west TO secure a great
water way connecting the lakes with
the gulf for freight and government
vessels. He declared that Il would con
stitute n section of the Interstate com.
merce law that would never be. re.
pealed and whose ability TO fix and
regulate freight rates none could ques-
ton or galnsay
The resolution concluded with the
declaration that every immediate ef-
fort should be exerted TO secure the
necessary appropriation for the con.
struction OF the water way. TO the end
that II may be opened to the shipping
OF the nation simultaneously with the
opening OF the Panama canal to the
shipping OF the world. A copy will be
sent to each Illinois senator and rep.
resentatlve.
In the course OF his address Con.
gresham Madden said that the freight
rate from Boston TO Atlanta was no
more than that charged from Boston
10 Chicago and the distance 10 the
southern city was twice as great.
'"The reason why the railways make
tho rate half MS cheap as that 90 Chi
cago." he said lis that they have 10
compete with the ship freight rates
a. the Atlantic coast We do not have
The advantage OF such competition and
consequently our freight costs us
more"
In speaking Of the proposed con
struction OF waterway for freight
vessels he declared that every man
that believes in fair play should aid
In securing such a passageway and ex.
crt his influence IN the fight against
arbitrary and unfair freight rates.
Menace 70 the Country.
"The time has come" he said.
when the transportation lines OF the
country are held and controlled by so
few hands that they are a menace to
the countary. Put too much power in
a mans hands. politically or CONNER
cially, and he becomes arrogant The
people should be protected from the
aggressions or these powerful corpor-
ations into which they have breathed
the breath OF life. believe we must
have restraining influence over the
transportation lines for the protection
OF the various parts of the country.
Mr. Madden said that the time had
come when the government should ex-
ercise control over the large corpora
tions. and especially the transporta-
ton lines, and advocated that congress
pess law giving the Interstate com.
merce commission power 10 readjust
q rate whenever a complaint is made
II II is unjust. and that the commits
sion have authority TO put the new
rate In immediate force.