Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-10-10

be regarded by the great part of the
mercantile and commercial public as
reasonable rates. There are great pow
ers in legislation. but you have never
yet succeeded in having a permanent
sure and absolute regulation of the
great imperial powers of capital by
legislative enactment. 1t is clumsy
imperfect instrument. You cannot, in
two legislative bodies, have fair and
reasonable consideration of proper
railroad rates. either for short distan-
ces or for long distances.
That great power can never be en-
trusted 10 a single commission.
SO | think the policy of improving
the waterways and having them as
final resource of commerce. always
open and always ready, ought TO be
continued
Quotes senator Morgan.
'On this same subject. the great
Alabama jurist and statesman-Sen-
ator Morgan-the colleague and peer
in every respect of Senator Hoar, says.
in his report on the Improvement of
the Tennessee river recently made TO
great controlling power that stands
for justice to the people. and they are
demanding that congress will give it
rightful encoura cement There is one
pronounced reason that can never be
changed 10 support water transporta-
ton against all other methods. 1t is
that the navige bic waters belong to
the people and cost nothing for con-
structiOn, while all other methods be-
long to individuals or corporations. and
the cost of transportation must be cal
culated at a profit on the cost of con-
and ownership
Are Behind the Times.
Our rail transportation has been
marvelously developed. and in this re-
spect we are far ahead of any other
country Germany is our largest COM
petitor. but while single train in
Germany rarely carries over $50 tons,
it is not unusual for a trainload of 1900
tons to be seen on our western prai-
ries. And the cost of rail freights is
lower with us than abroad. In water |
development, however, we are behind |
the times.
years there has been great develop |
ment of waterways. All their rivers |
have been deepened and improved. and |
canals have been construct ]
ed in many places. 1t is said that |
freight can be conveyed by water from |
practically every part of France and |
Germany 70 every other part. Let me |
quote from a recent work on modern /
Germany, published in 1905 by o. Eltz- |
bacher. He says:
Recognizing the importance of |
cheap transport. and of an alternative |
transport system, which would bring |
many has steadily extended and en-
larged and improved her natural and |
artificial waterways, and keeps on ex-
tending and improving them year by |
year; and if a man would devote some |
years solely to the study of the Ger
man waterways. and make the neces-
sary, but very extensive and exceed.
ingly laborious calculations, he would
probably be able TO prove that Ger
many's industrial success is due chief
~ TO cheap transport, and especially to
the wise development of her water
ways.
Everywhere in Germany water
is being developed with
he utmost vigor and energy On all
The rivers and all the canals CONNER
cial and industrial activity is marvel
ously developing, and the development
If water transport is becoming almost
sport, if not passion, with the Ger
man business community
River Transportation Vital.
eff it were not for the existence of
he German waterways the German in