The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-07
FIX The MISSOURI
Plea of L. NJ. Jones at National
River and Harbor Congress.
Says Fate Of Cities Depends on
Transportation Rates.
WILL PROVIDE CASH.
If Congress Can't Afford to Do
Work Kansas City viii.
Invites the East to Come and
See Western Progress.
WILL PROVIDE CASH.

w asnington, ID. c. Dec. AT the
meeting Of the National Rivers and
Harbors congress- in Washington, one
Of the principal addresses was made
by Lawrence M. Jones of Kansas City,
president Of the Missouri Valley River
improvement association who is also
head Of the Jones Dry Goods company
cf Kansas City and Topeka
The reception accorded Mr.. Jones
was gratifying to the delegation Mr..
Jones was introduced by the chairman
OF the convention as a type of the
American who did things and the
story was told Of how he proved the
Missouri navisable Mr.. Jones was
loudly applauded by the congress be-
fore he was permitted to deliver his
address He said, in part:
1t Is our firm conviction that the
time has arrived for the general ex-
pansion of our national policy toward
all works OF internal improvement
which have heretofore occupied such
subordinate place in national ex-
penditures. This is especially true in
comparison with the expenditures CT
other departments.
The fate of every important city of
this country depends almost wholly on
transportation rates. The railroads
have more to do with the happiness
of the people of the United States
than the United States government
Itself An eminent British authority
Oh transportation says The railroad
death to community 1t is estimated
that we pay in transportation rates
SIS for every man. woman and child
in the United States. Without trans
pcrtation there can be no commerce.
It IS said there are six or seven men
in this country who. by reason of their
control of the railroads of the United
States, have it in their power to estab-
lish rates that Will make or unmake a
city or community. This is too great
power for few men to possess. Few
men have ever lived on this earth
who could WELD absolute power with
justice to all people.
I'VE of the west understand the
particular contention of the National
Rivers and HarbOrs congress is for so
million dollars annual appropriations
to be devoted to. the Improvement of
waterways. We are in hearty SYM
pathy with This demand and think in
view of the large proportions of our
internal commerce that this demand
is modest. indeed. 1t has been esti-
mated that the internal trade of the
United States aggregates more than
rs billion dollarsss Fifty million a year
would be "A burden of only a fraction
Of H. peE,n cent uppsli this great business.
AS commerce must bear the greater
part OF the expenses of our govern
ment. it seems fair that a liberal part
of what comm cree contributes to the
support of the government should be
directed toward the improvement and
objecting to building up the navy or
supporting the army, but we contend
that no country Is better able to with
stand an attack from foreign foes than
that country which enjoys the greatest
commerce, which possesses the most
money and which controls the food
supply of the world.
TT is not your money that you are
spending, but it is the money of the
people. 1t is our money and we are
willing to stand responsible for every
dollar that we ask you to devote to this
enterprise. When it became necessary
to drive from the western continent the
Spanish nation. you had no trouble in
finding the money. You find enormous
amounts for the army and navy and
the Philippines. We do not object to
this You placed a tax upon commerce
to pay for the Spanish american war.
1.-TWO per cent interest on SO million
dollars year is only one million dol
lars and we have estimated that a. boat
line running from Kansas City to ST.
Louis will save Kansas City alone more
than three million dollars year. This
is 2 per cent on $50 million dollars. If
congress saws we have not the money
for this proposition, then turn over the
Missouri river to Kansas city and we
will see that the money is forthcoming
for this Improvement.
I'VE believe that the people directly
concerned in lake and ocean ports
should be as much interested nlesser-
ed cost of transportation to those ports
from inland primary markets ana from
their ports to interior distributing CEN
ters as they are in rates to and from
abroad. In other words, the possibility
ofsthe interior selling to them and buy
ing from them depends as much on in
land as on export transportation rates.
I'VE would be glad to have you of the
east come out west and see us. We will
guarantee that you will be safe from
being run over by herd of buffalo,
and we will see that our Indians remain
good while YOU are in that country. It
would do you good to come out west
and realize for once in your lives that
YOU are really out of doors. Why, If
you had in this eastern country some
Of the soil of the Missouri river valley
you would sell it by the bushel instead
IF Inv tb 49,