Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1906-08-16
Canals as Rate Regulators


In the field of transportation there is
a decided revival of interest and actiy-
ity in interior canal construction. be
fore the advent of the railroad the canal
formed the most serviceable means for
the transport Of freight between I'M
portant centers of industry. 1t had the
advantage over the freighting wagon
of being able to carry material in con-
siderable bulk and at lower cost; more
over under average conditions, 1t was
q more rapid method Of transportation.
Although the canal interests maintained
an active competition with the early
railroads. the all important question OF
time decided the question in favor Oh
the latter and canal traffic declined,
many of the lines falling into disrepair
and finally into disuse.
The decadence of the inland water
way has been more complete IN some
countries than in others, for in France
and Germany there came, in course OF
time, revival of activity and new
era of construction which has brought
canal traffic up to the position OF i'm
portance. both as regulator OF rates
and an important auxiliary to the rail-
roads. which 1t should properly Gil.
The canal system Of Great Britain, on
the other hand, has declined until it
consists of few inadequate and little
related lines, which are too ill-equipped
and too Insignificant to exert any
serious influence upon the freight traf-
&c at large.
At the present time royal commits
sion is engaged in an inquiry into the
canal system OF the country; but such
commissions move slowly, and the
pecessity for individual action has led
the individual interests of the great
manufacturing counties of middle and
northern England to take action at
conference held at the invitation Of the
Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. The
points under consideration were. first.
that in order to provide healthy com
petition with the railroads, it was de-
sirable that a complete system of
through communication by water
should be provided between centres OF
commercial, Industrial. or agricultural
Importance and between such centres
and the sea; that in view Of it's national
Importance, such system should be
acquired and controlled by the govern
ment, or by public trust in which the
government should have the controlling
vote; and that in either case the sinking
fund and interest on capital expendi-
ture should be guaranteed by the gov
ernment. The scheme should prove
sufficiently attractive to private capital
to render any appeal to the government
unnecessary; indeed. it is questionable
whether to the heavy burden which II
already carries, the national budget
could add this additional heavy obliga,
ton.
Here in the United States, our canal
system was never developed to the ex
tent that obtained in Europe. The de
velopment Of the country TO its present
proportions has taken place side by side
with that of It's railroad system indeed
1t may truly be said that our stipend
Gus development in agriculture, com
merce, and industry, has been made
possible by the railroad. With the
cheaper and more quickly constructed
railroad available there was no induce
mept to undertake the construction o.
costly canals; and IL we except the not
able Erie Canal, and few others ol
less Importance, the railroads have beer
practically free from canal competition
The enlargement Of the Erie Canal
which Is now being actively prosecuted
is destined to raise that waterway II
something of the Importance that il
possessed in its must fourishing days
and 1t is reasonable TO expect that III
success In regulating rates and redirect
ing traffic into the natural channels from
which 1t has been turned by arbitrary
discrimination, will prove powcrfu
stimulus to the extension OF cana
systems between the principal manu-
featuring and industrial centres Of the
country. Foremost among these viii
probably be the waterways connecting
the Pittsburg district with the Great
Lakes and the Great Lakes with the
Gulf.-Sci Am.
THE Car has appealed to Kings Viii