The Washington times., 1906-01-28

For a number Of yeas Washington
Iahs Ola not seriously consider the mat
, ,eE OF freight rates. an essential eIe-
nent IN every city's growth The citf-
Zehs were content 20 have the passen-
ger rates 10 the Capital the same as TO
other cities. and did not concern them
sSiEes N the least about shipping ia
clnues, for the idea of = residence city
solely. was so firmly fixed in their
minds that nothing else was consid-
cred OF any moment whatever
In the past few years, however this
Iethargy has been thrown of When
slHe matter or a new union passenger
station began 10 absorb general atten-
ton, the thoughts of the people natural
" turned TO the question of transpOrta-
tlons in its various phases. There were
many commercial men who held to the
belleI that the railways were inimical
10 washington, Tor the reason that they
had no terminal property here which
they would care 10 improve and
further that the business conditions
would never be such as to warrant
favorable rates to wholesale shippers
There were some in Washington who
were not so easily discouraged, and as
result there are today several mag
nificent wholesale houses in the city
doing a highly satisfactory volume OF
business throughout the surrounding
section. The agitation of the railway
frefght rates has naturally brought
about a discussion of the possibilities
OF improving Washington's waterway
tho picturesque Potomac.
Using the Potomac.
This problem of utilizing the Potomac
as highway of commerce has never
been solved in Il thoroughly SatiSfac-
tory manner for the same reason that
Washington for almost a century suf-
| fered from lack of proper railroad rates
| IN the latter instance. as stated above.
there was neither the business to war
rant the lowering of the rates, nor the
enterprise to secure the business and
J in ~
WashiHStonS enteTprising business
men are fast throwing of the effects
| of the RipVan- Winklian sleep, how
ever and the question OF deepening the
Potomac will soon be agitated with an
/ ever increasing effect upon those VINO
/ have it In their power TO carry on the
needed improvements.
| Washington, having never enjoyed the
advantages of ii port city, cannot in
/ any degree appreciate the vast benefits
| which would accrue as a result of
I water transportation rates coming IN
competition with railroad rates. When
one considers now enormous would be
/ the profits to the District and 10 the
National Government as well, to have
/ the Potomac made navigable up TO this
point for the largest vessels, the funGs
which would be required In order TO Sc
cure the desired depth seem truly ir-
/ fflitessimal.
Advantages to Navy.
Think of what IL would mean to the
/ Navy Department if the great lighting
| ships of the country could be brought
| to the gun factory TO receive their arm
| ament, and TO be inspected by the board
| OF inspectors, instead of having the
| guns shipped TO all parts of the coun-
try bv rail- and then mounted by an
! other crew of high salaried men, How
much is annually spent in maintaining
| commodious quarters for inspection
boards in various sections, when all
| this might be done III Washington, and
| the inspectors be allowed TO have quar-
| tiers in the department buildings? AND
| again, what vast sums might be saved
| the Government i'll freights on sup
| plies and finished material needed in
] the Taany departments here If they
coul be brought to Washington by
| waite, Each of these economies would
prove enormous in the course of a few
/ years.
| Another point worthy of consideration
| is the advantage 10 the nation 10 have
| our magnificent battleships take part
| in the quadrennial inauguration cere-