The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-08-23

IS TO STUDY PRESENT CONDITIONS

WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. 23.-An-
nouncement has just been made here
that Congressman Joseph E. Ransdell
Of Louisiana, chairman Of the execu-
/ tive committee of the national rivers
and harbors congress, and member Of
the house committee on rivers and
harbors, will leave at the end of the
cific coast for the special purpose of
urging support for the national rivers
and harbors congress in it's efforts to
secure the passage Of an annual riv-
ers and harbors appropriation of at
least $50,0OO,OOO, in place of the total
i ly inadequate and irregular sums now
afforded. The trip, which is under
| taken at the urgent invitations which
Mr.. Ransdell has received from men,
bers of prominent commercial bodies,
will have as it's chief purpose care
full investigation of all Pacific coast
| river and harbor Improvement pro-
jects, and it is hoped will result in
arousing enthusiasm and backing for
the work of the national rivers and
harvors congress, which is vitality
essential if it is to succeed in getting
the appropriations from congress
which the interest of the shippers on
all parts of the coast demand.
To Make Speeches.
Mr.. RansdelI will visit and speak
in all the larger cities on the coast,
his itenerary as now mapped out in
Guiding Portland, Tacoma, Seattle,
San Francisco and various other inter-
mediate points. The levee system of
the Sacramento, and the condition Of
the Columbia, both at its mouth and
at The Dalles, will receive special at
tention. The wants of the country In
the line of improved water transport
tation facilities will be carefully con-
sidered, and it is Mr.. Ransdelrs hope
that the realization on the part of the
people of the necessity of such work
will make itself strongly felt.
| The national rivers and harbors
congress. an organization in which
commercial bodies and business mems
clubs in all parts of the country have
membership, is working steadily and
energetically for the accomplishment
ling of the people of all parts of the
country to the realization that even
the indirect benefits of such a scheme
of waterway improvements as could
be accomplished with annual appropri-
ations of $4,000, 900 are so great as to
make them absolutely necessary to
the shipper. Such a national ana
nom partisan scheme of improvements
as Mr.. Ransdell proposes would save
hundreds of millions of dollars to the
shippers annually, since, aside from
Offering transportation at an average
of less than one-sixth of tn present
rail rates, it would far surpass any
rate law as a regulator and redu-
Ger. No important country in the
world has done so little for its water
ways as the United States-a fact
which renders prompt and sustained
action all the more necessary.
Columbia River Case.
AS a single instance, typical Of the
needs of the Pacific coast in this line,
the case of the Columbia river is cited,
since it's improvement would be not
only of local benefit, but one yielding
large returns to the whole coast and
the northwest. For the completion of
the great project for the construction
of a canal and locks to overcome the
distractions to navigation between the
Dalles rapids and the head of the c.
clio falls on the Columbia, 1t is
estimated that $3,7S3392.64 will be re-
CURED Yet great as are the needs of
| CIlS improvement, liiC last 'i'Sio GIN
, harbors bill appropriated for its
continuance only $4,000. Mr.. Rams
, dell ascribes this meagre allotment
to the lack of strong sentiment
, which shall impress on congress the
, need of putting this class of improve
ment on a par with the maintenance
of the army and navy. Rivers and har-
Dor acts during the last ten years have
, appropriated only about $19,50O,OOO per
year. While the army and the navy
have received something like forty per
cent of the total annual appropria-
lions of the government, only three
per cent of the total was devoted tC
rivers and harbors, although this lat
ter expenditure was directly in the
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