The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-07-13


tmtion Of what waterway development
vii do Tor the interior cities OF the
United States, once the government gets
its proposed program under way, Is
found in the latest number OF "Derrlck's
British Reports" the standard author
ity on trade statistics in England The
publication. copies of which have found
their way here, sets forth the marvel.
lous comewial rise Of Manchester since
the opening OF the Manchester canal.
incidentally, ii is shown that in one
decade 'he waterway has lar more than
paid tor itself although the initial cost
reached the vast sum Vi S15,OOOOOo.
Manchester lies thirty five miles from
the sea. on the bauks OF the lrwell For
years the manufacturing town was form
ed to play second fiddle TO Liverpool,
which boasted splendid docks that drew
the trade OF the whole world. The citi-
zens OF Manchester, however. undertook
a campaign to induce the British govern
ment to canalire the river and thus give
her access 10 tho sea.
The British authorities seoilcd at the
idea that the lrwell, au Insignificant
stream, could be made an avenue oi
Connection, They met every petition
with eoldness and derided the belief Of
the Manchester people that the canali'
zation of the river would BE- OF benefit
not only to Manchester but to all En-
glatd In the early stages OF the fight
the citizens found the ,amc apathy anl
lack vi general knowledge OF the sab.
jrct that obtained in this country when
the National Rivers 4 tIarbors Congress
ihst took up and agitatei the question
ol well-detined program OF improve
ments By this government.
Finally however, the Manchester citi-
gems won The British government dc.
tetmined. in order to still the agita-
| tion, to canalize the stream. Fifteen
million pounds sterling, or about $780,
100000 was expended and the wisdom
OF this investment was proved almost
with the opening OF the canal in 1892
Prior to that the Manchester exports
were sent overland to Liverpool and
uansshlpped u slow and expensive me-
thod that eiIectually kept down the ex-
,ort business OF Manchester. In 1895
three years after the opening, the i'm
mediate effect OF waterway transporta'
ton was apparent in increased trade
In that year the value OF exports oi
yarn and cloth, alone had risen to $685..
700,10O, while in 1905, ten years later
they had totalled s3j4.O35, 100. Thus
in decade the canal so stimulated trade
as to force an increase OF Sl20,23s,370.
1t ever has been the contention OF
the National Rivers Il Harbors Congress
that Manchestcr's experience with wat
Ierwag transportation will be duplicated
in this country once systematic and
scientific development Of the rivers and
harl0rs Is undertaken. The prediction
has been made, time and again, that
the immense tonnage OF Pittsbufg-the
greatest OF any city in the world-would
bo vastly increased were the Ohio river
made fully nayigable from the Smoky
City to its confluence with the AIissis-
sippi, The towns lying along the
stream would be stimulated BY this
traffic and the new transportation open.
ing afforded their factories, mines anC
iarm.
Evidence is multiplying to proye that
the federal authorities are awakening
to the necessity for adopting vigorous
policy with regard to river and harboI
development work. President Roose.
welt gave the movement n powerful
boost" when he named the Inland Wat
erwaya Commission, and Congress is
expected to frame another large appro-
priation bill at the coming session On
u in this way can the work be prose
cuted vigorously, the niggarlly appro.
priations, it has been found, are cost.
j.. A little money, spread over num-
Der of projects renders it impossible to
complete in its entirety any work, with
the result that incomplete contracts have
been the order in the past and funds
have been expended that brought bene-
fits to none.
|