The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1907-08-13
COMMERCE PEACE
NOT HAGUE BRAND
Looks Like Winner of the
World Nations
France and Germany Both Are In
dertaking Ambitious Water
ways Project.
NOT UNLIKE OUR PROBLEMS

Washington, Aug Is Prosaic
commerce is more likely to bring
about world peace than all the So
called peace congresses that may be
held at The Hague from now till
Gabriel's trumpet sounds. This is
the belief of those who have studied
the question. Their theory is based
on stronge grounds, but ii is thor
oughly plausible. 1t is simply that
the expenditures being made or In
contemplation by the great nations of
the world for the advancement of
commerce are growing so enormous
that little or nothing will be left
with which to wage wars.
Much of this expenditure is found
In the present worldwide policy of
waterway development, The United
States is pouring millions into the
Panama canal and is contemplating
an outlay of more millions in better
ments to its rivers and harbors at
home. Commerce demands it. and
commerce is mistress that brooks
no refusal. The other commercial
nations also are busy along the same
lines, driven by the same necessity,
and reports Of gigantic undertakings
are becoming so frequent as to oc-
casion but passing interest.
Two projects. however, were re-
ported this week that go to show how
important this form of work has be-
come. One of these Is in France,
while Germany is about TO undertake
the other. Both correspond in great
measure with a number of waterway
development schemes under consid-
GRAFTON in this country. and for which
the American people. aroused by the
national rivers and harbors congress.
have been clamoring during the last
few years.
The French project contemplates
the construction of a canal to con-
meet the valley OF the Rhine with the
port of Marsellles The work will
cost SIS, goo. 900, and as the hills
separating the Rhone from the city
are too high to be surmounted by
locks. the French government will
tunnel through them. This tunnel
measured by the amount of dirt ex-
cavated, will be the largest in the
world. II will be seven kilometers
or is miles, in length and is eek
pected to cost nearly 100000.
The German work is even more
gigantic. II contemplates a new ship
canal between Hamburg and Bremen
which will be seventy-five miles in
length. The waterway will mean an
immense saving of time in the pass
age of ships between the two towns
The present route for vessels I'm the
inter-city trade is down the Elbe. via
Cuxhaven. into the North Sea. and
then up the Weser to Bremen, or
vice versa. Not only does this
lengthy route eat up time, but It ex
poses river vessels to the dangers OF
the open sea.
The new waterway will directly
connect the Elbe with the river
b Wumme, which flows past Bremen
The river Este will be one of the
links used, and it and the Wumme
will be deepened. a canal connecting
the two being dug so that it will pass
close to the towns of Tolstedt aud
Hoisburg.
This very project was first discuss
ed seventy years ago and has come
lup for discussion internationally ever
since. Each time II was abandoned
because of lack of funds. The govern
ment needed the money for the sup
port of its army establishment, and
commerce had to accept the newt
able. Now commerce is of more i'm
portance than the army, and the
works of peace OF greater interest
than preparations for war.
Thus 1t may be seen that commerce
Is the handmaiden of peace. To ear
ry out the metaphor, the national
rivers and harbors congress is the
discourager of armed camps through
its powerful advocacy of waterway
development i'm this country. AT
present it is seeking to make its work
more effective by increasing It's men,
harcIiu urbfcb fu a1raadv large