The Washington herald., 1907-11-28
WANTS RIVERS USED
Their Improvement NeceS-
Sary for the West.
OPINION OF AN OREGON MAN
Mr. Joseph \. Teal. of Portland.
comments on Important Work Be
iore the Rivers and Harbors Con-
Eress, which Convenes Here Next
Week-His Recommendation.

IL is very enthusiastic and competent
vanguard of the Rivers and Harbors Con-
gress which meets in Washington next
week. that arrived yesterday. In proof
or his true vanguardianship. AIr. Joseph
n Teal of Portland, Ore, president OF
the open Rivers Association Of that city.
told of some of the things he hopes the
Congress VIII do.
one Of the principal objects Of con-
sideration." said Mr.. Teal. in his room in
the New Willard. as he glanced from
maps OF the United States and the Bur
hngton Railroad. 90 one of the Burling-
ton Railroad and the United States. lis
TO secure the establishment of a Depart
ment OF Rivers and Harbors, with a
ful-hedged cabinet officer at its head
The time has come when such a depart
ment is needed, because the army officers
IN charge of the government work have
enough to do to take care Of fortifca-
ton Improvements.
An Issue of Bonds
The next object for the action Of the
congress will be, ] believe, the passage
or an act by the real Congress. whereby
enough money shall be appropriated for
any one piece of work, so that when it
Is once started. it may be brought to
completion without more government aid
The West will be in favor of the issue
or bonds, If money cannot otherwise be
secured. by which sufficient funds may
be raised 10 complete the projects now
approved and under way 1 do not know
what the rest of the country may think
OF this, but the West, I am sure. will
favor it,"
Mr. Teal said there was no one thing
which can SO certainly relieve freight
congestion in the West and especially
IN the Pacific Northwest. as the improve
ment Of rivers and harbors lie said at
present the railroads In that section are
not able 20 take care OF a large portion
of the freight offered them. ana they
certainly cannot hope TO be able 10 han
die all that may be offered. as the
growth OF that section brings about an
increase in production.
The whole Northwest. he said. is ab-
solutely united on this question of river
and harbor Improvement. ana will hack
any movement that will tend to procure
such things. He said that no better proof
OF this fact can be cited than that the
State Of Oregon has appropriated sev-
eral million dollars for such work in
the last few years. and that this has
been spent on the inland WATERWAYS Of
that State.
1t is not known TO ALL said Mr..
Teal that the Columbia. Snake and
Willamette rivers practically drain all
the territory Of the three Northwestern
States of Oregon. Washington. and Idaho
II these three streams were properly i'm
proved. it would tend largely to settle
the transportation question out there.
The Territory Drained.
There are 250oO0 square miles OF terri
tory drained by these rivers. and the
products and freight which might pass
over them Is Of enormous tonnage. and Of
great value
But said Mr.. Teal as his gaze at the
Burlington and United States map grew
more intense, Il am down here on some
thing other than the meeting of the
Rivers and Harbors Congress. l am here
merce Commission the side OF the plain
tins in what are known, in the Pacific
northwest. as the lumber cases The
hearing Of these cases has been set for
December II. They involve a vast sum
of money; running as high as several
million dollars each year
The rates ON lumber from Pacific
roast points 10 places east Of the origin
Of shipment. which had been unchanged
since 1888. were arbitrarily advanced from
10 10 = per cent on November l last.
This action on the part of the rail
roads has absolutely prostrated the lum-
ber interests Of the West TO such an ex-
tent that the greatest portion of the mills
have been compelled 60 close and thOus-
ands OF men have been thrown out Of en-
ployment
AS over 150,OO0 carloads Of lumber are
shipped each year from Oregon and
Washington. and the average advance on
each car has been from $40 To $50. II can
be readily seen that the amount of money
involved is enormous.
Change in the Law,
'One consequence OF this arbitrary ad-
vance on the lumber rates will be the
change i'm the present Interstate com
merce law-or. at least. it IS hoped it will
be so changed-so that no rate can be
advanced. If IL complaint is made, until
a hearing has been given to the com
plainants. As the law now stands a man
may be absolutely ruined by such an ad-
vance before he can obtain a hearing
Fortunately, in these cases, Of which
there are five. the commission. realizing
their Importance to the Northwest. has
done all in its power TO grant a speedy
hearing
This advance in rates is OF so damar-
ing a nature, Mr.. Teal said. that for the
first time in the history OF the country
since the interstate commerce law has
been ia effect an injunction was issued
by United States courts in Oregon and
Washington restraining the collection of
the proposed rates until the cases shall
have been heard by the commission.
These cases, Mr. Teal said. will bring
a large number of the prominent lumber
men OF Oregon and Washington TO this
city. and they Will be represented. not
only by operators, but by counsel. He
said the interest in the hearing is great
in those STATES ana that a decision will
be awaited anXlousy by every one, even
remotely concerned with lumber produc-
ton.