The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-03
HEPBURN OPPOSES OUTLAY
Objects to Proposed River and Har-
Dor Projects.
P0kcN Fun az Schemes Of Clark and
BartboIdt-Says Rail- Transporta-
ton Has Call.

The third days general debate on the
river and harbor bill in Committee Of the
Whole of the House Of Representatives
was begun by Mr.. Small. of North Caro-
lima. who argued that the government
should construct an inland waterway
connecting Norfolk. Va, and Beaufort
Inlet, y. c.
Mr.. Hepburn. Of Iowa. followed with
some reflections upon the bill His oppo-
sition TO river and harbor bills in the
past had been not to the policy Of inn
provements, but to the class Of projects
selected for appropriation and the man
ner Of doing the work. He said he recog-
nlzed that a man subjected himself 10 the
criticism OF "reformers" by opposing the
pending measure, and In his own case
10 revival Of the charge made twenty
five years ago. that his antagonism was
due TO his desire 10 serve the railroads.
The magnitude Of the schemes advo-
Gated by Messrs Bartholdt and Clark.
Of Missouri. Friday, he said. admonished
the committee that Il should go slow Dr.
BarthoIdt estimated the cost Of his prof.
ect at the appalling sum Of $4,000, 90
and the proposition OF Mr. Clark involved
the construction OF two granite walls ex-
tending from Fort Benton 10 the Gulf
400 miles IN length,
1T is so monsTOus that / can hardly
conceive the possibility that he seriously
considers il possibility said Mr., Hep
burn
Tl{sa,feef,,, t-o ,,.-..5 et. 49,.
waterway from Chicago to the Gulf, Mr.
Hepburn said that there was not a
pound of grain seeking transportation
down the Mississippi to New Orleans,
and there had not been since the estab-
lishment Of the railroad system.
Continuing, Mr. Hepburn said. eve
have spent for improvements upon the
rivers Of the United States $4,000. 600:
upon the Mississippi and its tributaries.
SIS. 10000. In river and harbor improve
nents we have spent S23.00.000, all but
Sl6.50,000 since the Republican party came
into power. Gentlemen charge parsi-
m0ny. Gentlemen charge neglect upon
the part of the Federal government They
never give you the figures The city of
Pittsburg furnishes an illustration Of the
comparative esteem in which river and
rail transportation IS had when choice j
given. IL creates more freight than any
other spot upon the globe. 120000,000 tons.
Compare that with the cotton crop. 5000.
90 tons, not fifteenth part Of the freight
originating In one city, Yet, with the
Ohio River. the creators of that vast ton
mage shipped only u,000.e00 tons down
that stream, and that confined almost ex-
elusively 10 coal
Mr.. Hepburn gave notice of an amend
me.it he intended to offer to limit the
expenditure Of the appropriation for the
Missouri River 10 the maintenance of its
banks and channel not for the improve
ment of the navigation of the stream.
He said he knew Of one stretch of the
Missouri that now flowed eight miles dis
distant from where # did in 1861. and that
two then fiourishing towns had entirely
disappeared. He referred to the passing
OF the magnificent fleet of steamboats,
that formerly piled on the Mississippi,
and said il was because they could not
compete with the transportation facilities
Of the present DAY.
Mr.. Keller, of Ohio, spoke in opposition
to the bill, and gave notice of an amend
mend requiring the approval of a board
of army engineers before an apprOpTia-
ton was made for any projected improve
ment. The committee then arose