The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-01
IsrnREsr IN wArEawArs.

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 It Is something vondsrful to note the renewed interest which has recently manifested itself in the matter of water transportation. and how that interest promises to lead to important results in future. There are some of us who remember how. half a century ago or such matter. 1t was freely predicted that the railways would put the water ways out of business all over the coun- try. It was shown that . railroad could be built almost anywhere. and that they offered such ready. conven- lent and speedy methods of transporta- tion that even where navigable streams existed the roads would take their places and practically put an end to the use of boats.
 For time it seemed as though these predictions would be fully justified by actual events. for the water transpor- tation business did suffer a great di intuition. but it was not destined to continue. and now we find the subject of improved and multiplied water yays occupying much of the public mind and receiving renewed attention from all who are interested in trans portation.
 n~~ clon nR timent and activity may be found in the inadequacy of railroad transporta- ton to keep up with the needs and demands of our great and increasing agricultural and industrial prodpetiv- |ity. There is no season of the year when there are not complaints of con- gestion of freight traffic. and especial ly is this true of the crop moving sea- son. Every summer and fall thousands and millions of dollars are lost by the agricultural industries of the coun- try because of the impossibility of moving their crops promptly and safe ly. It matters not where the blame for this congestion lies. or whether 1t is a fault that can be remedied or avoided, the fact remains that it exists and that it causes a great deal of wor- ry and loss. and it is also a fact that such conditions have had much to do with the renewal of interest in water transportation.
 It may be expected that this demand for waterways will cause many de- mands for money from the government for impossible purposes. Money will be asked for streams that cannot possi- bly be made navigable, and much will doubtless be appropriated for which there is no good reason. That has al- ways been the case and always will be. we suppose, but because money is ask ed for and received in many cases where it can do no possible good is no rea- son why really commendable objects should be neglected. In all parts of the country there are inland water ways which can be made navisable at all seasons of the year by judicious expenditure of money and they should be attended to with as little delay as possible.
 No doubt the Congress which is about to assemble will have before it many bills to appropriate money for rivers and harbors, and some of them entirely without merit, but that latter fact should not be allowed to stand in the way of pushing the work of im- proving the streams which can be mads useful and which will be of vast benefit to all the people. There is no partisan ship and no sectionalism in the subject and there should be none in handling it. Congressmen from other sections should assist the Alabama delegation in providing for the improvement of deserving rivers in this State and Ala bama Consressmen should assist those of other States where the demand for money is legitimate and proper. We have some rivers which should be open to navigation all the year, and we hope they will receive due atten- tion from Congress. The people are demanding and needing increased water transportation facilities and they should Ae, gratified because such facilities are becoming not only de- sirable but essential.