The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-07-08
IMPROVEMENT OF
THE OHIO RIVER
JUSTIFIED BY VAST BENEFITS
BOUGHT TO ENGLISH COM.
MERGE BY CANALiZTiON OF
INLAND WATERWAYS ON
BRITISH ISLE.

Washington, July An illustration
lof what waterway development will
do for the interior cities of the Tn ted
States, once the government gets it's
proposed program under way Is found
in the latest number of Derrick S
British Reports the standald author
ity on trade statistics In England
The publication, copies of which have
found 'Fheir way here, sets forth the
marvellous commercial rise of Man.
chester since the oncnng Of the Mar
chester canal. Incidentally, It is
shown that in one decade the water.
way has far more than paid for itself,
although the initial cost reached the
vast sum OF SIS, 100000.
Manchester lies thir y-five miles
from the sea, on the banks of the Ir-
well. For years the manufacturing
town was forced to play second fiddle
to Liverpool, which boasted splendid
decks that drew the trade of the
whole world. The citizens ( Man
NhN9NNi, hhNNNi, uhuttlooh tdIH-
raign to induce The British govern
ment to canalize the river and thus
give her. access to the sea-
The British authorities scoffe1 ct
the idea that the Trwel, an insignlfi-
cant stream, could be made an avenue
of connection. They met every pc
tition with coldneaa and derded the
belief Of the Manchester people that |
the canalization of the river would be
of benefit, not only to Manchester but |
to all England In the early stages |
OF the fight the citizens found the
same apathy and lack of general !,
knowledge of the subject that obtain. |
ed in this country when the National |
Rivers and Harbors Congress first !
took up and agitated the question Of |
q well-defined program Of improve !
ments by this government.
Finally, however, the Manchester
citizens won. The British govern
ment determined, In order to still the |
agitation, to canalize the stream. |
Fifteen million pounds sterling, or
lbout $40 100000 was expended and
he wisdom of this investment was
proved almost with the opening of the |.
anal in 1892. Prior to that tine Man
hester exports were sent overland to-
liverpool and transshpped, slow
nd expensive method that effectualy 4.
ept down the export business of Man .
hester In 1895. three years after
he opening, the immediate effect of Z
'aterway transportation was apparent /
J increased trade. In that year the Z
alne of exports of yarn and cloth "
lone. had risen to $233, 1876, 100. while :,
! 1905. ten years later, they had to- !,
llled 1854, ,035 100. Thus In decade =
lecanal so stimulated trade as to !
,rce an increase of 1920, ,23S,370.
II ever has been the contention of /,
Ie National Rivers and Harbors Con- !,
ith waterway transportation will be a
iplicated in this country, once a sys- q
matte and scientific development of ;,
&c rivers and harbors Is undertaken
he prediction has been made, time
I'd again, that the immense tonnage
Pittsburg-the greatest of any city
the world-would be vastly increas- .,
were the Ohio river made fully =
vigable from the Smoky City to its =
influence with the Mississippi. The
WINS lying along the steream would :,
stimulated by this traffic and the =
w transportation opening affarded
cir factories, mines and farms a.
Evidence is multiplying TO prove
at the federal authorities are awak- "
ing TO the necessity OF adopting -
goirous policy with regard to river VI
d haIbor development work Pres.
mt Roosevelt gave the movement I
werfus boost" when he namel the
land Waterways Commission. and
ngress is expected to frame another
ge appropriation bill at the coming
ssion Only in this way can the
'rk be prosecuted vigorously, for
,gardly appropriations. it has been
md are costly. A little money.
read over number of projects
llers II impossible to complete in NJ
entirety any work, with the result
It incomplete contracts have been
, order in the past. ami funds have
en- expended that brought benefits
none