The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1907-12-14
The Transportation Problem.


itial recommendation to the Congress of the United
States 1t asked for annual appropriation of $780,,
100000 for the Improvement of rivers, harbors and
other waterways. 1t recommended the issue of
Government bonds in the interest of the improve
ments suggested when money is not available from
current receipts, to the end that the improvements
might be continuous and all projects completed with
out interruption after having been instituted.
A year ago rivers and harbors congress made pub
lie it's intentions through resolution which the
people of the United States took under consideration
That the people gave to those intentions hearty
endorsement was made evident by the response In
the congress of last week thirty States were
represented by 1000 delegates, chosen from COM
mercal, producing and consuming classes.
The action of the congress was based primarily
upon the proposition that the railroads of the country
unable to handle the transportation of the coun
try and that heavy losses accrung from the
gested condition of traffic From high railroad au-
horty it was ascertained that the carrying business
of the country has increased 100 per cent in ten
years. while the handling capacity of the railroads
has increased only 20 per cent.
Meanwhile the natural water highways Of the
country have been almost wholly neglected and trans
portation facilities driven by illadvised and de-
structive competition the part of the railroads
whenever efforts were made to employ the water
courses
Through the rivers and harbors committee of the
House. Congress authorizes the expenditure of about
$22OOOOOO year for the improvement of waterways
in the several States and all to little purpose No
system has been followed Projects of Importance
have been begun left unfinished and finally destroyed
by the floods they designed to control or by the
gnawing tooth of time.
Usually the work ordered by Congress, through
the rivers and harbors committee, has been of little
consequence, the money expended thereon being dis
trbuted among Senators and Representatives sops
to their constituents to be paraded as arguments
for the reelection of Senators and Representatives.
So nearly vaue1ess have been these appropriations
that the river and harbor appropriation bill is COM
monty referred to as "the pork barrel and highly
scanda1ous is the rush for "s1ices" that Congress
omits its distribution of money for the Improvement
of waterways in Presidential years, fearing that the
voter may take notice.
TO such treatment has the most important public
interest of the country been subjected for many
years and during that time transportation facilities
have been becoming and more inadequate until
actual suffering has become the penalty, along with
general inconvenience.
Through the intervention of the rivers and har-
bors congress that has just closed important Ses
sion in Washington it may confidently be expected
that responsibility will be conferred upon measures
that authorize the expenditure of money for the i'm
provement of the National waterways.
No project could appeal more strongly to the pub
lie Real internal improvement is always beneficial
Apart from its utility, it affords employment to the
industrious and the needy and effects distribution
of money that enters Immediately into the channels
of trade
The country is being continuously urged to confer
subsidies upon ships that ride the in the interest
of the wealth of corporations Much more popular