The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-04-11

. WASHINGTON, April i0,---It wonl
appear that the nations of the worl
have entered into competitlv
!, struggle In the building up of waite
/, transportation, Consul Griffiths ha'
just reported that Great Britain IL /
expend an enormous sum on Improve
ments to the harhor at Liverpool
these improvements to include IN,
building OF training wall nearly tw,
miles long, to consist OF huge block,
OF cement and thousands OF tons o
stone. Work on tire wall will re-
qalre several years and an enormous
amount OF money win be expended
1t has been found necessary to con-
struct this training wall because Of
the accumulatlons OF sand swept IN
by the ocean currents. these shifting
banks OF sand Offering dangerous OBJ
structions to the large Atlantic liners,
Improvements TO the harbor at
Liverpool go forward steadily each
year, an annual expenditure OF $500.
900 being made for dredging. Great
Britain also expends on other har-
bors large amounts ana everyone OF
her navigable rivers Is kept up TO its
highest state Of efficiency This poll
cy is followed by Germany. and n
number OF the German cities 100 to
zoe miles inland. are actually sea-
ports by reason Of their location on
the banks of highly developed riv-
ers.
According to Consul Liefeld. of
Freibbourg. Germany. the German
government Is to ioin hands with
Switzerland In increasing the effect
iveness of the upper Rhine. Improve
ments are now under way to make the
river navigable above Strassburg as
far as Basel, Switzerland. II ls be-
lieved that the stream win be so Inn
proved as to admit Of the passage OF
boats carrying from 500 to 1900 tons
as far north az the Lake OF Constance.
Once the upper Rhire Is improved to
admit OF this, Consul Litchfield de-
,lared that improvements win follow
20 the Aare River, even to Yverdon. to
lake Neucnatel. only a few hours by
all from Lake Geneva and the Rhone
Valley.
The immediate ereflts OF this de-
Of the Upper Rhine in
pointed out by Consul Liefeld In his
'eport. The Consu. shows TINT inI
9O3, which Is the latest report on the
rafiic, out Of the total of 5,l13,i00
ons Of bulk goods moved into Switz-
rland,1 $4,000 were transported by
hips to Mannheim or Strassburg,
While Of the export Of bulk goods
TO $4,000 tons, 1O0,5O0 tons
we're transported on the Rhine from
he above named places, as we'll as /
16, 500 tons Of goods in transit across
switzerland, making a total Of 1,743,-
90. Consul Llefeld adds:
IF these goods could have been
by water from Basel to
ianneim and vice versa at freight |
ate of $l07 for the. distance per ton, a
um Of $1,238, 563 would have been |
aved. This rate would soon, under
he pressure Of competition and after
he gradual removal Of present OBJ
and hindrances to naviga-
ion, be greatly reduced" II
It is undoubtedly this last phase Of i
he matter that Is spurlng all the ma {
ions of the world on to greater exer- {
ions In waterway development. Con-
Joseph r. Ramsdell, Of Lou
slana, President Of the National Riv-
RS & Harbors Congress, in a speech
n the last Congress dwelt forcefully
n the fact that water transportation {
or heavy goods IL one-sixth and
ometimes one-ninth that Of the char {
es by rail for similar transportation. [
fr. Ransdell pointed out also In the
curse of his address that water trans :
in no wise would injure the
rosperity of the railroads, but that 1t q
,ould supplement railroad activity /
nd stimulate it by stimulating COM o
lerce.
The National Rivers & HarborA I
ongress is bending It's energies to- q
ard having the Federal government
ommit itself to an appropriation pol r
" OF $50,0O0,O0Oa year for the de-
elopment and improvement Of AM '
rican waterways. At the present
me there are projects approved by
overnment engineers calling for an {
ltlay Of upwards Of $5OO0OO,OOO. "a