The Cairo bulletin., 1907-08-22
SPENDING MONEY
FOR WATERWAYS
SURVEYS COMPLETED FOR THE
CANAL FROM LAKE ERIE
TO OHIO RIVER.
Several Great Carat Schemes Pro.
iected to Facilitate Water Trans
portation at Cost Of
Many Millions.

fore in the history OF the Unite.
States has there been such activity
both by the federal government alf
the individual states, In the develop
ment Of waterways. The ccuntry Ii
enteMng On an era CT canals never
| equalled In the western hemisphere
The activity results from two cal ses
the effects Of which have been felt as
equally in California ana Massachu.
setts as in Minnesota and Texas
The first cause was found in the
Igross favoritism shown powerful shin.
pers BY the railroads. Rebates ana
Especial consideration in the matter OF
furnishing cars enabled the big cor
poration to flourish at the expense OF
the small shipper, The people finally
arose. and the result has been de-
huge cf federal and state laws which
conflict and cloud the situation, work.
ing hardsbips alike to the railroads
end their patrons,
The second cause eliminated in the
freight congestion Of last winter and
spring Whole communities ia the
northwest perishing because the rail-
roads could net find the cars in which
70 haul coal to them, and farmers
with their granarics bursting with
wheat rnahle to purchase even the
necessities Of life because OF the lack
CT cars in which to get their grain II
market. aroused the country to tho
fact that tho railroads had not kept
bace with industry Commerce had
them aud continued pres
perity was jeopariized
Then it was that the people awoke
TO the campaign being waged by the
National Rivers and Ifarbors congress
This organization had roresesn these
II bad been declaring for
'Xe aAEe ysars tpat nSt only would de de-
logically settle the rate question, but
that the railroads were rapidly reach
ing the stage when they would be al
unable to handle the freight
1t the country. The result was that
The nation swung with enthusiastic
Nnergy into the work of rehabilitating
is rivers and of building canals.
Surveys have just been completed
or the canal from Lake Erie to the
ohio river. When the waterway Is
1t will be possible for |
AXE vessels to carry ore direct from
AXE Superior to the great furnaces |
II the Pittsburg district and to trans
,ort coal from the western Pennsyl. |
'ania mines to upper lake ports.
Florida has let the contract for
anal from Jacksonville to Key West. |
distance OF 500 miles; 1t is to be
lnisned in five years and is to cost /
2,000,000. New York has approved a
,ond issrc of s100.000,00O for the Erie
anal; the state of Washington Is
considering the appropriation OF sS.-
90. 900 for the construction of ship |
anal so feet deep to connect the
gaters of Puget Sound and Lake
and Massachusetts is
'DOuI W bdft Sillp tdhdi cut dtIOSH
APE Cod, which, when completed,
viii permit vessels plying between
boston and New York to take the "in-
ide route" all the way.
There are scores of other projects
ither undre way or being carefully
There is the deep water.
way from the Lakes to the Gulf; the
Iennepin canal in Illinois: the canal
'eing constructed in Louisiana which
will open UP the rich lumber district.
nd the movement afoot to construct
/ greater and more comprehensive
anal at Sault Ste. Marie because of
he enormous increase in lake ton
age.
The National Rivers and Harbors /
cngrcss hopes to impress upon the
Iational congress the necessity for
ppporriati1g s59.Ot0.050 a year 10
ontinue the work on government /
Captain J. r. Ellison Of
'incinnati. its secretary. is urging 4
hippcrs and communities to become !
members so that the prestige of the 1
organization may be increased and its
'ower for effective work be made