Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-12-14
Waterways At CRISIS
Question Has Passed Propagan-
da Stage and Definite Action
is Now Due
BOND ISSUES NOT POPULAR
BOND ISSUES NOT PoPuLAF
How to Raise Necessary Millions for
Prosecution of Work Is Now the
ProbIem-InteIIieen Thought Super
cedes Enthusiastic snorance-Panc
Halted Agitation.
Especial Correspondence.)

Especial Correspondence
Washington, Dec. 14.-AS q. project in
propaganda, the internal waterways
movement is nearing it's finish unless
| some results can be secured. Public
sentiment has been aroused. The coun
try is ready to stand by any reason
able scheme of improving facilities for
| communication by water. 1t is for con-
gress to decide whether the matter
shall go forward or shall be dropped
This is the opinion of the leaders in
the movement. They are calculating
whether the country is In earnest about
being willing to spend its money for
such work. And that brings up, as the
determining factor, the question
whether the states are ready to take
UP their share of the burden.
Getting the federal treasury to bear
such loads has come to be regarded in
this country as close akin to enlisting
providence in a scheme of betterment.
the national government comes out OF
his pocket On the other hand the state
administrations are chary of being
drawn into projects which mean in
crease Of taxes and revenue. 1t becomes
then large issue. Are the whole ideals
of the country to be reformed? Would
the men who want half billion from
the national treasury be willing to
support the proposition of taking from
their state treasures their pro rata
share of the amount?
Bond Issues Not Popular.
Issuance of bonds in time Of peace
has not been popular in this country
Yet it is apparently impossible to take
up an immense series of waterways
projects unless payment is deferred.
The national revenues are still tre-
mendous, but in latter yearsNthey have
been spent in large measure maintain
ing a great navy and an army which if
not great is at least vastly larger and
more costly than before the Spanish
war. Does the country prefer to main
tain war establishment in time of
peace, and to compete in preparedness
with the nations of Europe. or is it to
luIu dlSliilCtlS ~ VIC III - VI PSStSSt
and to look upon the problem of in
terral improvements more seriously?
These are questions which have been
on the tongue of public men since the
internal improvements movement took
serious form. They want to know
whether the states are willing to sup
plement the credit of the national
government with their own, in order
to carry forward a scheme Of water
way Improvement which, as Represent
alive Davidson of Wisconsin showed,
already contemplates a billion dollar
investment, and is liable to indefinite
expansion.
Enthusiasm VS.. Intelligent Thought.
A year age the waterways conven-
ton in Washington was marked by
great enthusiasm and none too much
intelligent thought. This year it has
been the reverse. There has been less
enthusiasm and more serious consid-
Grafton of the real problems There is
vet little difference of opinion about
the desrability of water transporta-
ton, tho a good many people have
raised this question, pointing out that
rail transport is so much cheaper here
than abroad that it may be doubted
whether water freighters would repre-
sent anything like the proportion of
economy that it produces in Europe.
If American railroads can haul goods
cheaper than European, because the
hauls are longer and the railroads
adapted to the business. it may still
be added that American river routes
are likewise longer and more avai!a-
r, lo N
rivers continue the despair of people
who would urge that inland water
Transportation can not compete with
railroads. The Rhine carries ire
mendous and growing tonnage: yet the
Mississippi presents vastly greater@pos-
sibilities of Improvement than the
Rhine, and on the whole is quite as Well
situated to become a primary artery OF
trade for this, nation, as is the Rhine
for Germany. Every mile of the Mlssls-
sippi is in American territory, While
the lower, reaches of the Rhine are not
in Germany. The great Ens-Dortmund
canal has been built by Prussia to
assure a German ocean terminal for
the commerce of the Rhine if need
should arise. There is no need for such
thing in this country
Panic Hats Agitation.
Just at the time when the propa-
ganda for internal waterway improve
ment was at its height; just when
James ]. Hill and other great prac-
teal economists were clalnoring for
river Improvement to supplement the
railroad facilities-just then the panic
came and the railroads We're suddenly
found TO he able to carry vastly more
than the tonnage offered to them. 1t
was unfortunate for the waterways
movement. If the freight congestion
of two years ago had continued down