The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-12-10
DEEP
| WATER
WAY
PROBLEM

Washington. y. c.. Dec 10.-Before
the Nat.onal Rivers ana Hlrbors con.
g-ees TO-DAY as a preliminary to his
remarks James W. Van Cleave. presi.
dent OF the National Association on
Manufacturers. had no hesitation In
declaring a preference for the Lakes.
to-the-Gun project by way Of the Mis-
siasipDi river 10 ali other local water
way schemes, because, he said, II hal
q larger region, not only in area but
in population ana IN natural resources.
tnGn any other single enterprise. Be-
sides, be said. It would contribute
more to the countrys prosperity and
wealth than would any other project
which was confined to one section. H
WIS aware. However, OF the Jealousy
OF locahty and OF the desire of eacn
section to give priority 20 its own
Tarticular scheme. For the reason,
he said, the nationsl rivers and har-
bors congress, which took the enti:e
country into its calculations, had a
mission which made a powerful ap-
peal 20 all men who think continent.
SHY Those who were interested In
the extension OF manufacturing ami
in the lengthening OF the United
gtGtes lead over the Other industrial
countries In this field must also think
and plan contlnentally.
Aer. Van Cleaye, In giving :he reas.
on3 Why manufacturer all over the
ccGn:ry hail a profouni concern In
TIE work the congress aimel 10 ac-
complish. said that with the progress
cf Invention AMI the aCptlon OF la
bor saving ,,eyices, production In the
factories. 10 q steadily Increasing de-
gree. outran home consumption. He
declared that IN order that the opera
tion OF mills In periods Of tlade stag.
nation as well as In pericls of trade
activity may be continued. the prices
OF American products af the great
centers OF consumption. both at home
an3 abroad, must be lowered, and that
the cheapening OF transportation
would help TO d othat. The readiest
apd most efective way to do that and
at the same time quicken the transit
between produce ami consumer. he
said, w;,s TO put the navlgable water
ways OF ihe country in a shape In
which they could do their share OF the
work. re pointed out why the manu-
facturers had a large stake IN the
work which the congress aims to pro-
mote. The country'g mills and fac
tories" he said. represent capt
tai Of sl5.0O0.0O0.000 They employ
5000. 0O0 OF persons, give them s3.500,.
000,000 IN wages annually. and fash
ion $40, ,00O. .O6e 900 OF materials yearly
into products worth $4,000. 900. The
exports OF manufactures In 1908 $780,.
000.000 In The amount 0 tmoney inyes'
ed IN Il and in the numDef OF persons
which Il employees, manufacturing Is
the second greatest of the country s
interests, agriculture being first. II
tne VOLUME ana the value ~ rs manu-
faciUres the lnite3 States nearly cqu
ais It's three nearest competitors com.
Dlned--0 eat Britain, Germany an
France
Speaking from the national side ol
the question Mr.. Van Cleaye said tha
the organisation uf which he wal
president was IN hea-ty sympath!
with toe aim OF the national rterl
ami Iarbors congress 10 obtain Al
annual governmental arr, opriatlOn o
$50. 900 for river and han ibor i'm
provement throughout the couniry
MY own experience as well as tha
OF every other manufactures in Tn
country" he sad. "shCNs the harn
which comes from the inability of ia
railways TO handle the traffic prompt
~. During the past ten or twelve
months we have aad no complaint oi
this score. Tor the trafiic has fallen Of
But the rapidlty with, which the mum
Der of idle cars Is falling on warn
ms manufacturers that the OH trafii
congestion al ou7 business center
lWill soon return. Under tae impulse
which tra,e has received In the pas
few weeks we must be prepared t.
see the old embargo at our big rail
way stations by crop moving time o
1909 at the latest. He gave a. a