The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-02-28
Results To Be Gained by the De-.
velopment of Our Inland
Waterways.
Commerce Driven from the Mississippi
River by Unregulated
Railways
Duties OF the Government in Securing
the Largest Possible Use of Our
Waterways-COmm
,, Report Praised.

President Roosevelt sent to con-
gress a message accompanied by the
preliminary report of the inland water
ways commission, the substance of
which has already been published. The
president tells congress that unusual
care has been taken in compiling the
report and that the subject with which
it deals is Of the utmost Importance
both to the present and the future Of
our country. The message follows:
To the Senate and House of Repre-
senatives:
l transmit herewith Preliminary
Report from the Inland Waterways
Commission, which was appointed by
me last March in response to a wide
spread interest and demand from the
people. The basis Of this demand lay
in the general and admitted inability
of the railroads to handle promptly
the traffic Of the country, and espe-
cially the crops Of the previous Fall.
This report Is well worth your at
tention. 1t is thorough, conservative,
sane, and just. 1t represents the ma
ture judgment Of a body of men ex-
ceptionally qualified, by personal ex-
perience and knowledge of conditions
throughout the United States, to
understand and discuss the great
problem of how best to use our water
ways in the interest Of all the people.
Unusual care has been taken to secure
accuracy and balance Of statement.
If the report errs at all it is by over
conservatism. 1t contains findings or
statements of fact, number of speci-
fic recommendations and an account
Of inquiries still in progress, and it is
based in part on statistics and other
information contained in a voluminous
appendix. The subject with which it
deals is of critical Importance both to
the present and the future of OH
country.
Rivers Poorly Developed.
Our river systems are better adapted
to the needs Of the people than those
Of any other country. In extent, distri-
button. navigability, and ease of use,
they stand first. Yet the rivers Of no
other civilized country are so poorly
developed, so little used, or play so
small part in the industrial life of
the nation as those Of the United
States. In view of the use made of
rivers elsewhere, the failure to use our
own is astonishing, and no thoughtful
man can believe that 1t will last. The
accompanying report indicates clearly
the reasons for it and the way to
end It.
The Commission finds that 1t was
unregulated railroad competition which
prevented or destroyed the develop
ment Of commerce on our inland
waterways. The Mississippi, our great
est natural highway, is case in point
At one time the traffic upon it was
without rival In any country. The
report shows that commerce was
driven from the Mississippi by the
railroads. While production was
limited the railways, with their con-
venicnt terminals, gave quicker and
more satisfactory service than the
waterways. Later they prevented the
restoration Of river traffic by keeping
down their rates along the rivers, re.
coupling themselves by higher charges
elsewhere. They also acquired water
fronts and terminals to an extent
which made water competition impos-
sible. Throughout the country the
railways have secured such control Of
canals and steamboat lines that to.
day inland waterway transportation
Is largely In their hands. This was
natural and doubtless inevitable under
the circumstances, but ii should not be
allowed to continue unless under care.
full Government regulation.
Requires Intelligent Regulation.
Comparatively little inland freight
is carried by boat which is not carried
a part of its journey by rail also. AS
the report shows, the successful de.
velopment and use of our interstate
waterways will require intelligent
regulation OF the relations between
rail and water traffic. When this IL
done the railways and waterways will
assist instead of injure each other
Both will benefit but the chief benefit
will accrue to the people in general
through quicker and cheaper trans
portation.
The report rests throughout on the
fundamental conception that every
waterway should be made to serve the
;,eople az largely and in as many diff
ierent ways as possible. 1t is poor