Mexico Missouri message., 1908-03-05
ON DEEP WATERWAY
PRESIDENT URGES CONGRESS TO
SUPPLY MONEY AT ONCE.
WILL CREAPEN FREIGHT RATES
Special Message .Indorses Recon-
nnendations Of the Inland Com.
mission.


early action looking to the appropria-
ton OF adequate funds for continuing
the work In hand.
The president insists that the work
of waterway development, irrigation,
forest preservation and rate regula-
ton are indissolubly united, and that
one branch can not be logically pur-
sued without embracing all the 9th
ers. He declares that the develop
ment proposed is the most pressing
physical need Of the country. The
message. in part. follows:
President Roosevelt said:
To the Senate and House OF Repre-
sentatves:
Our river systems are better adapt
ed to the needs OF the people than
those OF any other country. In extent,
distribution. 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 50 small a 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
| II will last. The accompanying report
indicates clearly the reasons for II
and the way TO end II.
Railroads Killed River Commerce.
The commission finds that It
was unregulated railroad competition
| which prevented or destroyed the de-
velopment of commerce on our inland
waterways. The Mississippi. our great
est natural highway, is a case in point.
| At one time the traffic upon II was
without a rival in any country. Tho
report shows that commerce was driv-
en- from the Mississippi by the rail
roads. While production was limited,
the railways, with their. convenient
terminals, gave quicker and more sat
| isfactory service than the waterways.
Later they prevented the restoration
OF river traffic by keeping down their
rates along the rivers, reCouping
themselves by higher charges else
where. They also acquired water
fronts and terminals to an extent
which made water competition impos-
slble. 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 nat
ural and doubtless inevitable under
the circumstances, but II should not
be allowed to continue unless under
careful government regulation.
To Cheaper Freight Rates.
Comparatively little inland freight
is carried by boat which Is not car
ried a part of its journey by rail also.
AS the report shows. the successful
development and use of our interstate
waterways will require intelligent reg
ulatIon OF the relations between rail
and water traffic. When this Is done
the railways and waterways will as
sist instead OF injuring each other.
Both will benefit, but the chief ben
eft will accrue TO the people In gem
eral through quicker and cheaper
transportation.
The development OF our inland wa
terways will have results far beyond
the immediate gain TO commerce
Deep channels along the Atlantic and
Gulf coasts and from the Gulf to the
Great Lakes will have high value for
the national defense. The use OF wa
ter power will measurably relieve the
drain upon our diminishing supplies
OF coal, and transportation by water
instead Of rail only will tend to con-
serve our iron.
Concerted Action Necessary.
The various uses of waterways are
now dealt with by bureaus scattered
through four federal departments. At
present, therefore. It is not possible
to deal with a river system as a single
problem. But the commission hero
recommends a policy under which
all the commercial and Industrial uses
OF the waterways may be developed
at the same time. To that end con-
gress should provide some admins.
trative machinery for cOordInatinE
the work Of the various departments
so far as Il relates 70 waterways. 9th
erwise there will not only be delay,
but the people as a whole will fail to
get from our streams the benefits to
which they are Justly entitled.
Running Water a Valuable Asset.
The report Justly calls attention to
the fact that hitherto our national pol.
icy has been one OF almost unrestrict.
ed disposition and waste OF natural
resources, and emphasizes the funds-
mental necessity for conserving these
resources upon which our present and
future success as a nation primarily
rest.
Running water is a most valuable
natural asset of the people, and there
is urgent need Of conserving II for navI.
CATION, for power, for irrigation and for
domestic and municipal supply. HIth.
| prtn our national ,.oItn., "a -