Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1908-12-09
SAYS CANALS WOULD
PREVENT FREIGHT
Bl0CKADES
Speaker at Waterways Con.
gresS Says Plan Brings
Good Results in
Europe.
NOTABLE SPEAKERS
MAKE ADDRESSES
Session Is Opened at Washington
With Big Attendance to Dis
CuSs Plans for Solving
Transportation
Problem.

Washington, Dec. 9.-One Of the
most notable gatherings ever assem-
bled in the history of this country in
the interests of waterway develop
ment was called to order today when
the National River and Harbor con-
gress met in its fifth annual conven-
ton. The congress is endeavoring
to impress Congress with the neces-
sity of a comprehensive policy of
improving the rivers, canals and har-
bOrs of the nation.
The congress opened with prayer
by Bishop O'Connell and an address
by Vice President Fairbanks follow
ed. Ambassador James Eryce of
Great Britain, told of the waterways
of Great Britain. Others on the
program for the day include Samuel
Gompers, Seth Low of New York,
and Governor Chamberlain of Ore
gon; Governor Sanders of louisiana
and Champ Clark, OF Missouri.
Judge George Hillyer, of the Geor-
gia railroad commission, in an ad-
dress told of the necessity for over
land canals.
Calling attention to what he said
were the great freight blockades in
the United States year ago, Mr..
Hillyer said that in Eurspe the diff
| ficulty had been obviated by ths
proper division made into water
freights and rafl freights; with due
regard for the Improvement of the
rivers and the construction of canals.
The transportation problem in Eu-
rope had been solved, he said, by
hI1l n .t.sI.a III
| freight by river and canal, while the
costly freight went by rail. I'VE new
,rer hear of freight blockade in
France, belgium or Germany" he
| said. I'm any freight blockade in
the United States, he asserted,
probably there were three car loads
of the heavy, bulky kind to one of
the less bulky but costly kind.
"G'ven the canals and rivers and
| water routes" he said, ''by which the
bulky. cumbersome and heavy
freights would be shipped, the sltua-
ton in any freight blockade would be
once relieved and the recurrence of
the same evil permanently prevented.
1T was true" he said that IL the
| money was spent on the railroads
| tney could be so increased in capac!-
ty as to meet the present needs, but
that, he argued, would involve an
expense of five thousand million dol
lars for immediate needs with no
guarantee for the future, whereas
one-fifth or possibly one-tenth of
that sum judiciously expended on the
rivers and harbors OF the country and
in the construction of well-located
| canals, would solve the problem. "Un-
der this system" he said, the rail-
roads would be left to handle the
high grade and costly freights which
| they can easily do. This would pay
them better and at the same time the
| public, having the advantage of both
! water and rail, would be properly
and promptly served" He disclaimed
that transportation rates in Europe
were higher than In the Unit
ed States. 1t was doubtless true.
he said, that the rates enjoyed by the
railroads for carrying the high priced
and costly freights were somewhat
higher in Europe than here. but he
said that in Europe the bulky and
less valuable freights were hardly
counted at all in railroad rate maxi
ing or exercised any important influ-
ence in railroad bookkeeping. on the
whole, he said, and In the aggregate
the comparison was overwhelmingly
favorable to the mbined water and
rail system in Europe as contrasted
with the all-rai system so largely
prevailing in the United states
Mr.. Hillyer cited many illustra-
tions of the costly process Of railroad
transportation as furnishing a suffi-
cient explanation Of the need for in
land waterways as a means Of forcing
cheaper freight rates