The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-10-18
JACKSONVILLE ENDORSES
INLAND WATERWAYPROJECT
fifteen years. we would have in 1915
a total traffic of 10000 coo, 900 to

fifteen years. we would have in 1915
total traffic of 5000 coo, 900 to
400 zoo, 100000 mile-tons, and during
the next ten years, a corresponding
additional population of 20,000,00O.
'"Our foreign business is now So
| 000, 100000 a year. In a few years it
will be $4,000. 100000 or 5000, 000, 900
during the next ten years. In two
years the present revenue of $780,
100000 from our rivers and harbors
VIII pay for the investment Is there
another undertaking of our govern
ment as profitable?
I'VE are adding to our wealth
about $500,000,000 a mo 1th. The
United States has $50. 900 square miles
of coal lands against $4,000 square
miles in all Europe. In iron and
steel and copper, we can dominate
the worlds metallurgical interests.
We have so per cent of the worlds
annual cotton output. OF wheat and
corn we produce $500, 000, 900 bushels
against 1000, 000, 600 for all Europe.
We have the area and resources to
sustain hundreds of millions of peo-
pie.
Most of the great annual expendis
lures OF our government are like the
rains falling on the parched sands OF
the dessert. only to disappear and
leave no trace behind. But water
way improvements are investments
which win last forever.
Uniform Development.
"The uniform development OF the
waterways of our country, and with
their aid, the development OF our
fabulous resources, will give to the
United States a power and capacity
he,fnra xrhfrh EnnlanHs- IA
be powerless. In the face of which
the forces of the world might hesi-
tate to invade our shores, The
waterways Of America are keys to the
storehouse of the worlds supplies.
Each one developed, unlocks a new
FEEDER for the nations, and opens a
new source or wealth for the A-lgri.
can producer.
''The Literary Digest quotes VIII.
liam r. Taylor, president of the Read
ing Railroad Company, as follows:
THE tremendous prosperity OF the
flve years ending in 1907 was largely
due to the great sums expended by
the railroads in equipment and con-
struction; and as railroads have stop
ped this expenditure, he doubts if
prosperity will return on the same
grand scale until some other indus
lavish outflow Of money What other
industry will require $4,000, 0Oo, 900
in its development as have the rail-
roads? None, unless it be the devel.
opment OF the harbors and internal
waterways of the country. Suppose
ST., 900, 100000 were expended on the
peoples transportation lines, the
waterways, during the next twenty
years. The moment the government
announced such policy lavish pros
perity would return, according to M
Taylor's argument, and at least the
unemployed millions would be put to
work and this government launched
into the business of improving her
ports and waterways to an extent
proportionate to their earnings For
now the receipts of the government
from the business of the rivers ana
harbors is one-third its total revenue,
and the average expenditure only 8
per cent. Had the waterways been
improved and carried the railroad
tonnage in 1905, of 49, ,0o0, 600, 900 tons
at five-sixths the rail cost. the people
would have saved Sits, 100, 900.
when Bismarck saddled the great
war indemnity on France his idea
was to burden France with debt for.
ever. But because OF the internal
waterways OF France and the inten.
sive system OF farming employed.
the average value of the French farm
being $500 per acre and the average