Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-09
the burden Of the cost should fall al least
in part on the future.
Statutory Commission Favored

-
Fifth. The creation of statutory
commission of nine members composed of
| two senator's. two representatives one en-
sineer from the army corps and one from
| civil life. two men of practical knowledge
OF transportation by water and by rail
and one other citizen to study the water
ways of this country and such for
elgn countries as they deem advisa BILE.
and suggest to Congress in full and de-
tailed report comprehensive plan and
policy for improving our waterways 1t is
d fact that several of the European coun-
tries and the Dominion of Canada are
much more advanced than the United
States in the Improvement of their nav
igable waters. and If we find it necessary
from time to time to appoint commissions
to study the isthman canal, the tariff.
finance. the postal and other questions il
Is certainly eminently proper that a COM
mission be appointed to study this most
important subject of water transporta-
ton.
Unfair Discrimination.
Sixth: The prompt passage of laws
to prevent unfair discrimination by rail
ways against carriers by water. All of
you know who have studied the subject
that there are very many instances where
railroads have reduced. the charges at
water points SO low that boats could not
I'VE, TeCOuplnS llelr losses by nlgh rates
at interior points equidistant or less dis
tant. from the place of origin of the
freight. Unless We intend to protect our
Watercourses from this unfair discrimi-
nation. as the wise people of Germany
have done in regard to their rivers and
canals. we had better pause now and
cease to spend money on them.
Seventh: That as a condition prece-
dent to future improvements on any wa
tercourse or harbor proper terminal ia
Inv h1a 81
the state or the nation for the common
use on equal terms Of all carriers"
Vice President for Bond Issue.
In extending to the congress a cordial
welcome to the city of Washington Vice
President Fairbanks said it was perfectly
obvious that the Improvement of our
waterways had not kept abreast of our
| Industrial needs and our national prog
| ress. The time has arrived, he said, when
we must give to the subject of securing
adequate transportation facilities at a
minimum of cost intelligent and effective
consideration.
In discussing the cost of improving
| American waterways. the Vice President
| said that as much of the benefit to be de-
| rived from the expenditures would be for
| the future, a reasonable share of the
amount should be provided for by a bond
issue. as justly and equitably to dis
tribute the burden among all the bene-
| ficiaries of the expenditure. He believed
that the Importance and magnitude of the
work of improving the waterways We're
| so exceptional to justify the people In
anticipating future income by reason
able bond issue.
Enlightened Consideration Needed.
+ The Vice President said that while the
| work of improving river navigation could
not he done all at once. the rate OF prog
h. 1i,rI&
ened consideration of all the facts bear
ing upon each project. While there might
he a wide divergence of individual opin-
ion as to the rela tive Importance of va
rious projects. he had doubt a COM
mon ground Of action might be found
The success of SO vast an undertaking, IN
his Judgment, would depend upon the dis
seminaton of accurate information as
| to the need and the cost of the work and
upon the arousing of intelligent interest
in it among the people.
Conductive to National Unity.
Waterway development as factor in
the growth of national unity was the
theme chosen by w. D. Lyman of Walla
Walla. Washington. He declared that
california and Massachusetts go arm in
arm to Uncle Sam to ask the common
boon of harbor Improvement and that
those of the far west find the closest bond
of sympathy with those of the Ohio river
region in calling upon Congress to lock
he rivers and thereby unlock COM
merCe.
He asserted that we have reached the
point of a national demand for a great
and coherent system of waterway i'm
provement. that this congress is the child
and the voice Of that sentiment.
Great Value of Canals.
Ambassador Bryce said that when he
was presiden: of the board of trade "a
government bureap in England thirteen
years ago lie was about to start COM
prehensivc investigation of waterways
when his government went out of office.
This was taken up about three Years ago
by the existing government, and the re-
port would soon be ready. covering not
only England. but the continent.
He said that there were but three navi-
gable rivers of Importance in England
the Thames to London the Clyde to Glas-
gov and the Severn and Avon to Bristol.
| These were short stretches. but had to
| he kept up by q great deal of expensive
dredging.
restigation convinced him that they were
not enemies of the. railroads. but rather
valuable allies. The immense amount
| of passenger traffic on the English rail
roads made the transport alton of heavy
| feight difficult and expensive. and the
| canals were valuable adjuncts in re-
| leving this congestion.
Traffic on the Rhine.
The ambassador continued:
II need hardly say that the crcum-
stances of continental Europe afford more
| in the way of practical suggestions to YOU
than England can supply. and | would
| specially recommend to YOU the study of
| the splendid system of internal naviga-
| ton. which has been created in Ger
| many Tho Rhine now carries an enor-
| nous traffic. although each side of it
| there run trunk lines Of railroad which
are also doing vast business.
Mature has given you, gentlemen, "A
| larger river system than exists anywhere
| else in the world, except in the tropical
| forests of South America: and in consid
! ering the great plans 10 which your at
! tentiOn is now being directed you will
| have the interest and sympathy of
| every one who feels that this superb gift
! of nature ought to be turned to the ut
! most advantage for the development OF
the unequaled natural resources which
! your country possesses"
FIGURES SHOW VAST Waste