Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-10-08

ehS NJ at A/hhSo W thS NAo'A Va
through a deep waterway, returning
with products of no less value, was
conjured up today before the delegates
and visitors to the third annual con-
vention of the Lakes to- the-Gulf Deep
Waterway Association by able, speak
ers. headed by William H. Taft.
Today's utterances came from, Sec
rotary Saunders of the associations;
President Kavanaugh, head of the or
ganiza ton: Gov. Deneen of Illinois and
William H. Taft. the Presidential
nominee of the Republican party.
Mr.. Taft's insistance that the deep
waterway and the conservation of the
national resources were related sub
jects, which called for immediate ac-
ton elicated great applause. His
statement that the waterway was not
a project but a policy. found ready
response in cheers of his auditors.
The convention opened with a pray
Ell by Bishop Fallows of Chicago. Will
liam K. Kavanaugh, president of the
association then delivered his annual
address and William E. Saunders. sec
rotary, read his report
Mr.. Taft smiling then entered the
Sto6C, PiSSSuSu ny NIoV. DShSNAA' AAAS
orchestra struck up THE Star Span
gled Banner" and the crowd which
filled the big auditorium cheered and
waved small American flags. Gov
Deneen hoarse from the vocal activi-
ties of the gubernatorial campaign. in
troduced the speaker Of the day.
Mr.. Taft was cheered and he rose.
He prefaced his prepared speech with
an apology for his hoarsness.
Gentlemen" he said, Il muas
apologize first for my voice. II it
sounds like the honk of an automobile
it may be familiar to you, but not par
ticularly agreeable to hear on that ac-
count"
You do not have to apologize for
anything shouted delegate from the
rear amid applause. and the speaker
launched forth into an argument for
the waterway
Mr.. TAFT said in part:
The question of the systematic improve
ment of our inland waterways is one
which our government has all too long ne
elected. Until recently, appropriations for
that purpose have not been made accord
ing to any established plan or system of
ways been made in such amounts and
with such regularity as would insure eco
nomical prosecution Of the work and with
view to its speedy completion. And so
it is that, after the first century of our
existence we find our inland waterway s
with a. few notable exceptions unprepared
for the use of transportation.
But the consideration of their perman-
ent and extensive improvement according
to some general and comprehensive plan
SO as to mould them into a complete sys-
tenn of transportation, has now forced
itself upon us with surprising suddenness.
We find that the enormous increase in the
productions of our people in all lines
of individual activity has outstripped the
ability of our great railroad system, ex-
tenslve and efficient as they are to trans
port them. Shall we have a repetition of
the experience of three years ago, when
the farmer saw his grain wasting in the
field and the manufacturer stopped his
plant for want of raw material and our
finished products lay in the warehouse, all
for lack of facilities to transport them
Acommodity. raw or finished, is of lit
tie or no value until it has reached the
our onward course of utilizing the ma
turai resources Of our country. We cam
not curtail or limit the production of
manufacturers. We must go on, for "A
contrary course means disintegration and
decay.
Transportation, then is the question of
the hour. How can we solve it? We must
nave resource to our waterways. No ma i.
ton has 5een so favored with so magni-
hcent system of navigable lakes and riy-
ers. If We improve these in accordance
with a well defined progressive policy we
shall. in conjunction with our great rail-
ways and other forms of transportation,
keep pace with the industrial and COM
mercial advancement of our country.
am not unmindful Of the great expen-
ditule of public money which the prose-
cution of such policy will entail. The
expense Of carrying an article from the
place where it is, to the place where it is
wanted, mast be added to It's cost, wheth-
or 1t be in its raw or finished state. There
fore its cheaper carriage results in a saw
ing to that extent AS transportation by
water is about sixth of that by rail. a
great saving apportioned between the
producer and consumer, and hence amCne
all our people, would follow. The great
est waterway in the United States. and
Dy far the greatest inland waterway ir
Inc world. is composed of the great lakes.
Up to the close of 1907 our government had
upon the harbors and connect
ing channels of these lakes $S5,GAt 900 in
round numbers. During the season of 1907
there passed through the 500 canal S.
,l1,:l4 tons of freight, which was carried
an average distance Of S2S miles, at a. cost
u s3S,iot,'45, making an average cost of
eiSht-tenths of a mill per ton a mile. IF
ln1s freight had been carried by rail |
road at the average railroad rate per
ron made Of seven and eighty-two hun
1reiths mills. it would have cost S377.-
S,"7. That is to say, the saving through
decreased cost of transportation on the
business OF single lake for a single wear
amounts to $685.. 100000 or nearly four times
he total amount expended by the govern. |
nent on al the lakes since their improve |
nent was begun
II the tonnage Of all the greet lakes
we're included in the computation the
argument would be correspondnpIv
IF En