The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-12-14
THE FARMER AND MECHANIC

S0ipplnS point upon every oJner river.
These feeders would greatly increase
the territory tributary 10 this inland
route, and would multiply many times
present W~aterborne commerce.
In this movement for Waterways il
has been frequently suggested that the I
interior sections may not participate in
the benefits, and because this Senti-.
ment has been reflected by members
OF ngr has constituted one of the
chief obstacles to effective legislation.
One Of the primary of this
organization has been the refnoVa Of
this popular error, and in the educa-
tional propaganda. which it has vaged
much progress has been made in ere
ating a national spirit. There are to-
day few men of intelligence who do not
recognize in waterway development
in any section the potential factor for
national progress. Natural conditions
greatly avor the intra-coastal water
way III widening the sphere OF its di-
rect benefits. These numerous rivers
extending from the ~ScabOard into the
interior reach hundreds Of towns and
cities, which now only utilize such
rivers for local traffic. Many of these
towns are entirely dependent upon
railways for their through traffic and
often upon one single line Of road. This
condition does not make for low traffic
rates or for the most efficient service.
With the completion of this main line
Of waterway giving through transport
from these rivers. all of these towns
and cities could and would Immediate
ly establish through lines of water
communication, and would be entitled
to enjoy water competitive rates by
rail. 1t is not necessary to emphasize
either the increased facilities of trans
portation, or the reduction in traffic
rates which would follow and thereby
augment greatly their productive ca
pacity and their commercial expan-
sion.
The benefits thus secured by interior
cities and sections would not be local,
but would be shared by the territory
still further inland over highways and
railways. These favored cities would
become distributing points, and by
force Of an enlightened commercial
knowledge, and, if necessary, through
the operation Of law, the railroads
radiating from suck cities would offer
such rates as would place these cities
upon the interior rivers upon a parity
With the most favored ports at the
present time. This brief statement
may serve as one Illustration Of the ex-
banded sphere of benefits from this
great waterway.
was asked to point out the beneats
which would accrue to the South from
the construction of the in~tra-coastal
waterway. By reason Of the fat that
this waterway would constitute a
trunk line and would directly and in
directly be a commercial highway for
the entire country, it is difficult to
specify its advantages to any particu-
lar section. It would share fully in
the commercial opportunities offered
to the northern and middle Atlantic
s~eaboard, and III some respects would
be more favored because of its present
isolation. The dangers of Cape Hat
tomas rjoaa VIC we ~a
the present coastwise trade between
Southern and Northern ports. and his
fOrbiddins obstacle would be removed.
There is now a large interchange Of
products between the North and the
South, and by reason of the variety of
such products. and the present ma
terial development Of the South's re-
sources, this could be great
Il enlarged. In addition, there are
~navigable rivers in the South tributary
to the Atlantic of a total length OF
4.567 miles, all of which would have
physical connection with this water
way and would prove most yaluable
feeders. The present traffic on these
rivers by reason of the physical con-
ditions which / have e~ndeavored to
outline, is now almost entirely local,
but they would become busy highways
for interstate traffic. Time forbids
that j should dwell further upon these
advantages. From Baltimore to Jack
~sonville and Key West the South At
lantic States need to awaken to the
call of a great opportunity.
Mr.. President, while we of the At
lantic seaboard insist upon the dis
tinctive merit of the intra-coastal
waterway, and while We can and do
challenge comparison with any other
internal waterway, in the mount Of
commerce, present and prospective,
which it will beneficially affect, still we
wish it distinctly understood that we
are neither selfish. Jealous or sectional.
Standing united for a great national
project, we welcome the opportunity
to Join hands with every other section
in the promotion of every other
worthy national waterway. AS sec