The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-08-18
GOVERNMENT GOES At WATER
WAY IMPROVEMENT IN
WRONG MANNER.
IB. y. Yoakum Speaks Before Farm
ers' Union Of Oklahoma on Value
of Waterways Promulgated.
FAyORS RIVER IMPROVEMENT.

A
eating the growing expenditures
which the United States is mourning
! in connection with the maintenance
of the army and navy, and declaring
the grain and cotton fields of the
Mississippi valley and the west are
stronger military defenses than war
ships, B. F. Yoakum, chairman OF
the executive committee of the Rock
Island-Frisco lines, delivered an ad-
dress here today before the Farmers
Union of Oklahoma.
Yoakums subject was 1.-THE Farm
er and the Railroad" He strongly
advocated good roads as a means of
bringing the carrier and the producer
closer together He said in part;
The splendid railroad system of
the United States, superior, as II Is,
to any in the world, speaks for it.
'sself. but how about water Transport
tation, for which the government is
responsible?
Herbert Knox Smith of the de
partment of commerce and labor, in
a recent report says that this gov
Iernment has built about 1900 miles
of canals, and that more than half,
costing over $50, 100000, has been
abandoned. This means $50 100000
OF wasted money.
"The United States government.
10 years ago. commenced the con-
struction OF the Illinois and Missis-
sippi canal. Its length is rs miles,
and It has cost to date, with interest
at three per cent. over $4,000, 600.
1920 900 per mile.
ITO maintain this canal in its
present useless condition costs the
|country's taxpayers $50. 900 a year,
exclusive OF interest on the invest
ment. A freight boat has never
passed through IT,
Il mention this 20 Illustrate on
undertaking OF the many. which.
through the lack OF system or intelll-
gent planning in advance of the con-
struction OF our inland waterways,
make up the $4,000 900 that are
referred to by Commissioner Smith
az wasted.
"The government has expended
approximately SECS, 600, 900 on the
Improvement OF the Mississippi river
and its tributaries. The tonnage
handled over the waters of the Mis-
sissippi last year was one-thlrd less
than II was 90 years ago. Profess
sional politicians. in their public ut
teranoes, proclaim. In their efforts to
prejudice the public against the rail-
roads, that grain. coal and other
commodities can be handled from st.
Louis and other Mississippi and Ohio
river points TO New Orleans for one
dollar per ton, but they do not tell
You that. figuring interest on the
1925. 900 900 OF tax money expend-
ed. each ton OF last years shipment
by the Mississippi river and It's
tributaries cost the taxpayers 96
cents a ton in interest, I'm addition
to the freight charges.
81 have on several occasions urged
the improvement of the Mississippi
river, and am not now talking
against II. but only illustrating the
unbusinesslike and slipshod manqer
In which the government is carrying
on its enterprises in handling the
business of it, stockholders. who are
the taxpayers.
II favor improvements of our
waterways to aid IN the develop
ment of the country, but I favor
them only when systematically and
properly planned and built in such a
manner that they will perform the
service for which the money is ex-
pended. Otherwise the expenditure
will be waste. not investment.
Canal construction and operation
are as simple as the construction and
operation Of railroads, when properly
located and operated in an econo-
mical manner. When railroad con-
struction is planned, every detail of
cost and revenue is investigated he
fore capital can be had for it's con-
structiOn. The government should
use the same foresight in planning