Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-05-02
Interesting Facts About the
Inland Waterways Commission

WASHINGTON, D. C., May Few
people, realize that the traffic move
ment on the lower Mississippi River,
once so tremendous, has so materi-
ally declined in recent years. that the
supremacy once enjoyed by that great
stream has been transferred to the
Ohio River and that therefore, Pitts
burg rather than either g.. Louis or
New Orleans. IL today the most I'M
portant river point in America.
These and other Interesting facts
are CLEANED from the appendix to
the preliminary report Of the Inland
Waterways Commission. The report
itself was made public recently, but
the Appendix" which has just come
OF the Government Printing Once
presses. was made public today. The
greater portion of the data contained
in 1t was prepared under the direction
Of Herbert Knox Smith. Commission
err Of the Bureau Of Corporations.
1t shows that the lower Mississippi
which always has been recognized as
Of greater commercial importance
than the upper part, still retains this
relative importance. Among the i'm
portant factors in the decline of traffic
on the lower Mississippi may be men,
toned that formerly large quantities
o: wheat, corn, and oats were sent
down the river from St. Louis and
other points to New Orleans. but the
building of railroads through Nebras-
Ia. Kansas. and Oklahoma to the
Gulf together with the lack Of at
tention to river improvements. has
operated against the shipment of
grain down the Mississippi
This has resulted In the gradual
disappearance in the last fifteen years
OF mar finely equipped steamboats,
on the lower Mississippi Is a result
Of sharp railroad competition an2
other causes.
Another important cause for this
decline In the traffic movement on
that great stream has been the intro
dnction Of the cotton compress re-
sulting In the overturnins Of the old
system Of handling cotton by river.
Formerly the only cotton congresses
we're located at important centers.
such AS Mens his. Vicksburg and New
Orleans. but now any town Of slight
importance has It's own compress
which have excellent facilities for re-
cciving and shiI,r;ng bales Of cotton
by rail
The report declares that the de-
velopmcnt of river traffic is h!ndeTed
tn many ways by the railroads who
N some important points on the Ohio
river have gained control oT much OF
the land available for terminal ia
ciiitics One Of the serious di.-cui-
ties for lines operating on the Ohio
and its tributaries Is the matter Of
excessive Wharfage charges The
packet lines charge that II is a con
mon practice for little towns along the
| river TO levy charges which in some
! instances run from ono fourth tn one
] rhird 81 the net profits W the boats,
4 Bnat lines. a. = rule. make lower
' rates than those of rail carriers The
less 81 pro-raiing arrangements with
, the railroads added d.Gicuity for the
river lines, for instead ~ being able
To quote rhToagh rate. the packet
lines mrst quote their own rate 10
the point where they ~onnec; with
the railroad and then add the loca
tarin rate OF the railroad from that
po;n, TO destination. Tnis loss Of Pm
rating arrangements has seriously AT
fccted the packet lines and has Prac
ticaHy rnined tho traffic IN horse
shoes. cotton Tics. bar iron. wire nails
staples. etc. In shit mont 70 tho Soui
AMI wet where forr 3rriy the rive
freight Vas heavy.
A signtHcant feature NJ the ropor
that dealing With railroad cou,r"I y
river traffic and private canals" !