Evening journal., 1909-06-24
BOND ISSUE TO
HELP WATERWAYS
Representative Roberts Says
Government Should Force
Project


sentative Ernest w Roberts. Of the
Seventh Massachusetts district. who. is
serving his seventh consecutive term in
Congress. Is convinced that the only way
I'm which to bring about a comprehensive
development OF the waterways of the
country is by an issue of bonds to be used
for internal waterway improvements. Nj
Roberts recently made a trip from Balu
more to Philadelphia by way Of the
Chesapeake Bay and the Chesapeake and
Delaware Canal which is a part Of the
project TO connect Boston with Beaufort,
North Carolina, and the Florida Keys by
system Of canals and the use of natural
waterways the rivers, sounds and bays
making an intercoastai route free from the
perlls Of the ocean and of Hatteras and
shortening the distance between Boston
and Key West by several hundred miles.
Having seen the possibility OF this in
tercoastal route. a survey of which hav-
ing been authorized by Congress. Mr.
Roberts is Impressed with the thought
that posterity should bear its due proper
ton Of the cost Of improving the inland
waterways OF the United States rather
than assess the entire charge upon the
present population.
'9The more I see Of the waters Of the
United States, particularly those immedi-
ately connected by either natural or arti-
hcial means in the New England Middle
and Atlantic Coast States. the more am
impressed with the work which the Ma
tional Rivers and Harbors Congress is
doing 10 bring about some comprehensive
plan Of waterway development We can
not do anything unless there is back Of a
/ specific plan, means to accomplish the de-
I sred end. Piecemeal appropriations in
/ Congress affecting the rivers harbors and
canals of the United States while made
quate are hardly the subject Of criticism.
, but insufficient appropriations are really
worse than mo appropriations at aR for
the objects intended. ] think we are IN a
position now 10 make the development Of
the waterways Of the United states Of
very first Importance and il the treasury
is short Of current revenues enough to
give us an adequate river and harbor bill
each year we should not hesitate to au-
thorize an issue OF bonds sufficiently large
TO make the great natural Thoroughbred
OF the country adequate.to carry their due
share of the country's commerce. I am
not one Of those who believe that water
ways viii lessen the tonnage transported
by the railways. The railways even witt
the very best equipment it is possible tc
secure. must be Handicapped in the face OF
large crops and excessive demands upor
their traffic departments to move tn,
freight along their lines and the water
ways, If made nawgable. would relieve
congestion and be actually an aid to the
railways whose motive power might bi
taxed to the fullest extent.
I'm recent years the size Of our rive
and harbor bill has been determined no
from the needs nor by any well define,
plan to be worked out in waterway de
velopment, but by the amount we hav'
left over in the treasury when all tn
other appropriations for current expense
were made The result has been that SOM
years we have had appropriations TO
rivers and harbors but many more year
we have had none. Sometimes three year
have elapsed before a river and harbo
bill has been passed and in very man.
cases the money expended on the improve
ments Of certain streams has been com
pietely wiped out because Of the failure o
! N|'AA-A'HN ~ appreciate NAAN ntlErftNN q
anchoring the work begun. That Is neithe
good business nor good policy. NO ciiize
in this day or age would handle his pri
vate affairs that way He would hnanc
his scheme borrow the money. do his i'm
provements under some sensible and com
prehcnsive plan; get his project into oper
alton and then. when his project was pay
ing dividends he would pay for his busi
ness through a series Of years. The Unite
States has unlimited credit and can carr
its loans cheaper than any borrowers (
the world and there is no reasonable eS
cuse for delaying its legitimate work, tha
Of internal waterway development. Fo
such a legitimate purpose governmer
bonds should have no terrors for our pee
pie, especially when the money realize
from their sale is 10 be utilized in N
development of our natural resources.
internal waterway Improvement IS vitl
10 the present. Il win be even more viti
to the future I am for waterway bond
Just as I was for Panama Canal bond
Ny personal opinion Is that II we d.
velop the internal waters Of the Unite
States there will be a very much large
constituency TO reap the benefit tina
through the building OF the Panama Cana
One is a world proposition. the other is
proposition which concerns almost ever