Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-10-03
THINKS ABANDONMENT or
CANALS WAS GREAT FOLLY
Congressman Sisyden, Talking About
Waterway Improvement, Refers to
Action In Virginia.

scented the San Antonio district in the
last six congresses is an enthusiasts
tic supporter of improved waterways.
He believes that ultimately the navi-
gab'e streams of the country will be
improved TO the best possible ad-
vantage along the lines suggested by
the National Rivers and Harbors Con
gress in it's platform will carry a ma
| jor portion of the produce of the
farms and foctories and that money
spent for their development by the
Government will prove a most wise
and beneficient investment.
| Il expect to see duplicated in this
country what has happened in Germa-
| ny. For a while after the railways
we're built the river and canal bust
| ness of the various German states de-
| cilned almost to complete extinction.
Then the work of deepening and broad
ening channels and of generally i'm
proving the waterways was begun and
| now greatly 10 the advantage of that
mighty Empire. the bulk of German
| freight, at some period in its move
ment TO the market. or for its en-
| tire distance is carried by water.
There has been steady reduction
| in transportation charges both by
water and by rail and yet the steam
ship company and the railroad have
both prospered in the realm of the
Kaiser. 1t is true that the Nation
al Legislature of Germany has pass
ed laws favorable to water transpor-
tation and it would not surprise me
whatsoever to see enacted In TINS
country laws made in the interest OF
water borne freight as against ran
freight for that is the only way, in my
judgment, that the rehabilitation OIL
the rivers of the country can be
brought about
In England and in the United
States On the advent of railways the
authorities were guilt of the incred-
| ible folly of selling or abandoning
state owned canals. Now they are re-
Ipenting. | know of one canal mi
Virginia that was sold to railway
company that diverted the water. fill
ed the channel and built road upon
l ii. II would have been better for the
state and better for the people to-
ihave had both canal and railroad
AS for the Mississippi ii is the
greatest canal in the country. 1t is
made deep, enough to float great yes
sells from Chicago to New Orleans the
influence of that fact will be reflect
ed in the way of competition for hun
dreds of miles on either side of that
mighty stream. My state will be
benefited with the rest of the country
-, n this is brought about. OF course
and e are other great projects. like tn
noon, and the Columbia which ne
lar treatment as the people along
WMississippi are asking. The same
On<ition OF affairs will obtain in
Teasoas when the Trinity and the
are made navigable and when
Music is accomplished. as it must be.
IS coae general scheme of water better
SINCE {. the Lone Star state will feel
thrill of nearer markets for its pro-
ducts than II does under present con-
ditions. The improvement of the
waterways. in my mind. is in no wise
Iantagonistic to the railways. want
to see them prosper. I wish every
shareholder in them could receive
reasonable dividends regularly and
don't believe that the Improvement Of
the rivers and the deepening and the
widening the canals will postpone that
day In my opinion IT will advance
lit
The National Rivers and HarbOrs
Congress. to which Mr. Slsyden has
made reference. viii meet in its sixth
annual convention in the city Of wash
ington on December s. ?. and 10. when
/; is expected FIVE Thousand delegates
win be present from every section
Of the United States TO impress upon
the FEDERAL Congress the importance
Of making the Improvement Of the
water ways Of the country a distinc-
tive feature Of legislation.