The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-30
River ShOv gPS Larry Share of
 the ssS sS.sportation
THE RAILROAD MEN AGREE
Senator Dick of Ohio Adopts Brilliant Plan To Smoke Possible oppo- nents Out Into the Open.
 Politicians Worried.

Politicians Worried.
 Washington, August 29.-(Special)- Since the passage of the tariff bill a tre- mendous quickening of interest in na- tonal needs Is noticed and this interest is not likely to wane as time posses. AL ready there are noticeable changes going on throughout the country on the subject of improving the inland waters of the United States, and the utterances of those great railway kings, Hartman. Hill, Yokum and others, who state that the railroads cannot transport more than 50 per cent of the freight at the time it should be carried, has emphasized the needs for a broad and comprehensive waterway policy on the part of the fed eral government, to the end that the great natural thoroughfares of the coun- try may be made to do their share ok transportation. A much greater interest is being shown by senators and representatives in Con gross than ever before in the subject of waterways and their improvement. Rep resentative Henry T. Rainey of the Twentieth Illinois district Is among the leaders of the House to unreservedly favor a bond issue of liberal proportions to carry on the work of improving the inland waters and canals of continental United States, one of the cardinal blanks in the platform of the National Rivers and Harbors congress, whose sixth an-
  cember gives promise of being the biggest waterway convention ever held.
 MT. Ralney Talks.
 "The waterways of the country, '< said MT. Rsiney today, have fallen into dis use for two reasons: First the railroads have been increasing their carrying ca pacity, building larger engines building larger cars, laying heavier rails, and double-tracking their lines until now tho limit of development seems to have been reached. Nothing has been done for waterways while this remarkable railway development has been in progress. Rivers have not been dredged to any consider able extent, the banks of streams have not been regularized, and as yet no com prehensive system of waterway develop ment has been entered upon. In the sec ond place, railways paralleling rivers and reaching cities along our rivers have pur- sued the policy of making cheaper rates to river points, rates often as cheap or cheaper than river steamers of the pres ent capacity can make. Railways have been carrying freight to river points at loss in order to destroy river traffic, and have been compelling inland towns and cities to pay higher freight rates than they ought to pay in order to make up the loss.
 There has been for half century fight of the railroads against the rivers, with no organizations until comparative ly recent period fighting for the rivers.
 To Meet Situation.
 ''There Is only one way to meet the situation and to restore to railroads the competition they ought to have, and that is by improving our rivers, connecting them where necessary with artificial ca nals, depending upon the electric lines reaching our rivers and extending out now into the interior of the country to furnish in connection with the improved river the competition which a gigantic railway combination must have. Inn prove our rivers and you will have fur nished to every man great Tree na- tional highway upon which he can launch his boat and carry his goods free of all charges to the ocean highways of the world
 O meets with the approval of the country, and yet it will fall to accomplish the results for which 1t Is intended unless we improve the 16,000 miles of navigable rivers lying within our mountain ranges; unless we improve rivers and harbors between our mountain rangers and the seas in order to enable freights to be transported cheaply from the interior to the worlds ocean highways The time, {@ fC lnr rhan hn try would approve a bond issue of large size for the purpose of improving rivers on comprehensive basis. The develop ment of the country snow depends upon it.
 Illinois In Line.
 By majority of nearly 500,000 votes the state of Illinois has declared itself for this proposition. and has voted In favor of bond issue of s20,000,00O in aid of the lakesto-th ulf-deep-waterway The state of New York has voted 101. 0OO0 in bonds to deepen the Erie canal The waterway from the lakes to the gulf is an interstate waterway. The Ohio river is an interstate waterway. The Missouri, the Tennessee and the Arkansas rivers are all great interstate waterways.
 "The Atlantic coast deep waterway is an interstate scheme. Illinois and New York have done their part toward ere ating efficient waterways within their boundaries connecting our interior lakes with the sea- The time has come for the national government to issue bonds for the purpose of carrying on the great work of river improvement and canal building upon which the future pros perity of the country depends"
 Dick Has Troubles.
 Senator Charles W. Dick of Ohio Is busily engaged in the effort to smoke Charles P. Taft out on the senatorial question
 Also Senator Dick is anxious to know the intentions of number of other statesmen and near-statesmen Tn the Buckeye state. whom he suspects of fell purpose to go in quest of his sen atorial scalp at an opportune moment.
 Not long ago it was announced that Senator Dick would file petitions In each county to have his name put on the pri- mary ballot as a candidate for senator. This Is permissible under the Ohio law, but 1t is unusual. Much marvel was heard in Ohio circles because of this course taken by Senator Dick, who is an old, old bird in a political way. It was hardly to be supposed he had taken this step at random.
 Now 1t has developed that Senator Dick had asdistinct purpose in this movement to get his name on the primary ballot by petition He wants to force the other