The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-01

bedrock investigation and the formula
ton of something that will appeal to
the sound judgment of the country
Opinion of Experts.
"It is said by experts that it has
been demonstrated that coal and iron
can be carried by vessels with profit,
at a rate of approximately less than
| one-tenth of the average rate of
freight per ton per mile earned by the
| railways of this country. pro-
yided the vessels are pf. large
size, there is great volume
of traffic. and the waterways
have practically unlimited facilities
Coal is carried from Pittsburg to New
Orleans by river at less than two dol
lars per ton, and sugar has been
and thirty cents per ton as against
rail rate of six dollars. 1t is said
that the saving to the nation by
transportation on the Great Lakes
was over one hundred millions of dol
lars for the year of 1906. The i'm
provements projected by the New
York canals are based on the ex-
peetation of reducing freights on
grain to two-thirds of a mill per ton
mile.
I'm considering competition with
| the railroads it must be borne in
mind that it can only be sharply
applied as to freight that originates
and ends on waterways. ANY con-
siderable movement to or from the
water involves a serious factor that
increases the expense in proportion to
the distance. A fact that must be
dealt with is that. Notwithstanding the
! increase of traffic and Improvement of
waterways, the total river traffic has
steadily decreased. and few rivers are
now used to anything like an
approximation of their capacity"
| Mr.. Dickinson said that whether
the problem be to plan or execute,
the great value of the services of the
army engineers must be recognized,
and harbors has been their special
| provinces.
In paying tribute to their ability.
| he mentioned some of the problems
which they have mastered. and re-
ferred to the fact that the construc-
| ton of the Panama canal was in.
trusted to the army engineers. There
was he said, assurance of its speedy
completion under a record that will
rebound to the honor of the whole
| country.
Majority for II Feet.
! New Orleans, La, Nov. 1.-The prin-
! cipal features of the lakes to the gulf
deep waterways convention, today were
I the addresses of Secretary of War
Dickinson and Clifford Pinchot, chief of
| the United States forestry service The
/ various questions in connection with
+ the pans lot Improvement OF the MIS-
1 sissippi river and its tributaries were
brought up in this way and were dis
! cussed by the delegates.
I By launching these questions the
| convention presented an even more ami
| mated scene than that which charac-
! terized it when President Taft was the
/ principal speaker on the first day.
Sentiment apparently was largely di-
/ vided. There were those who showed a
marked disposition to follow closely the
| advice of President Taft and decide
what is feasible before going ahead on
| the work.
There were some who strongly ad-
vocated even much more extensive
plans for the deepening of the chan
mel than those tentatively agreed upon.
and there were some few who believed
| it best to work for nine feet, but the
majority still chung to the old slogan,
| fourteen feet through the valley"