The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-01-13

fN~PioHoh' when SuD0lVlded to
work on the different streams in a
State, Is simply q waste of money ?
With this small amount of money
when as 1t is divided to be applied to
the different streams, would not last
more than half of the year. and before
the next appropriation Is made and
available, the work that has been done
Will have to be done over again.
Would this not appeal to the National
Government in business way? And
be an incentive for a permanent and
sufficient appropriation to do the
work successfully? And when the
work Is successfully done. the ex-
pense Of keeping the rivers and har-
bors In first class condition would be
reduced to a minimum.
There Is no part of the country
where the opening Of the rivers to a
navigable state. would do the people
as much good, and give them great
er saving In transportation charges,
than the Southern States. and be q
greater credit to the Government.
There Is no coast In the world that
possesses finer list Of harbors, or
more of them, than the Atlantic and
Gulf coast Of the Southern States.
The harbors Of Galveston, New Or
leans. Mobile. Gulf Port, Pensacola,
Brunswick, Savannah, Charleston,
Wilmington and Norfolk. are all on
the Atlantic and Gulf coast. and all
of them are in fair condition at
the present time, with proper appro-
priation to deepen the channels more,
and the harbors, they would be a
line Of harbors that would have no
superior In the world, and fully ca
pable Of taking care of the immense
tonnage that is transported to the
seaboard every year from the South
ern States. And to give an idea of
the immense tonnage shipped out of
the Southern States every year, It
will only be necessary to mention a
few OF the largest productions, as fol-
lows:
Tons.
Lint cotton will average 49,
100000 bales Of 500 lbs.
each year. .... -. ..... 100000
Cotton seed, about twice the
weight OF the lint cotton. 100000
Phosphate. -. -. -. ...2,000, 900
An average OF about 2,000,-
100000 feet OF lumber
each year. -. -. -. 5000. 900
Fruits. vegetables, oranges.
etc.,. 49,. $50. -. 1000. 900
10000. 900
Seventy-five per cent OF this tom
mage is dependent upon the railroads
for transportation to the domestic
markets and the seaboard, at an aver
age Of about 81 per ton. If the rivers
were opened to navigation, about SO
per cent. Of this tonnage would be
transported to the seaboard. at one
half the cost by rail, and would give
the shippers saving of a large
amount every year. which is shown as
follows:
Seventy-five per cent. OF this tom
mage would be 100000 tons at 81
per ton. SIS. .000,O 900.
Cost by water transportation, fifty
per cent. Of the above $1,000, 900, T.
100000 tons, at so cents per ton,
would eb saving to the shippers of
$3.50, 900.
Is this showing not worthy of the
patriotic and earnest consideration
Of our National Congress?
The above figures do not represent
the total tonnage handled by the rail-
roads In the Southern States, neither
does 1t include the incoming freights.
If the National Congress were to
make provision for a sufficient and
permanent appropriation for the OPEN
Ing Of the rivers and harbors of the
country, there is yet most import
ant matter to have its consideration
and that Is the preservation of the
forests. especially the Appalachian
Range, and few facts in this re-
spect will probably be found interest
Ing to many people who have not in
terested themselves in this important
matter. If we take the most reliable
authority on the subject Of the de-
vastation Of our forests, we find the
following astounding truths:
We are now cutting timber from
the forests at the rate of 500 feet
board measure a year for every man