The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-08-25
WATERWAYS FOR
TRANSPORTATION
CONGRESSMAN BoRLAND OF
KANSAS BELIEVES THAT THIS
is SOLUTION OF PROBLEM.

Washington, Aug. 25.-Congressman
William p. Borland, of the Kansas City
(Mo.) district. is a firm believer In the
use Of waterways as solution Of the
transportation problem and In the
whole range OF government activities
he knows OF no subject which partakes
less of partisan nature than the inn
provement of the water courses of the
United States.
| Speaking OF this subject which has
taken such hold on the business in
terests of the country, Mr.. Borland
said
| Transportation is a commercial
question appealing to the sound sense
OF business men. The enterprise Of the
railroads has done wonders In the
development of the great producing
regions Of the west, but In the last de-
cade the production of commodities in
that great treasury of national wealth
has increased six times faster than
transportation facilities. Freight con-
gestion Is an annual condition, de-
moralizing the business and retarding
the prosperity of the whole country.
We need a more expansive system. 1t
is a national need as well as a local
one and can only be met by wise COM
bination of local projects,
Il believe I'm the adoption Of a gen.
eral and comprehensive plan for the
permanent Improvement of the water
ways, as urged by the National Rivers
and Harbors congress. We should have
a broad scheme and build for the fu-
ture. The great Mississippi system is
the most wonderful group OF navigable
streams in the world. II reaches into
the very heart OF the producing regions
of the country from whence comes the
largest volume OF our national ex-
ports. The Missouri river, the longest
and most westerly branch will carry
deep water to the very center Of pro-
ductlon. Within the watershed Of the
Missouri river and west Of the Missis-
sippi are the centers Of production Of
wheat, corn, oats, cattle, hogs, horses
and mules, sheep, wool, farm products
OF all kinds, gid, silver, lead and zinc.
This vast territory Is developing
rapidly In wealth and production and
its prosperity Is the nations safeguard
against panics
"The engineering problems involved
In these improvements have been solv-
ed by the experience and study of the
engineers of the war department and
the matter is now ripe for action. The
need Is pressing II we do not wish to
retard the growth OF the great inland
sections OF the country.
TT has been urged that the govern
ment has not the money to enter upon
general plan OF Improvement Of the
proper breadth and scope. For one, /
am not In favor Of paying for perman-
ent improvements OF this nature out
of the general revenues of the govern
ment The extent of such revenues
from year to year, and the demands
upon them are both uncertain. II we
were to enter upon a general plan, ex-
tending over a series of years, such as
the public interest seems to require,
and provide no means to carry on the
work except appropriations from time
to time out of the general revenues, we
might find the work suddenly left with
out money. The old plan of separate
appropriations for specific localities is
also unsatisfactory. II is often waste
full and unbusinesslike to assemble an
expensive plant OF dredge boats, ETC.,
to spend some limited appropriation.
When the plant and equipment neces-
sary to perform some large construc-
tion work is once assembled IL should
be continuously employed In order to
be economical and profitable. For these
reasons / believe that waterways i'm
provements should be planned as
whole and financed as a whole Bonds
should be authorized similar TO those
issued for the construction OF the Pan
anna canal. Such bonds could be is
sued from time to time as the work
progressed. This is the most scientific,
economical and businesslike way of
Ifinanceering great construction work
The bonds can be sold at low rate
of interest, as our national debt is
growing smaller though our popula-
tion Is increasing"