The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1909-11-02
SECRETARY DICKINSON
TALKS On WATERWAYS NAT
Continued from page one.)

thence to the Rio Grande, covering
a distance of about twenty-six hun
dred miles, connecting up n~avigable
streams of approximately 27,600
miles, are not somnolent, but in a
state of the highest activity. They
will be insistent for appropriations.
The aggregate cost of the internal
improvements now advocated is es-
timated at about five hundred mil
lions of dollars. Those that assure
the better and surest results for the
outlay will come to the front. There
may be cooperation, but there will
probably be rivalry for app opria-
lions.
1.-THE resolutions of the Atlantic
Deeper Waterways Association, while
expressing sympathy with all meri-
toriohs movements for the improve
ment of the waterways, specifically
referring to that proposed from the
lakes to the gulf, pledges co-opera-
tion only upon a plan within reason
able limits of cost. We can carry
ourselves off our own feet by en-
thusiasm, but cannot stampede the
judgment of the country. We must
meet the test of cold critical analy-
sis. Resolutions and assertions will
not carry the day. The opinions of
the unscientific, however loudly and
positively proclaimed, are not going
to settle a matter of such complicat
tion and gravity. We may put as
much vim, snap and spiritual dy-
namics into odr proceedings as the
most vehement language can express,
but these will be useful only if they
stimulate to careful bedrock inves-
tigation and the formulation of some
thing that will appeal to the sound
judgment of the country"
In this connection, Mr.. Dickinson
referred to a statement made by w.
J.. Bryan before the convention last
year that in his, Bryan's opinion, the
depth of the waterway ought to be
twenty-three feet.
Continuing, Mr.. Dickinson said:
I'VE have gotten beyond such super
ficient treatment as that of this
great subject. If a fOurteen-feet
depth is necessary for the develop
ment of our commerce, if the results
will be commensurate with the cost,
If the traffic will nov by water in
a volume proportionate to the out
lay, then those who are competent
to demonstrate should make all this
clear to unprejudiced and capable
judgment. If these things are SO,
they should be demonstrable to a
reasonable certainty. If a depth of
fourteen feet has no advantage over
that of nine feet, commensurate with
the difference in the cost of construc-
finn and noipfon ond if thic iC
made reasonable certain, then the
people of the United States will not
undertake such additional useless
work, and an effort to bring about
such legislation will be a waste of
time and merely postpone securing
that which is attainable.
These questions have been 0 n
sidered by a board of engineers re-
ated by authority of congress. Three
of them are from the army, and two
from civil life. All are expert need
in Mississippi river problems. 1t is
said by experts that it has been dem
olistrated that coal and iron car be
carried by vessels with profit, at a
rate approximately less than one
tenth of the average rate of freight
per ton per mile earned by the rail-
ways of this country, provided the
vessels are of large size, there is a
great volume of traffic, and the wat
erways have practically unlimited ia
cilities. Coal is carried from Pitts
burg to New Orleans by river at less
than two dollars per ton, and sugar
has been carried back at a cost of
two dollars and thirty cents per ton
as against a rail rate of six dollars.
1t is said that the saving to the ma
ton by transportation on the Great
Lakes was over one hundred mil
lions of dollars for the year of 1906.
The improvements projected by the
New York canals are based on the
expectation 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 hat it can only be sharply APP
piled as to freight that originates
and ends on waterways. Any consid-
cradle movement to or from the wat
err involves a serious factor that in
creases the expense in proportion to
the distance. A fact that must be
dealt with is that, Notwithstanding
the increase of traffic and Improve
ment of waterways, the total r.ver
traffic has steadily decreased, and
few rivers are now used to anything
like an approximation of their ca-