The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-12-08
Speaks al Opening Rivers
ard Harbors Congress- al
Washington.
Congressman Ransdell De.
livers Address.
is A REPRESENTATIVE BODY,

Ut llt ODtNlUE vi Nnt ahhhat WYNN
ton OF the rivers and harbors con-
gress here today. President Taft took
neutral position. He sympathlzed
warmly with the cause, but suggested
that current revenue be used To start
work with, after a favorable resolu-
ton In congress, then. when the
revenue is exhausted. congress Will
be compelled to make a bond Issue.
lie advised caution.
Washington. Dec. S.-The sixth
annual convention OF the national
rivers and harbors congress convened
today. All projects which have the
sanction OF the army engineers. some
of which are in the formative period,
have representatives here. Large
delegations are coming from all along
the Mississippi and Ohio rivers
The platform OF the congress is
summarized as follows:
First--No waterway improvement
Is TO be entered upon by the govern
ment that has not the unqualified APP
prevail OF the engineer corps
second-Projects which have re-
ceived this endorsement and are now
under consideration should be pushed
az rapidly as commensurate with
good business methods.
Third-That the funds necessary
be provided by bold .ssue in the
event the oUrren: revenues are in.
smfflcient 10 make the river and har-
bors bill possible each year
Ran-deIrs speech.
warning those railroad ragnates
who align up against waterway i'm
provement that their attitude. II per-
sisted Ia. will ultimately result In
government ownership OF the ran
roads. Representative Y. f. Ransdell.
Of Louisiana, president OF the con
gfess. presented some remarkable
ststietics OF railway mileage and
ownership.
There are" he said. "1S2,732
miles OF privately owned railroads
and Sl.53l miles owned by govern
ment. In the world. from which II
will be seen that about half OF the
railway mileage of the globe. not in
Guiding our country, is owned and
operated by government.
"As good friend OF railways.
which / consider the most marvellous
agents OF civilization and progress on
easth. ! sound this no;e OF warning
and insist that the strongest weapon
OF defense against this menace OF
government. ownership Is the best
possible transportation system for the
entire union combined, correlated.
interdependent and friendly railways
and waterways-co-opera not
competltIon-and | urge the friends
Of these two great agencies to unite
their forces and secure In the near
future this end so devoutly wished By
every lover OF the Republic.
we must insure success OF the
waterways policy by an annual APP
preparation OF fifty million dollars.
secured by an authorized bond issue
OF Atty mlll!cns year TO be used
only when the current revenues are
not available financial program
fully warranted by the magnitude of
the interests involved.
LET us protect our water courses
from improper rail competition by
adequate state and national laws. to
the end that this great natural re-
sources may be used TO assist In solv-
ing our transportation problem. the
simplifying OF which means increased
growth and prosperity to every COM
munity IN the nation.
I'VE must make the people who
elect the congressman and state legis-
lators understand that water trans
portation Is much cheaper than rail
for heavy, low-class, bulky articles;
that a well improved system of rivers
and canals, with standard depths.
along oar seaboard and interior
would furnish admirable facilities for
moving freight and prevent the con-
gestiop which caused such heavy
losses years ago and which threatens
TO recur; that while nature has given
the United States many fine waters
they have been sadly neglected by
our national government, which took
control OF them In 1896, and II will
still require a large expenditure to
properly improve them: that we have
given railroads a free hand in the
past without any restrictions what
ever. and In many instances their un-
fair methods have destroyed water
commerce. and that most of the ter
minals on the water courses are
owned by one or more railroads and
used for selfish interest with scant
regard for the public welfare"