Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-08-28

Would Favor Bond Issue for Lakes-to-
Gulf Waterway-An Interesting In
terview With the Senator, Who Has
Given the Question of Waterway
improvements a Close Study.
A special from Washington gives
&he following interview with Senator
Scott ON the subject of river improve
ment.
Among the men of the senate of the
United States who have made water
way Improvements a close study. Sen
ator Nathan Bay Scott, of West Vlr-
ginia. easily takes first rank. As a re-
suit of several trips to the older coun-
tries, he has been Q keen observer Of
the way in which not only Europe, but
che countries in the far east use their
waterways, for purposes Of freight
transportation. but for passenger trans
portation as well.
Holland, to my mind presents the
best example OF waterway develop
ment of any country I know in Eu-
rope" said Senator Scott. 'Lowlying
a it does and facing the sea its
canals are not only a subject of won
gierment to the visitor, but a source
of endless profit to its people. Small
rs Holland is, smaller than many of
our own states, he waterway problem
ee- to have been solved in Holland
much more effectively and much more
adyantageeusly than in countries vast
er in extent and with more natural
rivers to laid in the solution OF the
transportation problem.
S7elieve Railroad Congestion. :
e'From whatever point OF view one
sees the great natural water high
ways OF the United States there comes
the sense of unaccomplished things in
relation to our own rivers and canals.
Nature has been most pgcdigal in not
only giving us a magnificent coast line
but she has placed within our do
minion rivers that are not riyaled any,
where on earth. and it behooyes us TO
make them our servants to carry our
products to the sea. thereby reliev-
ing railway freight congestion and
Tightening cost Of transportation, The
railroad has no more reason to fear
q 10 oppose the steamboat than the
trolley car. Both have their uses and
both their Limitation. Both are neces-
sary to serve the people who live along
the river or along the line of track
FOR the business done by river or by
.tkrolley vii never be sufficient in vol
une 20 interfere with the railroads,
no matter how much the rivers may
be improved or how cheaply they
carry freight.
Good Roads and Waterways.
''.In this connection let me say that
good public roads and inland water
ways will solve the problem of cheap
freight rates and they go hand in
hand together. l am firmly convinced
Ehat our waterway Improvement ought
80 be carried on in a comprehensive
and systematic manner as urged by
the national rivers and narbors con-
gress. Piece-meal appropriations for
streams that will never, in the very
nature OF things, contribute to the up
building Of communities should be
abandoned.
What we need most S wisdom be
bind our legislation for waterways and
by that | mean that the future should
bear in proportion in he development
OF our water courses as the present.
If current revenues are not sufficient
80 provide for yearly expenditures OF
money to develop our great natural
highway. then /. for one. will vote for
a bond issue Of sufficient amount to
make possible the Harvesting of the
Ohio. the control OF the Mississippi
and the opening up of a water route
from Lake Erie TO the Gulf. The Ohio
river is being improved too slowly
and is discouraging to the business
man who figures upon the earning
power of every penny % see his re-
ceipts dwindle because Of the lack OF
water transportation for bulkier
freight. What I would like to see is
inland navigation from the lakes TO
The peninsula, and when the steam
ooats come back again upon our riv-
ers then the high tide Of our prosper
fy will be reached.