Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1909-11-12
IMPROVING BY JERKS.

lIlldliu waterway improvement "
the United States as a procession
of jerks" he epitomized not only
the interminable and costly delays
attendant on the work, but the
strange indifference of the Congress
es from the beginning of improve
ment, in 1923, down to the pres
ent day. 1t was homely expires
sion, but it was terse and compre-
hensive. Equally true was his state
ment that the value of the inland
waterways was increased with the
completion of each improvement.
The policy of Improvements by
Jerks was the certain begetter OF the
pork barrel. Under that policy no
attention was paid to the fact that
the inland waterways form a chain
Of highways, with the improvement
of one emphasizing the value of all,
but with no possibility of the COM
plete improvement even of one of
the great natural highways when
appropriations were made more for
the enhancement of congressional
reflections than for the advance
ment of trade and commerce
through relief from freight conges-
tions that come oftener and grow
more costly with the growth of the
country.
There has been no part of the
presidential itinerary attracting
more serious attention than his trip
down the Mississippi river. There
was nothing of politics in the river
trip. But there were emphatic rec
ognitions of the necessity for inland
waterway improvement of definite
plans to be undertaken on the
recommendation of the Engineer
Corps of the Army upon the merits
of the streams, upon their tonnage
bearing capacity when improved,
with appropriations sufficient fol
the work, and with the Federal
government pledged to completion
of work undertaken.
The river itinerary was an object
lesson. The entire country is con-
WINGED that the vital importance OF
the work has at last been recognized
and placed upon plane of recog-
milton by the government from
which it cannot be displaced. Ii
was an object lesson of the hither-
to fOrgetfulness and indifference on
the part of the general government
1t was a magnificent recognition OF
the inland waterway as the certain
and cheapest possible means of com.
munication between shipper and re.
ceiver, and as a regulator of freight
rates absolutely just and equitable
in its operations, enforcing its iudg
ments through the memorable law
Of supply and demand.
The policy of improvement of tn,
inland waterways of the United
States has taken the place of tn,
policy of the particular project un
der which no results of good wer,
had, but only inevitable and costly
delays. The new idea of "A Pol
icy; not Project" the platform
of the National Rivers and Harbor
Congress, is responsible for tn,
awakening of official and citizen t,
the necessity for sufficient appropri-
atoms and for continuous work
with the emphatic expression OF
President Taft supplementing that
platform and bringing the who'll,
country face to face with the prac.
tical solution of the great problem
OF transportation. 1t is a solution
from which the country will moi
avert its face, but which it demands
shall become the fixed and settled
policy of the Federal government.
The coming meeting of the National
Rivers and Harbors Congress, un.
questionably the most important OF
the series, and representative of the
trade and commercial interests OF
the entire country will present tht
question to the Federal Congress IT,
concrete form, expressive of a de
mand for a policy which can onl,
enure to the benefit of each ant
every section of the country.
A very large sweet potato weigh.
ing 6 IA pounds was brought il
from tho "MoundD Dlace this wool