The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1909-07-15
URGES UNIFORMITY
IN U. S. CANALS.
Are Useless as Now Constructed
w Says Smith. ,f5o..e
k3El FbBf ,HSfu9ltnET -hLRS
MAKES { A. REPORT ITO TAFT
Commissioner of Corporations After
Study of American and European
Waterways Declares Value De-
ponds on Coordination.

Washington, July 12.--Lack of prac'
teal and commercial unity in the en-,
tire inland water system of the
United States is the principal text OF
part one of the report on trans.
portation by water. now submitted to
the president by Herbert Knox Smith,
commissioner of corporations Of the
department of commerce and labor.
The commissioner dilates In his let
ter of transmittal upon the facts that
while the United States has altogether
total of about $500 miles of river
navigation of six feet depth and over,
and more than 1000 miles Of canals,
these totals are broken up into a
large number of unrelated parts by
reason of different depths and different
conditions, and that the diverse nature
Of the floating equipment increases
this lack of organization. Many yes!
sells are built for special traffic or To-
interchangeable over different.
even though connecting, routes.
s''' Do Not Get Their Share.
In general, the commissioner shows
primarily the relation in which the
inland waterways (rivers' and canals)
stand to the whole transportation sys-
ten of the country. While waterways
are subject to many limitations, they
have nevertheless great possibilities;
they are not now carrying anything
like their proper share of the country's
traffic. This, the commissioner points
out, is broad economic defect of Sc
rious disadvantage to the entire busi-
ness of the country, and he gives some
of the reasons for this condition.
Through" freight constitutes a
great part of the country's traffic. A
reasonable share of such through
freight Is essential to the success of
the water system. Inland waterways
cannot prosper generally on merely To-
cal traffic. But the water system, I'M
organized and divided as 1t Is by d..
Versities of channels and equipment
is greatly at a disadvantage in COM
petition with the rail system for this
through traffic. For the rail system of
the country is standardized, physical
ly unified. and its control largely CEN
tralized, and is thus well adapted to
handle through freight. H.
Decline Shown by the Canals.
The canals Of the country illustrate
an extreme case of waterway decline
About $500 miles of canals have been
constructed. Over half of this mileage,
costing more than $4,000, 900, has been
abandoned, and canal traffic Except
ing that Of some short ship canals)
has steadily decreased
The report also calls attention
briefly to the very unsatisfactory con-
dition of water terminals Ito be
treated more fully in another part of
the report, now in preparatory, a mat
ter of the highest Importance in trans
portation. Terminal improvement on
waterways is one of the first require
ments, and is entirely possible.
This report will be of great value In
the present movement for an intelligent
and effective improvement of the
country's waterways. 1t points out the
possibilities of water transportation,
the limitations existing thereon, the
reasons for their present inefficiency,
and the, lines along which action to-
ward improvement can properly be
taken. 1t demonstrates, finally, the
necessity of dealing with the water
ways under broad and comprehen-
siVe, plan rather than by localities and
sections. -...