Evening star., 1909-05-01
MILLIONS FOR RIVERS
Public Neglect to Utilize the
Facilities Offered.
MORE OUTLAY Is URGED
Preliminary Report by Inland
Waterways Commission.
WOULD CONTROL COMPETITION
Country's Growth and Transporta-
tion, It Is Claimed, Justify
Expenditures.
By WILLIAM +. CURTIS.

By WILLIAM Z. CURTIS.
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
The inland waterways commission ap-
pointed by President Roosevelt in March.
1907. and consisting of Senators Burton
Newlands Warner and Bankhead. Cen
Mackenzie of the Engineer Corps, r. H.
Newell. chief of the reclamation service
Clifford Pinchot. chief of the forest serv-
ice: Herbert Knox Smith. commissioner
of corporations. and w MCGEE, has
made preliminary report. which con-
tains great deal Of interesting and VAL
liable information concerning the navi-
gable streams of the United States, the
state and private canals and other water
ways in both the United States and Eu-
rope. 1t also discusses various questions
relating to the use and extension of nat
ural and artificial means of transporta-
tion by water. The geographical and
technical information is valuable and the
many respects
The most striking facts brought out
In the report are the stupendous amount
OF money that has already been expended
In making the river system Of the United
States navigabe and the refusal or ne
glect OF the public to make use of the
facilities offered And the commission
recommends the expenditure of still more
money FOR the same purpose without
suggesting any means by which that ex-
penditure can be made of practical serv-
Ice to the country. The decline of in
land water navigation is admitted and
explained and yet the commission advo-
Gates increased facilities. which are not
needed and would not be used if they
were provided.
Thn set
to the future use and need of these
waterways. and justihes further expendi-
lures to improve and extend them on the
following ground
Although it is not probable that any
considerable share Of this vast mileage
of navigable waterways will be improved
to high standard of efficiency at least
ut an early date. yet the assured growth
Of the country and the capacity OF these
waters not only for navigation. but for
other uses, render imperative the neces-
sity for their control and utiliza ton az
an asset of almost unlimited value. II
Is desirable that these waterways, of
which portions have been surveyed or
should be further investigated with a
view to the systematic development of
interstate commerce in coordination with
all other uses of the waters and benefits
to be derived from them.
Railways Inadequate.
20. While the railways of mainland
United States have been notably eficient
in extending and promoting the produc-
ton and commerce of the country, il Is
clear that at seasons recurring with in
creasing frequency they are unable to
keep pace with production or to meet the
requirements of transportation.
''s. While navigation of the inland
waterways declined with the increase in
rail transportation during the later dec
AIDES Of the past century. 1t has become
clear that the time Is at hand for re-
storing and developing such inland navi-
cation and water transportation as upon
expert examination may appear to confer
a benefit commensurate with the cost. to
be utilized both independently and as a
necessary adjunct to rail transportation.
Il. While the decline of Navigation in
the inland waterways was largely due to
the natural growth and legitimate COM
petition attending railway extension, il
is also clear that railway interests have
been successfully directed against the
normal maintenance and development OF
water traffic by control of water fronts
and terminals, by acquisition or control
# competing canals and vessels by dis
eliminating tariffs. by rebates. by ad-
verse placement of tracks and structures
and by other means.
"a. Any complete or practically success
full plan for the general Improvement of
waterways must eventually provide for
satisfactory adjustment OF the relation of
rail lines to such waterways. Since pres
ent and prospective railways reach all
parts of the country, while navi9able
waterways are confined to certain natural
lines, it Is clear that railways can SO con-
troll transportation as to leave the water
ways insufficient trafhc to support the
requisite vessels and terminals. The rail-
ways have accordingly. save in certain
exceptional cases, substantially absorbed
the traffic of the country. and unless the
present unrestricted and short-sishted
competition between the two systems Ia
intelIigently adjusted they will continue to
do So
"6. In spite of the great increase Of
traffic and the continued improvement of
waterways. the total river traffic Of the
portionateiy and absolutely. with the re-
suit that few rivers are used TO anything
approa ching their full capacity. 1t will
not relieve traffic congestion to improve
our waterways unless the improved wa
terWays are used: hence ii Is obvious that
relief from the existing congestion by
waterway improvement can be made per-
manently effective only through such CO.
ordination of rail and water facilities as
will insure harmonious cooperation rather
than injurious opposition.
Disuse Of the Mississippi.
The report of the commission contains
a graphic description of the situation on
the MISSISSIPPI rive. which has been al
most abandoned for transportation pur-
poses, except for coal and local traffic at
certain points, notwithstanding the fact
that the government has spent $2os. 49,
7oO TO provide channel for commerce.
President Roosevelt in his message to
Congress transmitting the report says:
TIE commission finds that II was un-
regulated railroad competition which pre-
vented or destroyed The DEVELOPMENT Of
commerce on our inland waterways The
Mississippi. our greatest natural highway,
Is a case In point. At one time the traffic
upon it was without rival In any coun-
try. The report shows that commerce
was driven from the Mississippi by the
railroads. While the production was linn
tied the railways. with their convenient
terminals. gave quicke: and more salts
factory service than the waterways
Later they prevented the restoration of
river tranic by keeping down their rates
along the rivers recouping themselves nv