Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1909-11-12
iMpRovTBo BY JERKS.

When ffetiQet 4aII p OOtghh
Christi, characterizedth the course Of IL,
land Waterway Improvement IN the
United States IS a procession Of
jerks, he eDItomized not only the in.
terminabIe and costly delays attend
ant on The work, but the strange in.
difference Of the congresses from the
beginning OF improvement. in 1928
down to the present day. It was q
homely expression. but It was terse
and comprehensive Equally true was
his statement that the value OF the
inland waterways was increased with
the completion of each improvement.
The policy Of Improvement by jerks
was the certain begetter Of the pork
barrel Under that policy no attention
was paid to the fact that the inland
waterways from a chain Of highways,
with the Improvement OF one empha-
sizing the value Of all. but with no
possibility Of the complete improve
ment even Of one Of the great natural
highways when appropriations were
made more for the enhancement Of
Congressional reflections than for the
Of trade and commerce
through relief from freight conges-
lions that come oftener and grow more
costly with the growth Of the country.
There has been no part Of the Presi-
Dental itinerary attracting more Sc
rious attention than his trip down the
river. There was nothing
Of politics in the river trip. But
there were emphatic recognitlons Of
The necessity for inland waterway inn
provement on definite plans to be un-
iertaken on the recommendation OF
he engineer corps of the army upon |
he merits OF the streams, upon their
tonnage bearing capacity when Inn
proved, with appropriations sufficient
or the work, and with the Federal
Government pledged to completion Of
work undertaken.
The river Itinerary was an object
esson. The entire country Is cOnyin-
ed that the vital importance Of the
work has at last been recognized and
placed upon a plane OF recognition by
he Government from which It cannot
e displaced. It was an object lesson
Il the hitherto iorgetfulness and in.
Inference on the part of the general
Government II was a magnificent
ecognition Of the inland waterway as
he certain and the cheapest possible
Means OF communication between
Inipper and receiver. and as q regula-
or Of freight rates absolutely Just and
IN its operations, enforcing
T. judgments through the inexorable
operation Of the law OF supply and de-
nand.
The policy OF improvement OF the
rland waterways OF the United States
las taken the place Of the policy Of
he particular project under which no
esalts q good were had, but only me
.itable aud costly delays. The new
dea Of "A Policy not a Project the
,latform Of the National River and
Iarbors Congress- Is responsible for
he awakening Of Official and citizen
0 the necessity for SUFFICIENT appropri.
Itlons and for continuous work. with
he emphatic expression OF President
raft experimenting that platform and
bringing the whole country face TO
ace with the practical solution OF the
great problem OF transportation. II Is
, solution from which the country
win not avert It's face. but which Il
demands shall become the ffxed and
settled policy OF the Federal Govern
nent. The coming meeting OF the Ma.
ilOnal Rivers and HaFb0rs Congress.
unQeestionably the most important Of
he series. and representative OF the
trade and commercial interests Of the |
entire country. will present the ques
ton TO che Federal Congress IN con.
crete form. expressive OF a demand for
a policy which can only enure 70 the
benefit % each and avery section OF
the country
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