The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-02-19
Water VS.. Rail.

OF the nation.
Water VS.. Rail.
As a concrete illustration of the diff
ference in cost between rail and water
transportation, he showed that IL the
traffic of Lake Superior in 1907 had
been carried by rail at the average
rate given above, its transportation
would have cost 1855, 633 ga more than
was actually paid for its Transports
ton by water. This Is the saving on
the business of one lake for one year;
the direct savings on the traffic OF
ali the lakes for the year 1907 was
$3.50, 600 900, which is as much as has
been spent by the government of the
United States in all its rivers and
harbors during all the years OF the
past; while the total saving on the
commerce of the lakes since the
canal into Lake Superior was opened
in 1856, is not less than $4,000, 900 900,
and the entire amount expended on
the improvement OF the lakes is only
SIS, coo, GOO
Lower Rail Rates.
This saving, great as it is, is only
d part of the beneEt derived from the
Improvement of the lakes, for the
competition OF water routes invari-
railways. Numerous instances were
given. in one of which il was stated
that the opening ,of a lock on the Co
lumbia river resulted in a lowering of
the railway rate from S6.40 per ton
TO $500 per ton, so that the indirect
saving due to tho lesSened cost of
railway transportation is probably
greater than the direct saving above
mentioned. But he stated that while
waterways carry more cheaply than
railways, and causes a lowering of
railway rates, the best thing that
could happen to a railway is to have
a waterway parallel every mile of Its
tracks. This rather surprising state
ment was backed up by wealth OF
illustrations, leading I'D to the as
SertiOn that in twenty-five years
study, he had failed to find a single
case in which the effect on railway
traffic and railway dividends had
been anything else but beneficial.
The underlying reasons tor this
seemingly paradoxical result is that
where both are available. the water
way carries the low grade, bulky
raw material, which Is the thing that
clogs the tracks OF the railways, and
which can only be moved profitably
If moved at a price which is below
the cost OF railway operation, an in
crease in commerce and industry
which follows from an abundant
supply of cheap raw material, causes
railways a great increase of high
grade traffic, which can AFFORD to pay
higher rate per ton, and also
large amount of express matter, mail
matter ana passenger traffic. which
invariably goes to the railway.
Railways Cannot Handle Traffic.
1t had been abundsntly demonstra-
ted that the country can produce
vastly greater amount of traffic than
the railways can handle, and the
leading railway men OF the country
have stated that the railways can Sc
cure neither materials nor men, nor
the money 10 make the improve
ments and additions which would en-
able them to promptly carry the
traffic of the United States in pros
porous times. The people OF the
country, therefore. must decide
whether they will provide additional
means of transportation, or allow
their development to be delayed and
hindeFed and in large part prevented.
Germany's Example.
1t was pointed out that Germany,
Holland and Belgium combined are
so much more than Texas. that the
territory left over IS as large as the
state of Maine;' or, to put it in an
other way, the area of the United
States is thirteen times as great as
that of the three countries men
toned; the population is greater by
fourteen millions, but In 1907, the
foreign commerce of these three little
countries was sixry-nine millions OF
dollars, more than twice as much as
that Of this country. and one of the
reasons for this astound-
ing difference Is that the three cOun-
tries Of Europe have the most per-
fectIy developed system Of inland
waterways to be found anywhere on
earth.
PensaeoIa's Record.
The total amount spent on the
haTbOr of Pensacola to June 80. 1908,
is reported by the chief Of engineers
as slice, 20z. SO, % which $172.221.27
was for the dredge Caucus, which is
still on duty.
Out of this hsrbor. the exports
during the last twenty-five years
have ben more than $225. 900, 09e 90.
so that leaving out the earlier years.
and leaving cut also the imports, a
statement Of which was not obtain
able, the money expended upon the
harbor is less than one half Of one
Z cant