Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-20
COOPERATION
IS ESSENTIAL
RAIL AND WATER MUST JOIN
HANDS, SAYS SMITH
COMMISSIONER MAKES A REPORT
TO PRESIDENT TAFT
Points Out the Constantly Decreasing
Traffic on Waterways and Enor-
nous Increase of Move
ment by Rail
rBy Associated Press.) }


WASHINGTON, D. c., July 1S,-Co-
operation between railways and water
ways seems absolutely necessary to in
sure a reasonable and efficient use OF
the inland water courses Of this coun-
try.
This conclusion is reached in the re-
port of Herbert Knox Smith, commits
soiner of corporations, in part two OF
his discussion of the subject Of "Irans-
portation by Water which his bureau
has been investigating for many
months. The second part of the report
was transmitted to President Ta1t TO-
day. 1t deals with traffic by water
and portions of it are particularly
suggestive and significant
It is pointed out by Commissioner
Smith that '1t is a public evil that
the entire transportation system of the
United States should be, as now at
odds with itself through destructive
competition. while the transportation
needs of the public suffer.
Traffic Is Essential
Traffic in ITSELF" the report con-
tinues, 'is a necessity for the proper
DEVELOPMENT of a waterway. State and
federal work must be supplemented by
private initiative, especially in ter
minals and equipment, and private inl-
tiative will come in only when there
! is reasonable chance of enough trafhc
to make it profitable. One of the great
problems, therefore, Is the question OF
how to secure for the inland rivers and
canals a reasonable share Of the coun-
| try's traffic"
In the body of the report, Commits
! sioner Smith points out the predoml-
nance of bulk traffic by water and the
| 4 1. Co.. 71aar1 a
practical results to be obtained from
| a thorough system of waterways. The
entire transportation system of the
country is divided into three great
! classes:
First-Rail.
Second-Deep water, that is, coast
| wise and great lakes.
Third-Rivers and canals.
Railroads Show Increase
An enormous increase has been shown
In the rail traffic. There also has been
an increase in the coastwise traffic. on
| the other hand the river and canal trat-
fc shows a marked decrease. Discussing
| this situation, Commissioner Smith, in
his report, says:
1.-THE great mass of the coast and
great lakes traffic is bulk. The enor-
NOUS development of the great lakes
business is largely due to the vast ore
and grain trade moving eastward and
the coal trade moving westward. About
| As O0O, 900 tons of ore were transported
| in 1907 eastward, and about 10000 OOC
| tons of coal were moved westward in
1906. These great freights, being al
bulk and of uniform character, re-
ceived and delivered at a few centra
| ports, have produced there very
highly organized system of transporta'
tion and terminals, and consequently
low transportation cost.
1.-THE river and canal system, on th(
other hand has been losing steadily
| The New York canals and the M1ssls'
| sippi river system illustrate TINS. VI
! to 1855 the traffic on the New York ca
| nails was more than twice that or tnt
| railroads crossing New York state II
! is now less than 8 per cent of that To-
| tai, The situation on the Mississippi
| &c illustrated in the traffic history of ST
! Louis. River shipments there in 1896
were over $780, 900 tons; In 1906, 89,0OO
Rail shipments, on the other hand, IN
| creased from 100000 tons In 1890 to
! II 900 900 tons in 1906.
One Exception Discovered
',The coal traffic downstream from
| the vicinity of Pittsburg, over 56 pei
| cent of the entire vessel traffic on the
| Mississippi system, is the one strlklne
| exception to the General decline on that
system. It's success is due to the great
| deposits of coal practically upon the
| banks. and a corresponding demand for
| it along the river.
"But even this traffic is practically
! confined to the banks of the river and
goes neither inland nor along the Gun
| coast for any considerable distance.
1.-THE situation of water transporta-
tion in the Mississippi valley is signiii-
| can't and serious. 1t shows best both
| the limitations and the possibilities in
voIved in the present waterway prob
! lem. There is no lack of freight in that
valley. and there has been at times eX-
treme traffic congestion there, and yet
| the river is getting only an inslgnlfi-
| can't and decreasing share of that traf-
| fc. It is true that physical conditions
such as extreme changes in water leVe
and enormous deposits of sediment, ar
! feet TRANSPORTATION seriously. But prob
! ablv more serious is the competition OF
! the parallel railroads. The situation
| there iustifies the general conclusion
of the report that rail competition Is
one of the most important factors In
water traffic"