Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-07-22

| AohuooiHCiy uOuiu duQ arranged III
such manner that they will form 9
keepsake of considerable value.
President Taft realizes that the jour
ney from st. Louis to New Orleans by
steamboat, which would last three or
four days. not only would be an en-
joyable affair, but would give him
ample opportunity to discuss the en-
tire deep waterway question and to
inspect its features as regards the
states of Missouri, Illinois. Arkansas
Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana.
Trip Will Be All "Waterway."
Provided he sees fit to accompany
! the score or more Of governors who
purpose to occupy one of the vessels
which will proceed down the Missis-
sippi at the time, he can obtain his
| fill OF waterway schemes, hopes and
accomplishments.
1t is expected that President Taft
will fill his New Orleans engagement
on his return from his western trip.
It is likely that he will proceed direct
| ly to st. Louis by train from Ell Paso
after his meeting there with President
Diaz Of Mexico.
Cooperation between railways and
waterways seems absolutely necessary
to insure reasonable and efficient
use Of the inland water courses OF
this country.
This conclusion is reached in the re
port of Herbert Knox Smith, commits.
sioner of corporations, in his discus
sion of the subject of Transportation
by Water" which his bureau has been
Investigating for many months. The
second part of the report was trans.
mitted to President Taft yesterday
1t deals with traffic by water and POI,
lions of 1t are particularly suggestive
and significant
1t is pointed out by Commissioner
Smith that 'it 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-"
Private Initiative Needed.
Traffic in ITSELF" the report con.
tinues, sis a necessity for the proper
development of a waterway State
and federal work must be supplement.
ed by private initiative, especially ip
terminals and equipment, and private
initiative will come in only when
there is reasonable chance OF
enough traffic to make 1t profitable
One of the great questions, therefore
is that Of how to secure for the inland
rivers and canals reasonable share
of the country's traffic"
In the body of the report Commits
sioner Smith points out the predomin
ance Of bulk traffic by water and the
reasons therefor. Then he outlines
the practical results to be obtained
from thorough system of waterways
The entire transportation system OF
the country is divided into three great
classes: Rail, deep water, that is
coastwise and great lakes; rivers and
canals.
Rail Traffic Increase Enormous.
An enormous increase has been
shown In the rail traffic There alsc
has been an increase in the coastwise
traffic. On the other hand, the river
and canal traffic shows a marked de
crease. Discussing this situation
Commissioner Smith in his report
says:
"The river and canal system has
been losing steadily. The New YORK.
canals and the Mississippi river sys
tenn illustrates this. Up to 1855 the
traffic on the New York canals was
more than twice that of the railroads
crossing New York state 1t Is now
less than 3 per cent of that total. The
situation on the Mississippi is illus
/ trated in the traffic history of st
Louis. River shipments there in 1896
were more than 100000 tons; in 1906
| $4,000. Rail shipments, on the othe;
hand, increased from 100000 in 1896
to 100000 tons in 1906"