Arizona republican., 1909-07-12
NEGLECTED
 WATERWAYS Lack of Commercial Unity in the Inland System ITS GREAT POSSIBILITIES.
A Letter by Commissioner of Corporations to Presi- dent Taft Suggesting In telligent Improvement of Country's Waterways.

Washington, D. C., July 11.-Lack of practical and commercial unity in the entire inland water system of the United States is the principal text of Part of the report on Transportation by Water, now submitted to the pres missioner of corporations of the de- pertinent of commerce and labor. The commissioner dilates in his letter of transmittal upon the facts that while the United States has altogether a total of about $500 miles of river navigation of six feet depth and over, and more than 2O00 miles of canals, these totals are broken up into a large number of unrelated parts by reason of different depths and different con- ditions, and that the diverse nature of the floating equipment increases this lack of organization. Many yes sels are built for special traffic or local conditions and are thus often not interchangeable" over different, even though connecting, routes. In general, the commissioner shows pri- marily the relation in which the in land waterways (rivers and canals) stand to the whole transportation sys- tenn of the country While water ways are subject to many limitations, they have nevertheless great possi billties; they are not now carrying anything like their proper share of the country's traffic. This, the com missioner points out is a broad eco homie defect of serious disadvantage to the entire business of the country, and he gives some of the reasons for this condition.
 'Thrgugh" freight constitutes great part of the countrys traffic A reasonable share of such through freight is essential to the success of the water system. Inland waterways cannot prosper generally on merely local traffic But the water system, unorganized and divided as it is by diversities of channels and equipment, is greatly at a disadvantage in com petition with the rail system for this through traffic. For the rail system of the country is standardized, phy- sicaIly unified. and it's control largely centralized. and is thus well adapted to handle through freight.
 The canals of the country illustrate an extreme case of waterway decline About 4500 miles of canals have been constructed. over one-half of this mileage, costing more than $S0,O00.OOO, has been abandoned, and canal traffic (excepting that of some short ship canals) has steadily decreased.
 The report also calls attention brief of pnndi- tion of water terminals (to be treat ed more fully in another part of the report, now in preparation), matter of the highest importance in trans portation. Terminal improvement on waterways is one of the first require ments, and is entirely possible.
 It is noted that European countries have in many cases distributed the cost of waterway improvement upon localities in some ratio with the spe- cia1 benefits received. while very little of that sort has been done in this country. The report also sets fortn the steady advance of steam over sail power, and the tendency toward corporate ownership of steam tonnage, especially the larger vessels. In lyoo inc average size of vessels owned by individuals was 113 tons, and by cor norations 526 tons. Operating eX- oenses. so far as obtained, averaged ahout 80 per cent of the gross earn ines The lowest ratio of operating costs was on the bulk cargo vessels of the Great Lakes, the highest that of the packet lines on the Mississippi system and Southern rivers
 This report will be of great value in the present movement for an intel Iieent and effective improvement or the country's waterways. It points out the possibilities of water trans portation. the limitations existing thereon, the reasons for thelr present inefficiency, and the lines along which action toward improvement can prop erly be taken. It demonstrates, fin ally. the necessity of dealing with the waterways under broad and com prehensive plan rather than by iocal- flies and sections.
 -O