Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-01-26

, | tnat the railways nave temporarily
reduced rates and continued them
upon a lower basis until competing
water lines have been driven out of
business, the commission recon-
mends that when a rate is one thus
reduced by a railroad it should not
be permitted to raise it again un-
less, after hearing by the interstate
commerce commission or other COM
petent body it should be found that
such, proposed increase rests upon
changed conditions other than the
elimination or decrease of water
competition.
The most essential requirement for
the rehabilitation of water traffic is
asserted TO be the establishment of
harmonious relations between rail-
ways and water lines. In practical
ly every case of water routes the
boats are; operated, the report says,
in connection and in harmony with
railway lines. The commission be-
lieves~ transportation facilities will
be still further promoted by com,
polling joint rates and pro-rating
agreements, through bills of lading
and physical connection between rail
, and water agencies, separate ware
! house and terminal systems for rail-
roads and waterways being often
| waste of capital. Terminal and
wharfage charges should be reason
able regardless of the ownership Of
these facilities.
The commission can not see it's
way clear to recommend a general
power to Tx minimum rates, but
Da jority of the commission would
recommend empowering the inter.
state commerce commission to pre-
scribe minimum railroad rates when
ever in it's opinion the object of a
railroad in reducing rates is to de.
general tendency the commission
points out, has been, toward lower
rates and any general regulation
which would directly or indirectly
interfere with this tendency woule
probably be injurious rather than
otherwise. The subject Of the driv-
ing out of water competition ap.
pears to be the only question upon
which the commission divided.
Referring to criticisms upon the
delay of congress In the develop
ment of water routes, the commits
sion points to the fact that the use
of the improved channels in many
instances has not been commensur-
ate with the expense incurred,:; and
to a lack of progressive11ess in pro
viding suitable freight-carrying ia
! cilities and to failure to provide
modern terminal equipment. No
federal improvement will suffice, the
commission insists, without. COOPER
alton of communities and business
interests and between rail and
water routes. =.
A uniform system is recommended
applicable to all waterways, under
which statistics may be collected
showing the volume and different
kinds of traffic carried on the rivers
,, and inland channels. This country
is declared to be far behind several
European countries in the accuracy
of inland navigation statistics, and
, the commission wants to see more
extensive information regarding
high and low water and average dis
charge of the streams in order to
frame and execute plans for i'm
provements.
The commission is unwilling to rec
ommend such a change as the crea-
I ton of a board to decide upon the
feasibility and desirability of pro-
positions for expenditure on rivers
and harbors, and pays high tribute
to the work of the army engineer
corps. 1t advises that without
careful and unbiased examination of
proposed improvements of the ma
ture now required by statute, no
gress," and recommends that here.
after the general policy be adopted
of providing for the early completion
Of any and all projects which are
undertaken, and that only such
number of projects should be COM
menced as will be appropriated for
and completed within a reasonable
time"
In this way, il says, definite re-
suits can be relied upon, plans can
be made for utilizing the streams
improved and expenses very largely
saved. Careful provisions should
also be made for maintaining exist
ing works, otherwise the improve
ments already made will deterior
ate.
In the general policy of improving
streams in waterways systems, the
commission advises that the main
stream be improved first and raised
to an adequate stage of efficiency,
before it's tributaries; that prefer
ence be given the lower portions Of
a stream, and that improvement
proceed as a rule from the mouth
up.
The most striking instance cited
in water-borne traffic is that of the
Erie canal, though the commission
regards as "quite as striking" the
decrease in traffic on the Mississippi
river and it's tributaries.
I'm 1880 this canal (Erie) carried
between Buffalo and New York."
the report says, "4,6OS,651 tons, or
1S per cent of the total traffic, while
in Ions (tho latest wear for which