Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-09-21
PRESIDENT TAFT RAPs PRESENT
SYSTEM OF WATERWAY
APPROPRIATIONS.
SELFISH CONSTITUENCIES
DEMAND PART OF sPoiLs
As Result Big Projects Approved and
Needed Arc Delayed For Years and
Work Done BY PieoemeaI-President
Makes Strong speech at Opening of
River Dam at Old Homo.

Cincinnati, Sept. 21.-President Taft
position officials almost all of today.
The major part Of the time was spent
at the exposition grounds. A tour Of
the grounds was made, after which the
president delivered a speech in the
music hall.
Early in the evening the president
will be escorted to a business mems
club, where he will be guest at din
ner Immediately after dinner he will
return to the music hall to attend a
performance Of grand opera
Taft on Waterways.
President Taft on the occasion of the
ternoon addressed a great crowd In
Cincinnati, its growth and prospects,
and then discussed water conmunica-
ton, especially the Improvement Of
rivers and its Importance to commerce.
He declared that If navigation on the
Ohio and Mississippi rivers was made
proctical and more economical than
railroad communication, there would
be much greater trade along these
rivers than now exists.
He referred to the report Of the wat
erways committee, which found the
chief difficulty in making a success Of
water transportation is the cost of ter
minal or transfer charges wherever the
destination Of freight requires the use
Of both river and railroad. The COM
mission found that q great deal of
money and time have been spent in
perfecting terminals for river trans
portation, and they also found the en-
tire absence Of such terminals on many
navigable rivers Then again the COM
mission found that In localities where
water-b borne traffic has increased,
careful and elaborate provision has
been made for handling freight in the
most economical manner.
Railroads Have Advantages.
He referred to many advantages the
railroads possess over water routes in
the transportation of freight. and de-
clared that to meet these, river trans
portation men must devote their at
tention to overcoming the disadvan-
tages as to terminals and transfers
involved in the variation OF river lev
els The president spoke Of the fact
that the railroads cut traffic rates
wherever there is water competition,
thus discouraging the river business.
He also. pointed out hat they raise
rates as soon as the river business
has been thus suppressed.
New Law to Bring Change.
Provision has been made, he con-
tinued, in the railroad act passed at
the last session Of congress which will
prevent railways from adopting this
device Of destroying river competition.
The truth is that with the new de-
velopment Of river business 1t will be
possible to give power to our inter
state commerce to make regulations
for Joint traffic between rivers and
railways that will greatly encourage
the continuance Of river business. for
il we use our waterways in the most
economical manner there must be
friendly cooperation, as our water
ways commission points out. between
those engaged in transportation on
water and those by rail. The concur
rent and joint operation of the rail-
ways and water carriage is much bet
ter regulated In Europe than 1t Is
here and we. have a great deal to learn
in this regard which, when studied out,