The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-02-03
REPUKl MADE UN
WATERWAYS PLAN
National Commission Suggests Many
lmproVementS-ShOuId Regulate
Railroad Rates I'm Some Cases.

WASHINGTON, ID. Especial
Senator Burton. OF Ohio, chairman
or the National Waterways Commits
sion, created by act or Congress last
March, has made a preliminary re-
port of the commissions work to the
Senate. The duty imposed upon the
commission was to investigate ques-
lions pertaining to water transpOrta-
ton and the Improvement of water
ways and make recommendations ac-
cordingly. In carrying out its under
standing seven OF the twelve MEM
bers visited Europe and studied the
problem there. An examination of
the Mississippi from st. Paul TO New
Orleans, and also of the Missouri aud
Illinois Rivers was made.
Consider Variety OF Subjects.
In reaching its conclusions the conf
mission considered a variety of topics
separately These include the reason
for the decline in inland waterway
transportation, together with rcme-
dies therefor. and the relation between
waterway and railroad transportation,
the advisability and practiCability of
canals for the deeper draft vessels
steps 70 be taken before the adoption
of projects for improvement and the
method OF making appropriation for
them; the proper division between Rp-
preparations by the Federal Govern
ment and the States; the relation of
waterways improvements TO bank pro-
ton; irrigation and drainage; the most
desirable policy relating to harbors,
including ownership OF wharvcS and
docks; the relation OF waterways i'm
provements to water power; the
method of improving rivers including
the construction OF locks aud draws
and a comparison OF European wa
terwayS with those OF the United
States. including an investigation OF
European and American transporta-
ton rates, both by land and by water.
The report shows remarkable de-
crease in traffic on inland waterways
during the past twenty years.
On the Erie Canal the loss was fifty
per cent in actual traffic and a drop
from eighteen to three per cent of the
relative amount as compared to rail-
road traffic. On the Mississippi River
system the falling off amounted .
thirty-one per cent. since 1889.
Lakes TraffiS Increases.
On the other hand the traffic on
the Great Lakes has increased enor-
mously. The commission cannot see
it's way clear to recommend a general
power to fix minimum rates for trans
portation. 1t says:
"In the development OF the
country n lowering of the rates
of transportation Is an important
factor In promoting commerce
and industries. The General ten
dency has been toward lower
would interfere with this ten
dcncy would probably DO injurious
rather than otherwise. major
tty of the commission recommend
giving power to the Interstate
Commerce Commission 20 pre-
scribe minimum railroad rates
which favor I'm its operation the
object of a railroad I'm reducing
rates To- destroy water competi-
ton"
Aside from a difference OF opinion
upon this matter the recommendations
OF the commission are unanimous. A
recomm endation is made that partici-
patton in improvements be encouraged
by local communities and that the
Federal Government should not un-
dertake projects not essential to iiav-
igation, nor where there Is not assur-
ance that proper wharves AID ter
minals will be furnished by munich
palities or private enterprises Abe
commission does not recommend Gov
eminent construction of wha-vcs and
docks.
The commission does not consider
that the subject of water power is
is associated with navigation. The
opinion is expressed. however, that in
issuing grants of water power the
Secretary of War should have the
right 20 regulate charges for use of
power furnished consumers, and that
Congress should have the right TO I'll
ter, amend or repeal every water
within it's Jurisdiction. except as il
power grant.