The state herald., 1910-01-21

they would relieve the railroads or sup
plement them In respect to the bulkier
and cheaper commodities is a matter of
conjecture. No enterprise ought to be
undertaken the cost OF which Is not def
initely ascertained and the benefit and
advantage of which are not known and
assured by competent engineers and other
authority. When. however, a project OF
definite character for the Improvement
OF a waterway has been developed so
that the plans have been drawn. the cost
definitely estimated. and the traffic
which will be accommodated Is reason
ably probable think II is the duty of
congress to undertake the project ard
make provision therefor in the proper ap-
preparation bill.
One of the projects which answers the
description have given is that OF intro
ducing dams into the Ohio river from
Pittsburg to Cairo. so as to maintain at
all seasons of the year. by slack water.
depth of nine feet. Upward of seven
of these dams lave already been con-
structed and six are under construction.
while the total required is 90 The re-
manning cost is-known to be 500, 100000
II seems to me that In the development
Of our inland waterways 1t would be
wise to begin with this particular project
and carry 1t through as rapidly as may
be. ! assume from reliable Information
that II can be constructed economically
In ten years j recommend, therefore.
that the public lands In river and har-
Dor bills. make provision for continuing
contracts to complete this Improvement,
and ! shall recommend in the future, II
1t he necessary. that bonds be issued to
carry It through
What has been said OF the Ohio river
is true In o less complete way OF the i'm
provement of the upper Mississippi from
ST. Paul to St Louis to a constant depth
of six feet. and OF the Missouri. from
Kansas City to St Louis TO constant
depth of six feet and from st. Louis to
| Cairo of a depth OF eight feet. These
projects have been pronounced practical
by competent boards of army engineers.
their cost has been estimated and there
| is business which will follow the i'm
provement
As these improvements are being made.
and the traffic encouraged by them shows
itself OF sufficient Importance, the i'm
provement of the Mississippi beyond
Cairo down to the gulf. which Is now
going on with the maintenance of a depth
of nine feet everywhere, may be changed
to another and greater depth II the neces-
sity for It shall appear to arise out of the
trafiic which can be delivered on the river
at Cairo.
Cheap Rail Rate Necessary.
I am informed that the investigation
shows that the existence of a waterway
| by no means assures trafiic unless there
| Is traffic adapted to water carriage at
| cheap rates at one end the other OF
| the stream. II also appears In Europe
| that the depth of the streams Ii rarely
| more than six feet. and never more than
nine. But IL is certain that enormous
| quantities of merchandise are transported
over the rivers and canals In Germany
and France and England and II is also
| certain that the existence OF such meth
DDS of traffic materially affects the rates
| which the railroads charge. and II IL the
| best regulator OF those rates that we
have. not even excepting the govern
mental regulation through the Interstate
commerce commission. For this reason.
! hope that this congress will take such
steps that II may be called the inaugu-
rator OF the new system OF inland water
ways. For reasons which II is not nee
essary here TO state. congress has seen
| NJ 70 order an investigation into the in
terror department and the forest service
OF the agricultural department. The re-
| suits Of that Investigation are not needed
10 determine the value Of. and the me-
cessi,y for. the new legislation which l
have recommended In respect to the pub.
| lie lands and in respect TO reclamation.
| earnestly urge that the measures be TAX
en- np and disposed of promptly without
| awaiting the Investigation which has been
determined upon.
WILLIAM ~ TAFT