Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-01-25
MMENDS
SOME WORKBE
FINISHED
STRONG REPORT BY
WATERWAYS COMMISSION
Harmony of interests Between
Rail and Water Traffic Nee
esSary to Success of Inland
Waterways.

Waterways,
my Morning Journal speeiai leased Wirel
Washington. Jau. z4- Almost every
section Of the country vial end sub
iects 81 local. as wen aa general iu-
%terest. in the preliminary report OF the
national waterways commission, sub
mitted to connress today
This prcliminar, report recommonas
Il generaIsplan o1 conservation &C wat
er. with the shaping Of projects in the
lheht Of future needs az streams: re-
sort 10 rs ieral ana state legislation
lrathcr than to unnecessary channel
Improvement merely to force reduce
ltion OF railroad freight rates with Inc
Ihihition on the other hand Of manip-
lulati0u Of such rates to freeze out
water competition. a uniform system
LOT distribution Of cost of waterway
Improvement between Federal state
land locai governments, avoidance Of
multiplication Of ports; restriction OF
ldam construction permits. i%naugura-
Ition of SUCH waterway projects rs as
can 30 completed Within a reasonable
thine, @ federal taN on power furnish
ed 10 consumers; reservation BY the
government of the right 10 alter or rc-
lpeal power grants.
The commission holds fhai the fed
eral government he's NO proprietary
right or interest IN ~naVtsahle waters,
(which would authorize the collection
lor tolls. 1t believes that each cunscut
10 construct 4 dam would provide That
tho grantee. when ever necessary to
lsubserve navigation interests must
construct and furnish power for "a
lock suited 60 tho locality and 20 prob
abIe traffic development.
Power developed at government
dams for navigation or irrigation pur-
noses should be utilized and adequate
Ia charged for,
TIN commission recommends that
Ihefore The granting OF right to con-
%struet dams in any navisable stream
me whole stream. or at least such part
as will be affected hy the proposed
construction should be surveyed; that,
If constitutional authority thsretor eN-
lists HE grants should authorize the
secretary Of war or other officials 70
regulate The charge for the power fur-
nished consumers ana should expressly
reserve to the right 70 alter
amend or repeal.
Will rot denying the tendency ot
lriver improvements 60 lower railroad
@Irates the commission holds II undeslr-
lablo to cxpond money upon river
channels solely for this effect ON rates.
EThe fundamental criterion, u SAYS
lehon1d ha whether "a railway or "a wat
orway. when constructed or roN
wiu bo Il profitable investment Point
ing out that the railways have tenn
] porarilv. reduced rates and continued
mon, upon "a lower basis until cont
netting water lines have been driven
Inut Of business. the commission rec
Iommends NAT when "a rate Is once
reduced biz a railroad the rate should
moi H., nermitted 10 be raised again.
anless after hearing by the interstate
commerce commission, or other com
iretent body. il should he found that
r,cb -pronosed increase rests upon
changed conditions other than the
elimination or decrease of water COM
nrttion The most essential require
mon, far their rehabilitation of water
r %rafftr ia asserted to be the establish
{ mant of' harmonious relations between
railways ana water lines. In practi-
. rauy nVerv case OF water routes The
nonts ar. operated. he report says, IN
connection ana in harmony with rall-
GOV mos Tho commission believes
RECOMMENDATION facilities viii be still
ln,rther promoted by compelling Joint
r,tea ana nro-rntine agreements.
l,nra,,rb tdlls Of adm and physical
! -oonnrcfton between rat and water