Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-08-09
PERMANENT IMPROVEMENT.
OF INLAND WATERWAYS.
Pennsylvania Senator Believes, Will
Solve Transportation Problem.

washington, ID. e, Aug.f Especial
Correspondence of The Republican,
Senator Boies Penrose of Pennsylvania
chairman of the powerful committee on
finance whose exceedingly tactful and
conscientious handling not only of the
Canadian reciprocity pact. but. other
revenue measures has brought him
hundreds of congratulatory letters and
kilograms from all parts of the coun-
try is not unmindful of the fact that
the country is interested in other things
besides the tariff. Representing a
state whose interests are probably more
widely diversified than any ether in
the union Senator Penrose took time
from consideration of the bills amend
ing the Payne Aldrich bill and other
matters affecting the revenues of the
government to say that the subject Of
transportation was always the great
problem for inland sections of the
country. That cheap and abundant ia
cilities for the transportation of the
great natural products of the forest,
farm and mine not only add to the val
ue of all farm and city property within
the sphere of their circumference but
increase materially the growth of ma
tural wealth and reduce the average
cost of the necessities of life in the
great centers of population.
Il believe that there is no subject
now engaging the attention of the peo-
pie more truly national in its scope
than the systematic, scientific and per-
manent improvements of the inland
waterways of the country" said Sen
ator Penrose. Frankly 1 have thought
sometimes that there was a good deal
of exaggeration about certain urged
projects, about the building of certain
canals connecting bodies of water be-
cause their commercial needs have new
er been apparent, but as to the neces-
sity for the improvement Of certain
rivers of the country 1 have not the
least doubt
The interstate commerce commits
sion in its far reaching decision recent
~ handed down affecting rates be-
tween the Atlantic ocean and the Pacif-
ic ocean notified carriers that they will
be allowed to meet water competition
to a reasonable extent which seems to-
give waterways a new status and put
them upon new footing.
while l believe in a conservative
treatment of our waterways / am not
blind to the fact that certain improve
ments must be made in our rivers look
ing always to their final completion
when their up-keep will be the only
charge upon the government And in
order to bring this about we should
have annual river and harbor bills
made up to cover con-
tinuing contracts to the end that work
on our rivers be completed within a
time. The Ohio is one of
those rivers which should be pushed to
as rapidly as good business
judgment warrants. For had the Ohio
river improvement been completed we
would not have witnessed a steamer
fitted out for the purpose of carrying
down that waterway members of the
rivers and harbors committee of the
House and congressman whose districts
front on that stream going on numerous
sandbars during the journey from
to Cairo. 1t was an object
lesson of the first importance. for with
pools along its course it would be com
paratively easy to transport the thou
sands of tons of coal and other bulky
waiting for movement
along its course. What is true of the
Ohio is undoubtedly true of other wat
erways throughout the country. I re-
alize that the people of western Penn
sylvania are as deeply interested in the
Ohio river project as are the people
Of any other section of the country.
THE question of an intelligent treat
ment of our rivers, harbors and canals
should neither be local nor sectional
II Is a national question and its solution
should be along puractical lines and
it should not be made the subject of
politics. In this connection I cannot
help but pay tribute to the work of the
National Rivers and Ha-bors Congress
which has been productive of great
good in bringing about definite results
and in educating the public mind as
to the development of inland water
way projects and am in hearty SYM
pathy with its work and purposes"
-O-