Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-05-16

~1st 'A7--9 ~1a-A-@N ~
water courses but evidently tho real
controlling factor ls the question of
reduced transportation by water
An important problem In the devel'
opmont OF our rivers In the necessity OF
absolute control and ownership or
terminals by municipalities ~. Paul
has already terminals and the move
mcnt IL general In the West and some
parts Of the South. In many cases
railroads owning riparian rights along
streams make this situation difficult
to overcome However, as railroads
are organizing into larger systems un
der brond-mlnded management there
must omc closer relationship between
rail and wnter carriers
"If you could destroy the 500
Canal between Lake Superior and
Lake Huron II would paraly2e the com
mcrce of the world and would lie as
disastrous az a war, because the rail
roads could not handle the bulkier
and heavier traffic between tho East
and the West md the iron mills Of
Pittshurg would be closed and cob
webs would grow In the thousand fac
tories The rivers should also feed the
railroads by handling the traffic for
which the rail- rate ls prohibitIvc.
"lor example consider the differ
cncc In cost In steel products II all the
ores Of the Lake Superior district
should be shipped by rail The lay
man must understand that the mnnu-
fac5urer must assemble the ore, tho
coke the lime and other materials at
central points aud therefore long ship
ment for one or the other is obliga'
tory and transportation becomes the
key 90 the whole situation.
Tho development of river I'm itself
may be q little thing but II you could
sayc one penny I'm cost TO every Am
crican consumer through transporta
ton It would make you a millionaire.
The real point today 10 manufacturers
rs large volume Of business with
narrow margin of profit, therefore
the cost Of transportation becomes
more vital than ever before.
James j. nm few years ago told
me that he and his associates were
considering the advlsNhlliy OF con.
structng line from Chicago 10 New
York Ia connect up his Western sys
tenn Of railroads, His engineers and
attorneys were put 10 work to acquire
n New York terminal which they
thought essential 10 carry out their
plans hut they discovered that the
New York terminal alone would make
the line cost $4,000 per mile from
New York 10 Chicago, which was pro-
hihitive and the enterprise was ahand'
oncd. No moro eloquent plea could be
made than this for the development
of our waterways.
Several years ago | was campaign
ing I'm oregon and held n Joint debate
between silver Republican, a Demo
crat and prohlhitlonist. The pre-
hihltlonlst was droll humorous and
retired minister In the course Of
our debate told him I would give
him an incident which he could ar
ford to use In his future talks there
by avoid throwing cold water on his
audiences all the time This was the
incident referred to showing the dif-
ference between Oregon ana Mime
sofa from an agricultural point OF
view. In Oregon they ship wheat to
Europe 10y sailing vessels around Cape
Horn and dump 1t on the market
whenever they arrive there regardless
Of prices but We people OF Minnesota
stow our grain IN elevators, wait I'M
m the market is right then ship 10
Europe by steamboats,, from Duluth
To Liverpool, for IL cents per bushel'
In other words said the price OF n
drink of whlskcy In Minnesota would
shin n hushel Of wheat from Duluth
TO Liverpool and all the Minnesota
farmer had TO do was To stop drink.
Ing whiskey and he would be right In
the Liverpool market"