The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-08-30
THOMPSON TELLS
ABOUT WATERWAYS
Report of Richmond Man in
Current Issue of Con-
gressional Record.

| Waterways as creators of prosper
/ ity." paper prenared by S A. Thomp-
son OF this city, who is field secretary
/ of the National Rivers and Harhors
Congress, has been inserted in the cur
rent number OF the Congressional
Record on the request of the Hon. ].
! +. Randsell. a representative from
! Louisiana. The congressman considers
the paper. which is quite lengthy. most
| pertinent to the issue and endorsed it
| in the following speech, Introductory
TO his reaues, that the paper be pub
! lshei:
| MIR. Chairman: l ask unanimous
consent to place in the Record one OF
| the most interesting contributions to
the waterway literature of this coun.
| try. 1t is entitled Waterways as Crea-
| tors of prosperity and was written
| few months ago by S. A. Thompson.
of Indiana. a close student of the sub
| lect OF waterways as effecting trans
! pertation for the past twenty five
years. The National Rivers and .Har-
bors Congress. which published this
article. has sent copy of it TO every
member of the American Congress
and hope each one has readsit,
Gives Clear insight.
"A perusal of its pages will give the
reader clear comprehension Of the
| fundamental and vital relation which
transportation bears 20 every form OF
human activity, whether individual or
collective: better understanding OF
the uses, limitations, essential func-
tons and complimentary nature of the
three principal methods of transporta-
| ton; and a comrleter recognition of
the profound and far reaching infiu-
ence exerted by improved waterways
in the development of natural resour-
ces, the production of prosperity, and
the growth of cities. states and ma
tions.
"The accuracy and authenticity OF
the figures used is vouched for. as,
except where otherwise noted, they
are taken from the government publ
cations and other official sources. Res
possibility for the deductions made
and the conclusions reached from the
facts and figures presented, of course.
rests with the author Unless 1t can
be shown that these deductions are
| illogical and the conclusions unwar.
ranted, it follows that "the improve
ment of our waterways constitutes at
once the highest duty and the great
est opportunity which confronts the
citizenship and craftsmanship of our
| country"
| Mr.. Thompson develops his subject
in most comprehensive manner. The
| conditions in this country, likewise in
European and other countries, are re-
lated and comparisons made, which in
i the authors mind prove the utility Of
| the inland waterway transportation.
He treats on the attention the subject
has received in Great Britain, making
comparisons with the conditions here.
His conclusions follows:
Rivers Versus Canals.
| "Details differ in our own country,
but the same principles apply. Theirs
is chiefly problem of canals. ours
chiefly of rivers. Theirs is a problem
of arresting decay, ours a problem OF
Fastening development. But we. the
SdiHc lucy uecu Tue ptsIIuduGuL
board or commission of experts, the
| comprehensive plan, the complete.
connected system of waterways. and
the bond issue in order that the need
eed work may be pushed to speedy
completion.
"The growth of the United States
has been wonderful. But that growth
is not finished, it is scarcely begun.
II we shall have the wisdom and the
courage to supplement our magniA-
cent railway system with splendid
system of inland waterways, all the
growth of the past will be but as
prologue to the mightiest drama OF
national development which the world
has ever known. II, by the improve
ment of our waterways, we make use
of all the multitudinous resources
with which bountiful Providence has
endowed us, it needs no gift or pro-
phecy to forsee the speedy coming of
the day when America, lowered with
the illimitable wealth and girded with
resistless power, may stretch forth
her hand and say to all the warning
tribes of earth "Henceforth there shall
be peace"
n