The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-01-31

dorse to the utmost every word that /
said. Thinking railway men," said
Mr.. Finley, recognize the fact that
henceforth the development OF rail and
water transportation must go forward
hand In hand" Similar statements
have been made by other railroad men
or the first class. among whom may
be mentioned Mr.. James J. Hill. OF the
Great Northern road. could wish
that the editor OF the Times Union
might alt tor a time at the feet OF
SOME OF the thinking railway men of
the United States. those who are
broad-ninded and far sighted enough
to recognize the fact that the pros
pertty of the railways depends upon
the prosperity of the people, that the
prosperity Of the people depends very
largely upon economy of Transports
tions and that water transportation is
the cheapest OF all transportation. and
who know, therefore. that the develop
ment Of waterways viii inevitably be
asheneht to the railways Of the United
States, just as 1t has invariably been
q benefit to the railways Of other
countries.
Anxiety uneaIled For.
The editor OF the Times Union, like
the editor OF the Railway Age Gazette,
has a good deal to say about canals.
The anxiety or the advocates Of rail-
way monopoly over canals is just
ed. as the grief Of the girl who was
found sobbing on the rivers bank at
& panic. When asked 10y her COM
psntons what the trouble was, he said:
4 was just thinking that sometime
might get narried--and live IN q house
close to the river-and have a baby
and the poor little thing would fall in
and get drowned--boo hoo"
The waterway movement is, for the
present, concerned chiefly with the i'm
provement OF rivers and harbors. Most
of the canals that are proposed are
such as will connect two systems of
navigable waters. The day will come,
however, with increase Of density of
population and volume Of trafflc, when
1t VIII be necessary In this country,
as II has been found necessary In GER
tain countries of Europe, to construct
canals as Independent systems of nav
igation.
The Erie Canal.
1t is proper to add a word in regard
tc the Erie Canal, which you claim
has been put out OF business by the
railways. It is true that the volume
OF business on the canal In recent
years Is very much less than it was
formerly. This is due partly to the
fact that the railwas have been con-
stantl improved while the canal has
tcst as CONSTANT deteriorated. There
was no object for anyone to build new
boats adapted to the old canal when
II was certain that a new and much
larger canal was to be built, The
boats on the old canal carry at the
most 500 tons. The locks on the new
canal win allow the passage of boats
| carrying 5000 to 5000 tons. The new
canal includes the bed of the old canal
for long distance and cuts the
former location at many points. so
that traffic has necessarily been great
Igr TNRHr Il.
canal for which and for it's terminals
the State OF New York Is expanding
si2S 100000, has been completed. there
is no doubt that it viii he able to
maintain successful competition.
OF Vital interest.
We cannot develop all our natural
resources to the utmost, and SO at
tain the greatest and r:lost permanent
possible prosperity. unless we have a
systematic 0eS eiopr0enL of all three
| methods Of transportation, the high
way. the railway and the waterway.
We already have great railway sys-
tenn, and nationwide movement for
the Improvement Of our wagon roads
Is well under way. Public interest de-
nlands that the work Of improving
the waterways shall also go steadily
forward We alread have laws which
prohibit one man from killing another.
because it is to the interest of the state
that all It's citizens shall live and con-
tfnue to work for the states upbuild-
ing. It Is just as vital TO the interest
of the nation that one form Of trans
portation shall be prohibited from de-
stroying another form, because all OF
them are necessary to the nations de-
veiopment. The Tfmes-U Union will be
doing q service. not only to the nation
but to the railways. IL It will throw
ail the weight Of its influence In favor
OF the Improvement of waterways. in
stead Of advocating the railway mo-
nopoly Of long distance transportation.