The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-12-14
Waterways Get
New impetus
Recent Congress One Of the Most
Successful Conventions in
History.

Washington, Dec. 4.--(Special)
From whatever angle the ninth an
hlal convention OF the National
Rivers and HarbOrs Congress, which
recently terminated its sessions In
this city. is viewed, there can be but
one conclusion. that it was one OF
the biggest conventions the organi-
zation ever held and that the resolu-
tons adopted took advanced posi-
ton on the question Of municipal
or State owned water terminals as
one of the correlated problems grow
ing out Of the improvement Of the
rivers, harbors and canals.
President Thomas Wilkinson u
the Upper Mississippi River I'm
trovement Association and a pion.
eer in the effort to interest munich.
ralities in the ownership Of water
terminals, said yesterday that thu
legislatures of Minnesota. Wiscon
sin, Iowa, Missouri. and Illinois
would have before them this winter
bills creating departments Of docks
for the purpose Of acquiring, con.
trolling and operating port termi.
nails.
These States, while pioneer In
J the movement for larger freedom tt
the shipper and consumer" said Mr.
Wilkinson, will undoubtedly be re-
infOrced by other Commonwealth
In an effort to have cities, on navi'
cable rivers, own their own docks
for the benefit of the entire ship.
ping public.
I'm order to secure the full util-
i.atiOn of the waterways, which WI
are asking the government to i'm.
prove, certain restrictions must bt
! removed. Improved channels ar,
essentially necessary; but their us,
largely depends upon the power OF
The different cities and towns there
on, having adequate facilities, tt
handle the commerce.
These terminals must be SO con-
| stiuctcd as to prOvid the most eco
! monte and convenient system pos
s;blr for the handling of cOmmerc,
! aud the quick interchange of freigh
| Lctwccn the waterway and the rail
| way, SO as to invite the patrona@,
OF shippers.
| In Connection with The water ter
!,inal it is absolutely essential tina
. physical connection be had wit
belt railways which in turn mus
have connection with all rail lines
to the end that speedy transpOrta
ton be obtained and the cost o
freight handling be reduced by tn
| IHtTOuuttlOU vi IIputlH up-'o-uht
mechanical appliances.
This is really the most impOr
tant question we have in connection
with the improvement of our river
and il is proved to be so through
the study of other countries in tn
development Of their waterways.
The question is one that vital
affects the general public-a fcduc
ton in the cost of transportation
and il rests with the people them
selves to provide these instrument
talities of commerce. The very frs
thing to be done is to secure to til
city the water frontage upon Wnic
70 construct terminals For tina
| which is to he done is for all tim
and not ephemeral. And it is ali
solutely essential that the cit
should own, control and operate il
port terminals with all its function
for the public benefit.
Private ownership of terminal
il. indcfensible If The general GOV
eminent thinks well enough of
project to improve a river for all tn
people, then. to my mind. the cit
On the river should think enough G