The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1912-02-23

thirds o. Uncle Sans neglected children,
the effect would be the production Of food
sufficient to supply the world and take il
to their doors by the water route at rate
that would enable the nonproducer to
live at half the present expense and fur
nish the hungry with three square meals
3e5 days a year as long as heremains be-
tween the Atlantic and the Pacific.
The competitive rates produced wall
enable the railroads to carry the largely
increased volume Of commerce and trav-
ell at greatly reduced rates and make
more money than ever before, besides
the money saved to the people in rates
would more than pay annually the cost
Of construction.
The small pittance Of $50, 600, 600
Congress is asked to contribute to this
cooperative fund for an enterprise OF
such vital importance to the Nation is
small matter compared with the total
amount oi money that will be expended
in deepening the 14-foot channel from
the Lakes to the Gulf Twenty-four
feet is the ambition Of the Lakes to the
Gulf Deep Waterway Association, and il
this Rivers and Harbors Congress will
second the motion we will double, yes,
treble, the $150.0Oo,0O0 cooperative
fund Cooperation is the main desider-
anus, and as the rivers and harbors are
owned and controlled by the Govern
ment, the people can do nothing to-
ward development without the consent
and cooperation Of Uncle Sam.
1T will solve the great problem, the
high cost of living. 1t will line the
shores OF every navigable river with car
riers Of commerce. 1t viii convert the
tens Of millions Of acres Of swamp lands
into fertile fields. 1t will move by in
expensive carriers the phosphates from
along the Missouri, Tennessee and Cum
berland Rivers to the unproductiye lands
of New England and the Atlantic States,
besides numerous other fertilizers OF
which the Mississippi Valley abounds,
and thus increase the productive power
Of the Nation to an enormous extent.
1T will reduce the expense Of operat-
ing sailroads. factories, etc, by furnish
ing fuel and raw materal.
1T will open the door Of opportunity
to millions Of ambitious young men To-
develop the vast and inexhaustible re-
sources Of this great valley twill fur
nish homes for the poor employment
for the idle, and food for the hungry.
1T behooves our National Congress
to look to the interests Of every part Of
Uncle Sans big farm. Our neighbor,
Canada, with her 1000 miles Of south-
ern boundary on our farm, has made
and is still making leaps and bounds for
the commercial control Of the Great
Lakes; but the ability OF Uncle Sam and
the wisdom Of our representatives IN the
National Congress forbids such an idea.
''The time for action is at hand, and
the demand is for no less than Ia foot
channel from the Lakes to the Gulf and
from the Lakes to the Atlantic via Erie
Canal. II Is true that it will cost many
millions to accomplish this great task,
but it will be the best money, consider
ing the benefit 70 be derived, that the
Nation could appropriate.
twill double in 10 years the factories
between the eastern and western noun
tains. It will double the number Of all
other industries.
Along the Mississippi there will be
competitive lines Of steamers, both light
and heavy drafts, from 100 70 100 feet
in length, carrying passengers, mail,
and freight from the Lakes by the way
of New Orleans and Panama 70 San