The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-02-29
inland WATERWAYS
Are NECESSARY
Proposed That Congress Shall
Make Yearly Appropriations for
the Purpose of Waterways If
Given Right Encourage
ment at the Ports.

WASHINGTON, d. c. Special
The river ana harbOr appropriation
Oil. which Will probably be reported
lhls week. the committee having
worked indefaugably OF late to that
end. VIII further emphasize the pol
icy OF the committee in the S.Nty-nrst
Congress. that in order TO secure tie
best results from waterway develop
ment there should be an annual river
and harbor bill, fashioned along the
lines OF the army. the navy and the
postoffice budgets
Congressman John II. Small. of
North Carolina. a member Of the
Rivers and HarbOrs Committee. VINO
has been an enthusiastic advocate OF
a broad and comprehensive policy 81
waterway development on the part Of
the general government, has some
pronounced views on the subject Of
water terminals essentially necessary
TO perfect water transportation. He
conf ends that che control Of port ter
minal facilities is the key to securing
traffic by Nd-CrW avs, and no water
line may expect TO secure s.ltisfaC-
tory traffic unless il controls ade-
quate terminals at each port or land
ing where business is invited.
The time will come" said Mr..
Small today, when all appropriations
by Congress will be predicated upon
the establishment of appropriate ter
minals by municipalities. and while
due regard must be had to the vary
ing conditions of different sections,
yet subject 10 this Limitation the ne
ceSsity for the terminals is so appar-
ent as to command early and serious
consideration.
These terminals must comply with
several conditions. There must be
sufficient area. Commodious ware
houses are necessary and they must
be equipped with up-to-date mechan-
zeal appliances, for the transfer of
freight to and from the vessel and
the warehouse and the car. Such
terminals must have trackage con-
nected with the railroad or railroads
with which traffic is exchanged. And
these terminals should be provided
by municipalities or some other cch-
Nenlent public agency to the end that
they should be regulated and con-
trolled IN the interest of the whole
people.
Every facility for their use should
be extended TO water carriers and
they should be operated without the
exception Of profit above the 'ntere ST
upon their cost and maintenance.
The Importance of this question is
emphasized by General w H. BiXbv.
the chief of engineers of the United
States Army. who, in a recent address,
said; Another important point de-
Neloped in Europe in the past year
is the fact that no waterway can be
USED TO It's 1ull capacity until IT is
provided with improved terminals.
having all modern facilities for un-
loading and reloading and for trans
fer of cargo between railroads and
steamboats, in such way as has been
done for years on the great lakes at
the ore docks of Lake Superior and
at the coal docks. Of Lake Erie.
Another point of great impor-
lance" continued General BiXby, lis
the necessity of all proper control of
these terminals by the municipalities
of commercial ports and the estab-
liShment of arrangements by which
railroad lines Will give through bills
of lading and all loading and other
transfer facilities to any freights, as
may be desired to shippers along and
over lines or mixed railroads and
water routes"
In the Trenton. y. j., scheme OF
improving the water terminals pro
vision has been made by Council for
the acquisition of a public dock which
is to be equipped with the most mod
ern machinery~ for the proper hand
ling of ship oargoes. Montgomery.
Ala. is included in the cities owning
a portion of its river front, as are
also New York and New Orleans.
NorfOlk's delegation ought to be
strong on a. match bill; they are all
married.-Ledger-D Dispatch.