Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-04-09
FOR PROTECTION
Of WATERWAYS
National Commission In
Report Urges Legisla'
ton by Congress

Their legislation 10 pINl'tl M"''i way
against railway competition. to es
tablish amicable relations between
the two and to promote federal co
operation with local interests in con-
struo;ion of canals are urged IN the
first report of the National Water
ways Commission made public TO-DAY
The report declares that the Fed
eral Government within the oompar-
ativcly near future must inevitably
assume control of some features o.
water power regulation.
The commission recommends tha'
army engineers be assigned to super
wise the proposed canal to connect
the Ohio river near PITTSBURGH WIFI
Lake Erie when Sl0,0oO,oc0 cash
and $4,000 zoe in bonds are made
available by the communities inter
csted The Secretary of War how
over. may demand that these
amounts be increased The commits
sion recommends that when work on
the canal is begun that congress ap'
propriate for an adequate harbor IN
Indian creek on the Lake Erie end
and 20 improve the Ohio river IN the
| Pittsburgh district. These improve
ments are to be completed when OF
GRAFTON of the canal begins bat the
government is not TO be required 10
buy any land and is not bound to
assume any financial responsibilities
whatever.
A survey for canal from Lake
Erie to the Southern end of Lake
Michigan is recommended and the
commission concluded from its pres
ent information that the most ieas-
ible route would be through the Mau-
NEE river by way of Fort Wayne ana
that fourteen feet would be rrlc-
teal depth.
II recommends increased power for
the Interstate Commerce Commission
10 govern joint rates and through
routes between rail and water lines.
to compel physical connection be
tween them and TO compel railwvs
Ito CHARGE less than local rates 10 all
lake and river ports on through ,ri
lie exchanged with domestic boat
lines
Other recommendation are fUr
legislation TO control public ten
nails federal participation with l1-
calities Ga food control prevention
b ofdeforestation on non-aericllttFal
b lands and reforestation OF denudd
tracts. amendments of laws contro j.
. ing water power on nayiga( e
. streams aud within the public H.
. main.
The commission points 10 the tr1
b iic possibilities Of the Lake Erie anu
Ohio canal and SAYS substantial r.
ductjons Of railroad rates may ~
expected 10 follow its operation. Thu
d Lake Erie-Michigan canal would oh
Via'e 'he de'our arouhu '"' '''"'sa'
peninsula and give a more direct wat
or route from Chicago 20 New York
Legislation is necessary 10 preven
The elimination o' water cohlF''',oi
and TO prevent the raising Of wate'
81 rates under railway control, In th'
opinion OF the commission. II oe
ieves the Interstate commerce 'a"'
are now insntii'loni =" preserve "'t
er transportation ana ''s.'r W
growth II urges tha' every "a''I
carrier IN ini'rs'a'" commerce ne wa
der control OF ih" interstate tom
morco Commission 20 enable me com
mission 90 establish ''r'N.' routes
Joint rates ana 'Nro".H ''.'. 'l i''
inc. without which, '.' COMMISSION
believes 'Ho r'''"......'. '. "'.'
. traffic "i.' NOT ".
|'D r..nr' Hrf'..- ... ..'''' ..
Fl, ..r off N.'"r terminal. .. .s I.'
further r...r HrI ."." .'foE
WDr'. D.. avoided ".... rance
/. of proper terminals ". "'cii'n
. Federal condemnation . private
. property for wrh.. terminals is cool
. recommended except H0.r. locality
, .oeaI'sh,a i's inability A. aoa. with
. fhc terminal problem
n IS recommended 'h.f Toe fed