The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1912-05-22
FREIGHT BY WATER
COSTS ONLY ONE-SIXTH TO ONE,
TENTH AS MUCH AS BY
RAIL.
TRANSFORMATIONS BIG TOLL.
American People Annually Pay Out
Three Times as Much for Trans
portation as They Pay for Support
Of the Government.

, Do you know
That the people Of the United State
pay out each year about three time
as much in transportation taxes, tina
is, for the carriage Of freight and pas
sensers, as they pay in taxes for tn
support of government, national, stat
and local?
: That transportation affects the price
; Of everything that everybody buys
sells, eats, wears or uses In any wal
whatever-air, water and sunshine ex
cepted?
That cheap II -,nsportation benehta
both the producer and the consumer
making wheat and cotton higher and
flour and cloth lower at one and the
same time?
That the cheapest known transpor
tarlon is water transportation, costing,
on the average, from one-sixth to ono
tenth as much as transportation BY
rail?
That the direct saving On the goods
actually carried by water In the
United States is over $550,ooO,0oo =
year?
| That railways always make lower
rates when subject to the competition
of waterways than where such compe-
tition does not exist?
That the Indirect saving, thus
caused, is probably as large as the d.
rect saving given above?
That both the direct and indirect
ouipo, would bo lorooIv Jpcroocod nv
the further improvement of our water
ways?
That waterways always increase the
profits of the railways with which they
come into competition? For the rea-
son that waterways, by giving cheap
transportation for raw materials, actu.
ally create both industry and com.
MERGE? AS Is indicated by the fact
That in 1900 there was only one city
In the United States, with a population
Of 100000 or over, which was not 10.
Gated on navigable waterway? And
further
How Frankfort Benefited.
That Frankfort Germany, grew
more in the twenty years after the
River Main was canalized than it had
grown In the two hundred years be-
fore? And again
That Germany, which is nearly co..
900 square miles smaller than Texas,
but has one Of the finest waterway
systems In the world, had il 1908
foreign commerce greater than that Of
the United States by over $500000,.
900?
That throughout the civilized world
the largest cities, the densest pppula-
ton, the busiest and most prosperous
people are to be found along naviga-
BILE waterways?
That the surest and speediest way
70 develop the resources of the nation
and every state and section thereof,
70 increase the growth of every city
and community in the country, to pro-
note the prosperity Of every interest
including the railroads, and of every
east, west, north and south, is
o improve all our waterways as fast
Ind as far as we can7
That money used for the improve
nent of waterways, wisely planned
md honestly constructed. is not an
but an investment, which
will pay dividend Of at leact 100 per
eut year?
Provision for Funds.
That the benefits wnIci, would re-
ult from the comprehensive improve
1ent of our waterways, and the losses
yhich would follow our failure to
lake such improvement. are SO eAaor-
lous, that funds should be prov ded
y the issuance of bonds as has been
one by railwaYs-so that the work
lay be begun at once and 1nishel as
BON as possible?
That the national government claims
xclusive jurisdiction and exercises
lpreme control over all navigable Wa
'rways? And therefore
That 1t depends entirely on the con-
-ess of the United States whether
lie work of creating a great national
stem of waterways shall be done at II
and how soon 1t shall be finished! :
That the vote Of the member of con-
ess from your district will help to
,cide the policy of the government
til regard to waterways?
That the action Of congressman Il
f1uenced by the wishes of their con-
tuents, when they know what those =
shes are?
That you have the right to ask the
ndidates for congress in your dis
ct to state their position on this
estion now, before the election?
That you are blind to your own in
'ests If you do not ask your candi-
tss to pledge themselves to work
d vote for waterways If elected, and
IN demand OF the one who is elect
that he shall keep his pledge?
The facts and figures given in this
les of articles have been submitted
the hope that those who read them
uld see the Importance of the policy
waterway improvement advocated
the National Rivers and Harbors
gress, and would aid in securing
adoption of that policy. How well
y have served the purpose for
oh they were written must be left