Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1913-01-08

w AfNANolNHu UNN l'No0f
The lntorcoasal Canal from the
Mississippi 10 tho Rio Grande river
Ia one ~ the greatest projects that ls
now commanding the attention Of
the United States government II ls
not only a great project within itself
but together with its tributaries n
covers over seven thousand miles ot
inland nayigable waters
The Interstate Inland Waterway
League Of Louisiana ana ToNus, was
organized IN Victoria, Texas, In 1903
This league took I'm hand actively tho
work OF promoting the Intercoastal
Canal. As an evidence of their sue
cess, II can be said that IN each and
every rivers and harbors bill that has
passed congress since the inaugurn-
tion OF this league there has been am
appropriation for the project
II is estimated that the section
from tho Matagorda Bay to the Bra.
zos river will be completed boy March
1918, and when that section is com
plctcd the canal will be put into nc
tive use from Houston and Galveston
20 Corpus Christi. In Louisiana
about ona-half the work Is completed
and appropriations have been made
10 complete the other half. and II IL
only question OF time to be consum-
cd by the contractors as TO when n
will be In active use I'm Louisiana.
This leaves only the section between
East Galveston Bay ana Port Arthur
to be completed 60 give us through
waterway inland for light draft yes
sells from the Mississippi river ana
from New Orleans to Corpus Christi
Then there Will be left only that sec
ton from Corpus Christi to Browns
vile TO bo completed to give con
nection from the Mississippi river 10
the Rio Grande. or this latter sec
tion, that portion from Corpus Christi
TO Baffin's bay will be provided for
in the next bill.
by reference TO the map Of Texas
II will be seen that the Sabine river
Will have an outlet through the canal
also the Neches, Trinity, San JaCinto
houston Bayou. Brazos Caney Creek
Colorado, Lavaca. Guadalupe ana
Nueces as will all the rivers and ba-
yous throughout Southern Louisiana
The Intercoastal Canal will form the
main trunk line and all these tributa-
ries will he provided with connec-
tions not only with the main canal
but with the various gulf ports, with
each other and also with the Missls-
sppi river and its many tributaries.
Barges loaded at and above Pittsburg
may come through In original bulk
to Dallas, Texas, to Waco, Texas, to
Houston, 10 Victoria and in fact TO
any point on any Of the rivers that
may be navlgated. And all the rivers
OF Texas may he navlgated. They
are owned by the United States gov
ernment for navigation purposes and
all should receive appropriations and
be put to the use which God Almigh-
ty intended they should. and more
than that the citizens of Texas rcsld
ing in the towns along these various
streams should see that their con
gresham secure the survey Of these
streams and sufficient appropriations
from the government to make them
navigable.
No greater benefit can be secured
to our great State than by navigat
Ing these streams in connection with
the lntercoastal Canal. The time has
come when the railroads have not
sufficient facilities to carry the Inn
mense tonnage and the great devel-
opment that is going on in this state
makes 1t exceedingly necessary that
steps be taken at once to navigate all
streams within our borders that arc
susceptible of navigation. Towns and
cities along the routes of these
streams are sleeping on their rights.
and should get busy and get surveya
made as soon az possible. Write To
your Congressman and get the need
full Information as to the course t.
pursue, and help make Texas greater
and your towns larger
1t is not only necessary to construct
this canal as speedily as possible for
the benefit OF cheaper rates thereby
secured, but because II is evident that
the facilities will be required on ac-
count Of the railroads being oyertax-
w WIN ii'lbhls
Another thing, there has been an
idea that the waterways were fight
ing the railroads and the railroads
were fighting the waterways. but
such Is not the case. Both are ne
cessary to the growth and develop
ment OF the country. The peoptc
should be more liberal with the rail
roads, they should be permitted 10
charge rates Commensurate with
their investment in road bed and
equipment including operating ex-
penses, to the end that they may earn
a reasonable dividend on their invest
ment, otherwise railroad securities
will go begging and make it constant
ly more difficult to secure the con-
struction Of new and necessary roads
throughout this domain
prominent railroad man told the
writer a few days since that he would
construct two thousand more miles
Of railroad W Thin the borders OF this
State at once II the people would
show a disposition TO permit railroads
TO earn six per cent or even five per
cent dividends on their stock. Now
that Is fair; why should we hold tho !
ra ilroads DOWN any more than any
other corpohtions or private firms |