The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-10-13

tracts from senator ImmOn speech,
which was a very comprehensive dis
cussiOn Of the subject, are herewith
given:
Mr.. President. l am one Of those
who believe that the Government of
the United States should pursue a
more liberal and a a policy with
reference to the Improvement of our
waterways than it has heretofore pur-
sued, and | wish before this debate
closes briefly to give my reasons for
believing that the policy heretofore
pursued has been both narrow and
shortsighted.
of the three methods of ~transperta-
ton. namely. roads. waterways. and
railways, it goes without saying that
water transportation is by fav the
cheapest, and with respect to a GER
tain class of products is nearly, if not
quite, as expeditions.
have in my hand a pamphlet pre-
pared by Mr.. S. A. Thompson. who
has gwen much study to I! 'ject
of transportation, showing rela-
tive cost in this country of UanSpor-
tation by rail and by water. 1T is
stated in this pamphlet-and think
the figures given are reliable-that the
average rate received by the railroads
of the United States in 1907 was 1872
miles per ton-mile, while the average
rate per ton-mile on goods carried
into and out of Lake Superior in that
year was eight-tenths of / mill. This
pamphlet says:
have yet no completely improv-
ed rivers, but the army engineers say
that when the work now under way
ON the Ohio river is finished transpor-
tation can he conducted thereon for
unc-half of l mill per ton-mile.'
1t is evident from these figures tha
the failure to utilize our waterways tC
the fullest extent as mediums Of trans
portation in the assembling and dis
tribution of the products of the farm
the factory, the mines, and tn, forest
is a fearful economic waste, and puts
the American producer, whether far
mer or manufacturer, at a disadvan.
taee in the sale of his products in com
petition with foreign producers both a
home and abroad.
OF Vital Importance.
To my mind there is nothing o
more vital Importance in connection
with our Industrial situation and on
future progress and prosperity thar
the Improvement and development o
our magnificent system of inland wa
terways and the adoption of a ma
tional policy which will lead to thei
utilization.
1t is said that we have alread
spent large sums of money on GU
IlftTS anu ina l1eTe mas Doen no Ill
crease, but a falling off, Of river-born
commerce..
Mr.. President. it is true that. com
pared with the amount of bushes
done upon our rivers before the de
Nelopment Of our splendid railway sys
TEN. there mas been a falling off j
that commerce. A part of it has bee
absorbed by the railroads, as was ma
ural, and another part, as ] sha
show later, has been deliberatel
stifed by the railroads. But it is NJ
true that, compared with the magn
tude of the work, compared with tn
total mileage of our interior water
ways which have been and are no
under Government Improvement. tn
sum expended, in the aggregate. he
been large. on the contrary, if 70
VIII take the average o annual
expended upon these rivers. its small
ness and insufficiency. considering IT
MAGNITUDE of the undertaking, is al
parent.
We do not have to go far to find II
reason why our river n;
not developed along with our con
merce by rail. 1t is due to two fact
FIRST, because we have not put OF
rivers in suitable condition by pro
eriy improving their channels az
hy requiring the railroads with whlt
they connect to provide physical co
nection with them and to accord
them the use of their terminal al
cock facilities. Secondly, because u
der the law as interpreted the IA
roads have been given a free and
destroy water and tn
have not failed to lake advantage
the opportunity thus afforded.
4 NiSgardly Policy.
Vow. with respect to the
which We have improved our rive
and harbors. In the first place, u
DER the policy which has heretOfo
obtained, the amount expended !
this purpose has been too small for
fective work. Take the period VIII
the Senator from Ohio. tMr. Burto
was chairman of the committee
rivers and harbors Of the House, [
ginning with 1899. up to 1909, INC
slVe. when the average annual q
preparation for maintenance and &C
stFuctiOn work for both rivers a
harbors was only $21 600. 900. Dec,