The Ocala evening star., 1914-10-24
RIVERS AND
HARBORs IMPROVEMENT

/
FOR unanimous consent to publish the
Record. This is the first time in the
history of FLORIDA that an editorial
from any Florida paper has been or
dered published i'm the Cou1gr ression-
al Record. Acting on many re-
quests THE Metropolis repullishes the |
editorial herewith
Many of the newspapers and pub
1ications of the East are rejoicing
over the failure of final passage Of |
the original rivers and harbors bill, |
designating it as the pork barrel
blll. .
In many cases it is quite difficult
to determine whether these editors
condemn the bill as 'fpork barrel
proposition are just ignorant of the
general needs OF the country at large
or whether Ehey are merely malvol-
ent perverters of facts.
The Saturday Evening Post. join
press yelpers, is much pleased that
the bill was killed, and declares
bhat world disaster like the Euro
pean war was necessary TO stop what
the Post is pleased to designate as
fgross waste"
1t isn't surprising to read such rot
in New York newspapers, for they
have MO vision beyond the sky line OF
Manhattan island, are marrow, igno-
rant, concieted, 4opindonated, pro-
vincial. But that a publication OF
the character of the Post would be
guilty of THE utteranceg TO he found
in it's last issue, is som,ewhIat sur-
prising.
New York, and the East generally
have received many ppropriatIons,
and such enormous sums have been
expended in giving them deep, safe
ltarbors, and improving their water
in their utterances, and what they
say is simply a sop to the vanity OF
their readers. who like the editors,
don't know there is a country out
side of the little island ON which
New York is located. lHaTing all
the appropriations they need. and
having their hlarbors and waterways
in a high state of Improvement, they
are willing that no further lmproy-
ments lbe made anywhere in the coun-
try.
BUT it is a notorious fact known to
every man who has gone into the
matter with any thing like an analy-
ticaa mind and intent to discover the
truth, that river and iharbor impro
ment saves the country YEARLY more
money than has been expended all
told for the improvements of rivers
and harbors.
One comparison alone is quite con-
tVincing. The state of Texas has
practically no river Improvement.
She has a few waterways susceptible
Improvement She is one of the
states producing heavy freight, and
bulk of it. Yet the state OF Texas
has the highest freight rate OF any
state in the Union, taken as a whole.
I'm truth the common point rate in
Texas is higher than amy rate amy
where, witch two exceptions in very
small areas in the Rocky Mountain
country. To get at the saving ef-
lfected by river and harbor imprOY-
lment, one has but to compare the
rate in Texas. and the bulk OF freigfht
/ moved, with the same area in the
Great Lakes region, or any other
section where the Waterways and bar
bors are in a high state of improve
ment. The rate in Texas, IN most
instances. is about three times as
! great per tom per mile as it Is
Iwihere there is water competition
i Tine rivers are nantra1 arteries Of
commerce. They are where they are
and must always remain there. The
river channel viii never stand an as
sessment and wild never increase in
!. value, so far as taxation is concern
!, ed while every railroad in the coun-
| try is all of the time increasing in
: value, and all lines are constantly
: being taxed on heavier valuation
: for their right Of way. This vii
make freight rates go up. rather thar
? lower them, and the only possible
5 solution OF freight rates must res
/ with improved waterways.
t If the government had expended
: all its money. as wisely as that which
+. has been expended for waterway i'm
1 provement, the entire nation would
n be better off today.
: Instead of being a pork barrel
/, In any sense the rivers and harbor'