The Washington times., 1915-12-08
REDFIELDREPLIESTO.
WATERWAY CRITICS
Urges Rivers and Harbors Con.
uress Deny Intent to Serve
Purely Local Interests.

An open and avowed Reputation Of
any intent to serve purely local inter
ests was recommended by Secretary OF
Commerce RedfeId In his address be-
fore the Rivers and Harbors Congress.
which began its sittings at the Willard
this morning, as a means Of stilling
the cry OF pork so frequently used
in connection with waterways improve
ments.
More than 1000 delegates from every
State and large city in the country were
present in the large ballroom when
Senator J. e. Ransdell OF Louisiana,
president OF the Congress, called the
congress to order. After an invoca-
ton by the Rev. DR.. Earle Wiley, OF
the Vermont Avenue Christian Church,
Secretary Redneld was introduced.
Replies To Criticism.
Mr.. Redfield referred to current
criticisms of the rivers and harbors pre-
gram, and was rouhdly applauded when
he said: There IL no righteous as
sociation OF your cause with any such
small and greasy idea. Many fruitful
cause has been delayed and in some
measure distorted. because we Amerl-
cans must have our laugh At any cost.
1t is easy TO say pork but I have
yet to be assured there is any founda-
tion for the expression.
"I have never felt sympathy for GER
tain critics of river and harbor inn
provements. particularly those who
speak Of what they call the conflict be-
tween rail and water transportation,
All my life / have been familiar with
conditions along the Hudson river. That
stream is now paralleled on one side by
two railroad tracks and on the other by
four tracks and yet It's present Meet Is
the largest in its history.
Transportation Plant Unbalanced.
"In the United States we are getting
an unbalanced transportation plant. be-
cause It Is characteristic OF us that in
paying such close attention to things
that are. we pay too little to things that
are to be. In this country we cultivate
only As per cent OF our arabic land, and
little of that approXimates its capacity
production. What would happen to the
transportation systems here II the pro
ductiop per acre suddenly became that
There is not a railroad in the corn
belt but would be almost hopelessly
swRmped II some OF the things the mem-
bers of our Boys Club are doing should
be duplicated by their fathers. Without
both kinds OF transportation we shall
not be able 10 get along. We must de-
veiop OUR waterways no that we shall be
able to keep our national plant going.
Mr.. Redheld said many canals mao
fallen into disuse because you cannot
handle a great commerce by mule DOW
err" but that with the development pr
the internal combustion engine and its
use on barges such waterways were
again being developed.
Victims of Slander.
A wider use of waterways, the de-
velopment of waterway terminals, and
the completion OF a series OF intercostal
canals for national defense purposes
were the salient points of the annual
address of Senator Ransdeil.
Waterways have been the victims OF
much slander, especially during the
last two years. he said. The lump
sum appropriations in the last two
river and barbor bills were very un-
satisfactory, and we must prevent
repetition Of such bills.
''The proposed intercostal canal from
Boston to Jacksonville, and first class
water communication between Pitts
burgh and New Orleans. Chicago, and
New orleans, st. Paul, and New Or
leans and Kansas City and New Or
leans. would. beyond question. prove
OF inestimable benefit In time of war.
Permanent and strong organizations
at large river points, composed of 100
or more leading men regularly tncorpo-
rated. should be formed to put boats
on the rivers and operate them, not for
a few months. but year after year and
in a businesslIke way. Terminals are
essential Boats cannot compete with
railroads without every facility for
loading and unloading freight"
Other Speakers.
The other speakers at the opening
session were former Gov. A o. Eber-
hart, of Minnesota. whose subject was,
who is Responsible for the Failure to
Develop Our waterways?;" Col. c.
Med. Townsend. of the Corps Of En-
gineers. u. 8. A.. and Paul w. Brown,
Of st. Louis.
The speakers this afternoon included
Mayor Martin Behrman, of New Or
leans, who spoke on THE Port of New
Orleans" and Logan Waller Page, di-
rector of the office of public roads in
the Department of Agriculture, whose
subject was THE Relation OF Good
Roads to waterways"
There will be a session this evening.
and three sessions tomorrow. The
business session, which will be, the final
one, will be held Friday morning.
-----~----------