Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1916-04-20


side. from Richmond to Waco should
pendlture. after tie United States
government has spent over 100000.
600 on the waterways Of that section.
New York is yet asking for s60.OOO.'
600 from the federal government on
account Of her commerce. and the pre-
diction Is made that the appropria /
tions win be made. but perhaps not
all at once. at least under the present 4
conditions It's commerce is impor /
tant and should be cared for, but
commerce OF other sections Is like.
wise important. and deserves atten-
ton. but as to the Brazos River, only |
few would champion It's cause un
IN recently Every farmer within 30
miles OF the Brazos River. ON each I
side from Richmond TO Waco, should |
use his influence and money to obtain
ing the Improvement OF the river for
commerce. II will save every one Of
them over one dollar per bale on
every bale OF cotton raised. Every
general merchant should do likewise,
because Il vii save their customers or
their profits on sales approximately
so per cent Of the freight rates from
Texas ports. Every capitalist should
turn his attention TO the improvement
of the Brazos River, on account OF the
Industrial activities that follow these
improvements, afording him an OPP
porunity to invest his money In the
manufacture Of. the raw materials OF
the Brazos Valley at profit on the
investment. whereas he has hereto.
fore only lost money, and gave up the
job as bad one. to the manufacturers
OF those sections where their raw ma
terials are assembled and finished
products distributed on waterways.
Every good citizen. interested In the
welfare OF the people OF the Brazos
Valley. will find reward for their ei'
forts In the future development that
will take place by reason thereof.
The reason nr the economy OF
water transportation. is the economy
Of operations. and the people receive
the profits direct In the saving OF
freight rates. All tonnage moving TO
and from Texas ports for the banks
OF the Brazos or the interior will re-
ceive benefit so long as the rate on
the river to landing. and rate from
the river trail. truck or otherwisel
Ihen totaled. do not exceed the
through or direct rates from Calves
or Texas ports. II is not generally
snown. but Investigation will disclose
hat Free rart. at the mouth OF the
Braaos Il the nearest deepwater port
TO the Continent center OF the
United States. and Is likewise the
nearess deepwater port on the United
States coast to the Panama Canal.
sven II water transportation. as to
.lreign commerce, was not more eco
nomical. the time saved by reason OF
lhls viii finally become a consequent
tial factor In behalf az the relative
Importance Of the BRACES River. At
present the merchants II New York
make shipments 20 Galveston and
have them rebiued 10 Wichita. Kan.
sas. Making the BraEos River nayi
gable is taking the influence OF wa
ter transportation from New York to
Galyeson many miles further into the
interior OF the United States. many
miles more than the distance improv.
ed. The ratio Of cost OF water trans
portation to rail is recognized as one
to seven. that Is II costs as much to
ship one mile by nail as ie does
neyen mics by water. the argu'
,aent is suggested that one factor OF
the cause is they do not have TO
build the track. To this the answer
might be given. Whose money is Il
that improves the river? The gov
eminent is but an agency OF ths PEG
PIE. fully capable Of making invest.
ment of tha funds entrusted. when
the dividends on the investment
comes direct 20 the investor and not
to the agent.
II may be interesting also 10
know that along the Mississippi Riv.
er. the greatest freight regulator tn
the United States. with due respect &c
all regulating commissions. the freight
rates are under the average rates o.
all railroads In the United states,
whereas IN Texas. they are above
the average OF all such rates The
Illinois Central is one OF the most
prosperous roads in the country, and
II parallels the river from Chicago
10 New Orleans. Cotton rail rate
from Memphis to New Orleans. 400
miles. so cents per hale, river rate
50 cents and durng a rise cotton S
. moved at 25 cents per bale on oarges
In louisiana every railroad in the