South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-09-23
WATER HAULING
IS COMING BACK
Walter Packer Says Business
America Must Augment Its
Transportation System.

Walter Parker. assistant to sec'y
RedheId OF the United States depart
rnent OF commerce, for inland water
transportation, speaking before the
Business Mems war convention at
Atlantic City, said in part:
Business America must augment
its transportation system, and re-
duce that system TO a dependable.
convenient, and economic basis, if
domestic markets are 10 be kept in
good order and If the gate TO for
eign markets. during the period of
keen competition after the war, is
20 be kept open.
This means that the inland navi-
gable waterways OF the United States
must be used as an adjunct 10 the
railroads. and in coordination with
the railroads and that a system Of
transportation must be developed
under which transportation lines Of
least natural resistance and cost of
operation, in relation 20 the service
required. will function without fric-
ton and without unnecessary re
straint
otherwise railroad and terminal
CONGESTION. which has long been Sc
rious. will become more acute. and
the trade-ercouraging effect of re-
liable and economic transportation
may be denied the commerce gener-
ators OF this country during a long
time 20 come.
Americas strongest competitors in
Europe not only have not permitted
their waterways TO fall into disuse,
but even now. in the midst of cap
itaI and credit draining war. are in
vesting huge sums in extending their
inland waterway systems. in order.
first that their troops and supplies
may the more easily and quickly be
moved and. second. that after the
war their commerce may be moved
20 and from shipside at the lowest
possible cost.
Learning War Economy"
Incidentally. those same coun-
tries are learning lessons of war
economy and efficiency which viii
aid them in their fight for foreign
markets later on
originally. water craft supplied
-he only commercial means of trans
portation 10 and from a large part
Of the United States. Enjoying a
practical monopoly. that means Of
transportation failed 20 develop the
true spirit Of enterprise and built no
convenient and economic terminal
ard warehouse facilities. conse-
quentlv. IL fell an easy victim of rail-
road competition. the railroads being
aided by cohesive and intellil"nt
business enterprise and by terminal
and warehouse facilities which serv-
I'd the needs Of the shipper conven-
iently and satisfactorily.
Because. at that time. there was
more transportation. there being
both water and rail carriers. than
there was commerce to move the
keenest Of competition developed,
and I'm order TO better their position
the railroads inaugurated rate
making system which gave river and
trade centers lower rates than were
GIVEN non-river trade centers.
Thus. lacking facilities for the
convenient and low-cOst handling
OF commodities. and compelled 20
compete against low railroad rates
ut every river town. the boats i'm the
course Of time were starved into the
junk pile in spite OF the fact that the
water IN many cases. offers an OPP
portunity for the lowest cost trans
portatior known. a fact which is
well Illustrated by the carriers on
the Great Lakes.
To-day the normal volume of
commerce requiring movement i'm the
United States is greater than is the
provision for moving IT,
Rail Monopoly Going.
I'm other words. the DAY Of rail-
road monopoly Of transportation is
now forced TO an end. just as the
day OF boat monopoly was forced 20
an end some years aEo.
The next economic step is n re-
adjustment OF the transportation
system so that the railroads and the
waterways in coordination. may ad-
equately serve the commerce OF the
country
The federal government realizes
the necessity for such a readjust-
ment as promptly as possible The
national council Of defense has
named a committee on inland water
ways and has placed the chief OF the