Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-11-09
WATER TERMINAL
NEED is POINTED
General Mackenzie Impresses on Rock
Island and NeighbOrs Neees-
sity for Action.
PRESENT IS OPPoRTUNE TINE
ro.operatlOn OF River In Solving the
Transportation Problems Re.
quired as Never Before.

Rock Island. III, Nov. s, 1917.--Edi- |
mr. The Argus: At the request OF the
,bie, of engineers, United Sta&s
army. ! am sending you herewith
.o,y OF river and harbor committee
4ocument NO. 4. 65th congress, con-
ninlng a letter Of Oct. 5, 1917, from
gor John d. Small. chairman Of the
committee on rivers aud harbors of
The house of representatives. ad-
dressed TO the secretary Of war, on
me subject Of water transportation
facilities. together WITH the secretary's
reply
The present IS a most opportune
time 10 direct the attention Of the
peopIo OF this community 10 the neces-
siy for concerted action on their part
vb view TO providing adequate
lermiua, facilities at each Of the wa
,er fronts Of the tri-cities, equipped
with modern appliances for transfer
ring freight between the water car
-ier and the warehouse and the rail
rar,u The cheapest and most expedi-
tous manner, as suggested in Mr..
Smails letter.
Action is what ia wanted now, and
such publicity as YOU can give the
above matter with that object in view
win be- much appreciated.
Very respectfully,
a. MACKENZIE,
Major General, United States Army,
Retired
oct. 3 1917 Hon. Newton H. Baker.
Secretary OF War-My Dear Sir. | am
directed by resolution adopted by the
committee on rivers and harbors Of
The house OF representatives to make
this communication
It is conceded that the federal gov
eminent has Jurisdiction over all nav
gable waterways and it Is estab-
lisbed policy Of the congress to make
provision for the Improvement Of mer-
liorious projects consistent with the
demands OF the country for additional
means of transportation by water. AS
the house Of representatives must in
ita,e all legislation and appropria-
lions for the Improvement Of rivers
and harhors, of which this committee
has jurisdiction. the members OF the
committee desire to discharge their
duties in the most effective manner
The primary purpose in the Improve
ment of our rivers and harbors is to
provide adequate channels for navi-
cation and thereby to promote trans
portation by water. 1t is self-eYident
that the mere deepening Of the en-
trance 10 or increasing the depth and
area Of a harbor or the Improvement
of the channel of an interior water
way viii not alone establish water
transportation. Likewise neither will
the construction of a railroad track
assure traffic. They simply provide
The basic necessity for transportation
i There are additional facilities which
J must be provided for the establish
! ment Of water transportation:
l. There must exist a demand fol
| the movement Of products.
g There must be water terminals
! constructed in accordance with appro
pirate plans. These terminals require
ample water front and capacious ware
houses They should lie physically
connected by q bolt line railroad witt
the railroad or railroads serving tht
community. and one or more goot
\ highways should Tadiate therefrom
They should be equipped with modern
appliances for transferring freight be
tween the water carrier and the ware
house and the rail car in the Cheapes
and most expeditions manner. Thesi
terminals should be constructed b.
The municipalities or other agencies
OF the state and maintained and regu
ated for the service of the public
The size and cost OF such terminal
viii vary according TO the population
and the financial ability Of the com
manity TO be served and the volum
OF traffic which exists
l .. There must be one or more es
iablished lines OF water transporta
/ lion with sufficient capital, the re
qasite number of carriers, and com
piete traffic organization.
| There should be a complete co
| ordination between abe water trans
poftation lines and the railroads, an
proratiug of traffic as to throug
iates between the water carriers an
me rail- carriers such as now exist
4 between the several lines OF railroads
\ 10 tAe end that each may complement
'le other and be jointly dedicated
me service of the public
\ The committee submit that To
above additional facilities are bot
\ necessary and feasible. They furthe
suggest as general proposition thf
wafer terminals must be provided b
lae states or by municipalities or oil
Vt public agencies OF the states, an
lAat water carriers must be organize
anQ maintained by individuals, corpt
tauons, or other local agencies.
may be substantially stated that col
i stess may only improve for purpose
VI navigation the capacity of the hai
uOfs and The channels Of the interit
waterways
Demand Is Acute.
viii be admitted that there are
united number Of harbors and lar
number Of interior waterways
snlch the foregoing essentials ha'
~ oeen provided. In fact, it ms
y stated that the people of the coul
-! including even that forceful ella
citizens who manage large indu
dl units and are vitality interests
transportation, appear to ha'
Msht knowledge of the primary e
eauals for securing transportation
ser. The demand for the moveme
y products by water which exists u
r normal conditions has been ma
nMe under war conditions, but
Iany cases the essential facilities a