The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1918-12-10
Commission Appointed by
Gov. Graham Makes
Their Report Today
ADVISE TERMINAL
AT BURLINGTON
Its Construction Would
Greatly Relieve the
Transportation Con-
tiOns iii Vermont

The members of the Barge Tern1i-
nal Commission appointed by Gov.
Graham pursuant TO the joint reso-
luton of the last Legislature have
made their report to the Governor
and cOpious extracts of their report
are given. The commission consist
ed 10 Gardner Brewer of Burlington
Harvey w. Varnum- of Jeffersonvllie,
II. j. M. Jones of Barre, Frank II.
Brooks of st. Johnsbury and Herbert
C. Conlings of Richford. Harry 5.
Howard of Burlington served as the
secretary.
The subject of terminals for water
borne traffic has received much study
during past years. Those conversant
with the matter realize that the lack
of efficient terminal facilities is one OF
the chief causes for the decline of
water transportation. But every in
terest and every community should
understand that the principal need
today of transportation is an m-
crease of terminal facilities, which
will relieve the congestion that now
paralyzes traffic.
These are not antagonistic to but
in cooperation with the railway lines,
enabling many inland districts not
heretofore favored to obtain lower
and more stable freight rates upon
which the price of so many commodi-
ties depend that enter into the life
and well-being of our people. The
past four years found the railroads
inadequate to handle the required
volume of business. ~.
These conditions are not all due to
the war, for in 1907 traffic was
blocked on nearly all the prineipalI
10 convey an ordinary shipment Of
goods from one. market to another
The deadlock was broken by panic,
that lessened the volume Of business.
The freight ton mileage of the coun-
try was less by seventeen and a half
billions in 1909 than in 1907. The
revival of business in 1909 and 1910
and the freight ton mileage grew in
single. year eleven times. as fast as
tlaekagel and five times as fast as
the equipments, and from that day
to August, 1914, the ratio showed d
large increase.
The war being over, the demand of
transportation will be greatly in ex-
cess even of the maximum of eff
cheney that the railroads can obtain.
The solution of the problem is the
greater use of existing waterways and
canals. We have evidence enough
that four railroads are not able to
cope with the demands made upon
them, and there is every reason to
believe that the requirements of
transportation will largely increase
in the near future
By the use of free waterways con-
tracted at a cost of 154,00O,0O0 by
New York state, and the straighten-
ing and deepening of the Narrows of
Lake Chanplain between Whitehall
and Ticondcroga, by the United
States Government under Congress
sional appropriation of $4,000, the
State of Vermont, bordering Lake
Champlain, has great opportunity
TO secure its needed merchandise,
food, coal, grain and other commodi-
ties at cheaper prices by the estab-
lishnent of all water, or water and
rail routes that will offer lower
freight rates and enable Vermont to
market much of her products to bet
ter advantage than heretofore.
The three essentials necessary to
accomplish economic inland water
transportation are: An adequate wa
terway, barges and boat service, and
terminals or modern we'll equipped
landing places.
BY the Champlain Canal, branch
of the New York system of canals,
Lake Champlain is connected by a
waterway IL feet deep, rs feet wide,
with Troy, N. Y; thence either south
to the sea by the Hudson river or
west to the Great Lakes by the Erie
Canal, now wonderful inland water.
way, like the Champlain Canal with
large locks and electrically lighted
throughout, enabling boats as large
as 800 feet long and "A feet wide
carrying 1000 and more tons each, to
navigate continuously day and night
The Champlain Canal thus completed
and the improvements of the Narrows
of Lake ,Champlain undertaken by
the United States Government, ade-
quate waterways have been provided
without expense to Vermont right tc
the Pert Of Burlington.
Through the courtesy of the New
York state engineer. Frank NJ. VIII
liams, the services of an assistant en-
pineer, c. f. Conner, of Albany. n
.sY.. was placed at the disposal of tht
commission, and on July 10th ant
nth explained with plans the con