The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-04
THE TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INFORMATION BUREAU
ByfFREDEKIC ). HzsKIN. Director.
Washington. d. O.
WATERWAYS AND WAR WORK.
Better Use of Rivers and Canals Seems
to Be the Only Solution of the
TRANSPORTATION Problem.

transportation PrODlcm.
Washington. d. c., Jan. 30.-Gov-
eminent control of railroads presages
a new epoch in the history of Ameri-
can transportation, in which rivers
and canals will be improved, and CO.
ordinated with railroads, to form a
much stronger and less expensive sys-
tenn of shipment and travel than that
which we now have.
This statement can be made with
some confidence on the basis of the
nations immediate pressing need of
such system, and also on the basis of
administration and congressional plans
looking to it's development
The need is shown in the first place
by the facts that the railroads are
actually unable to carry the nations
commerce in its present dimensions,
and that the ports which have been
favored by the railroads are con-
gested by the enormous freights which
are concentrated upon them In the
second place, according to economists,
in the commercial rivalry after the
war the nation which can carry goods
from inland factory cities to the ships
at the lowest cost will have the ad-
vantage; and this advantage will go to
the nation with the best system of in.
land waterway transportation. for if
terminal and carrier facilities are
equal freight can always be carried
more cheaply by water than by rail.
This system, according to govern
ment economists, will not in the least
in5ure railroad traffic, as the railroads
will have all they can do to handle
strictly inland and rapid transporta-
ton. Neither will this development
be adverse to the great valley cities
which have attained their Importance
as part way centers in transcontinen-
tai railway traffic. For after the
war the Panaman canal is to come
into its full Importance as the cheapest
route from coast to coast. Thus it is
only by developing inland waterway
connections with ports that the great
inland commercial cities can retain
their importance in traffic between
east and west by linking themselves
to the all-water route.
The interest of the administration
in this plan is evidenced by the activi-
ties of Mr.. Walter Parker. of the de-
partment of commerce, who bears the
title of assistant to the secretary for
inland water transportation. For
some time Mr.. Parker has spent
practically all of his time touring the
country, addressing organizations of
business men on the subject of inland
water transportation, explaining in
each city the importance to its BUSH
mails and establishing the boat lines
which will assure it place in the new
system.
Mr.. Pa -ker has co-operated with the
inland waterway commission of the
council for national defense, the chair
man of which is Maj. Gen. W. NJ.
Black, who is also chief of the United
States corps of engineers. Thus ex-
ecutive. advisory and engineering
branches of the administration have
been co-ordinated in the work.
This project is reflected in congress
in renewed activity of all the pro-
ponents of canal and river develop
ment. Unfortunately the chief part
which congress has played in water
way development for some years has
been in the passage of notorious River
and Harbor bills which have been
wasteful and lacking in plan The
chief effect has been to discredit
waterway Improvement in the public
mind. Besides. what is needed is not
channel improvement half so much
as boats, terminal and storage facili-
ties, and cooperation instead of COM
petition between rail and water routes.
A dawning sense of this state of af-
fairs is indicated in the statement of
Chairman John H. Small of the House
Rivers and Harbors Committee that
in the future localities seeking chan
mel improvements by federal action
must be prepared to furnish proper
terminal facilities and assurance that
the improved channels will be ad-
equately used.
Waterside cities are showing
wide-awake tendency to meet the re-
sponsibilities which the new trans
portation system will impose upon
them by erecting the necessary termi-
nal facilities. Thus Memphis recently
voted 100000 in bonds for the con-
struction of a large terminal at that
point, and plans are now being made
for its erection. New Orleans is
especially commended by government
experts for the progress which has
been made there in the development
of a terminal and water front storage
system, co-ordinating river, rail and
ocean traffic The need for water
way development is shown by the fact
that sugar is now reaching New Or
leans from Louisiana plantations by
way of shallow channels because rail-
road cars for carrying it cannot be
had. other recent developments of
inland waterway transportation which
have been made necessary by the car
shortage include the operation of a
line of government barges on the
Mississippi river "a new fleet is to be
built for this service thru government
assistance), the successful operation
of a service of barges between Flor
ence, Alabama and Peoria, Illinois,
and increased traffic on the Missouri
river between Kansas City and st.
Louis. Many other river and lake
cities are building modern terminals,
including st. Paul, Minneapolis. Mo-
line, Rock Island, Davenport, Musca
tine; also Montgomery, Selma and Mo-
bile on the Alabama river. There is
every reason to believe that the cities
will do their part in building the new
American transportation system
Mr.. Parker illustrates the economic
value of water transportation by the
statement that the strength of a single
man is sufficient to move a modern
barge containing 1000 tons of cargo,
while a dozen men could not bulge
the twenty freight cars which would
be necessary to carry the same freight
by rail. This makes it obvious that
: freight can be moved at a much lower
rate per ton mile by water than by
rail. provided terminal and other
facilities are equally developed Not