Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1919-11-27

telegraphy. Otner great Inventions
and discoveries, are being made, all
tending to the betterment Of mankind,
and still the work goes on. In con-
ection with the question Of transpor-
tation let it be remembered that the
coming census will show in the Unit
ed States population of about one
hundred and ten millions, and with
the ratio of past growth, the popula-
tion in thirty years hence will be two
hundred millions. just think what this
increase means. They will have to be
fed, clothed, housed and employed
with such comforts as in the past were
unknown. This involves intensive
agriculture to produce the food, a
great expansion in manufacturing
ployment, and the development of all
materials. All of which will require
tation. In this connection must be
considered the great competition for
foreign trade that the present situa-
tion Of the European nations lately
engaged in the war, will produce.
They are loaded down with debt al
most to the verge of bankruptcy, the
annual interest on which with their
pensions and the ordinary expenses of
government will require their utmost
efforts to raise. Complaints are al
ready being heard that Germany is
underselling the other nations in for
eign markets. This no doubt results
from necessity and will go on to be
countered by the others, and if we are
to share in the worlds trade, we will
have to meet.
To the thinking mind this prospect
i've, but certain active competition to
come, furnishes food for thought.
One great factor to be considered in
solving this for the United States will
be the cost of inland transportation.
The present condition Of the steam
railroads do not furnish much en-
couragement. Since being taken over
by the general government, freight,
passenger and express rates have been
increased 33 per cent, passenger trains
have been taken off so that people
are packed in the trains now in oper-
alton without regard to comfort. In
the Pullmans the upper berths must be
taken before other cars are put on,
and day rider in Pullman is apt to
have three others in his section. And
with all this we are officially informed
the government in their operation in
the last two years has lost over six
hundred million dollars. Such is gov
ernment control.
That these steam railroads are
about to be turned back to their own
ers for the public is, think, bless
ing. But with the best economy they
can use the present steam roads can
not meet the needs of the future and
what man or company, with the ex-
perience of the past, will invest dol
lar in any new railroad enterprise.
No doubt the present lines of rail
road will continue to be operated, but
they will fall far short of supplying
the future needs for all needed
freight transportation, and at ocean
points sufficient terminal facilities for
the speedy and proper dispatch of
business will be out of the question.
In fact. at present complaints of
freight blockades at terminal points
are given as reasons for delays in
deliveries.
What does this forbode for the fu-
ture, with the uncertainty as to more
railroads being built and the present
ones taxed to their capacity even
now, and with the United States
population rapidly increasing, with it's
needs, as have shown?
This brings me again to the subject
of waterways. With the canals con-
templated in the Welty bill con-
structed, connecting up the Great
Lakes and navigable rivers of the
country, with deliveries by steam
railroads of heavy freights to them at
interior points for water transporta-
tion, the railroads confning them
selves mainly for long hauls to and
from ocean points of passengers, ex-
press matter, United States mail and
light freight, and with the great
amount of inland freight the trucks
of the future at all points, and the
cheapness by which all can be done
to enable our manufactures surplus
products of agriculture and otherwise
to reach the worlds markets, believe
will afford US the solution Of how to
meet the worlds trade competition.
l therefore, as citizen, without
other interest than the general well
fare, ask the careful consideration of
all my fellow citizens and their aid in
bringing about what, in my judgment,
the Welty bill can accomplish.-Day-
ton Daily News.
From papers continually being re-
ceived by the Journal. we learn the
cities and towns to the south Of us
along the proposed route Of the canal
are getting busy and holding big
meetings in the interest of it. AS
Perrysburg would be benefited as
much, or more so, than any other
town along the route, we believe it
behooves us to do something in its
behalf and we suggest the Civic AS
sociation take this matter up and plan
some means to boost it.