Omaha daily bee., 1920-11-01
Blind Opposition to the Waterway.

The proposal for an international seaway
from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic is no new
thing As long ago as 1895. when the first con-
vention of the international Deep Waterways
association was held in Cleveland. this plan was
urged upon the governments Of Canada and the
United States by men qualified to speak from
expert knowledge OF the subject. Powerful in
huences among which were those inspired by
the fear that if the west allowed free access
to the sea the commerce OF the port of New
York would be injured, kept this plan in abey-
ance for rs years, but has in that time only
gained strength for final victory. All the old
arguments are being brought forth at hear
ing this week in which the New York CHAM
ber of Commerce is protesting before the in
ternational commission that is investigating the
desirability of the new ship canal
Transportation can never be too cheap, and
to the unpre ejudiced observer the hostility OF
the eastern interests appears unwarranted. One
of the greatest foes Of water transportation in
the United States has been the railroads. Yet
in those countries where land transportation has
been supplemented by water routes, the rail-
roads have not ceased to prosper
Ships and freight trains do not do exactly
the same work. They do more than compete
each aids and compliments the other. The ef-
feet of water transportation is to reduce the
volume of bulky, slow freight carried by land
and to increase the higher classes of freight car
red by rail, on which the lines depend for most
of their earnings 1t is admitted that the task
of handling the western harvests has grown too
heavy for the railroads, and ship lines would, in
addition to lowering the cost of exporting grain,
tighten the necessity for greater outlays Of capi-
tai in railroad equipment than traffic receipts
warrant.
Twenty-Five years ago, at that first conven-
ton in which the Great Lakes canal project
was discussed, Emory r. Johnson of the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania, recognized today as
an authority on transportation problems, dealt
thus with the opposition of the railroads to the
development of waterways:
In their ultimate analysis, the interests
and welfare of society and the railroads are
the same. The highest industrial organization
the use of all means Of transportation and
nication-railways WATERWAYS and
other agencies. The increase of the means
OF transportation and communication are the
sure signs OF economic progress Likewise
the development and successful evolution of
the railroad system depends upon the variety
and rapidity with which society advances in
dustrlaily. The benefits are mutual and recip-
rocal. What is for the ultimate good of So
ciety is for the welfare of the railroads.
If this applies to the railways of America,
how much more it must apply to the various
sections of the country itself The welfare of
the west as it is increased is bound to result in
benefit to all other parts of the country The
shortsighted prejudices of sectionalism have
held back this great plan by which ocean ves-
sells could approach within 500 miles of Omaha
for quarter of a century. Surely this spirit of
jealousy cannot now overcome the demonstrated
benefits of the opening up of cheaper and
more direct route to the markets of the world