Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1920-04-23
CHEAPER TRANSPORTATION

ization Of fourteen states, viz: Illinois,
Michigan. Iowa. Montana, Indiana,
Wisconsin, North and South Dakota,
Ohio Minnesota, Wyoming and Idaho,
which is advocating the building of a
waterway through the st. Lawrence
River and the WeIland Canal, connect
ing the Atlantic Ocean with the Great
Lakes, thus bringing ocean Transport
tation one thousand miles closer to
Idaho, advises that hearings before an
International Joint Commission for the
purpose of considering the advisabiHty
If such an enterprise will be held in
various places throughout the United
States, and the dates tentatively set for
hearing the Idaho interests are May 5
and 6. 1920, at Boise. The following
brief suggestions indicate some of the
benefits of the proposed waterway to
Idaho shippers.
Reduce the actual milage from lake
ports to Northern Europe by more than
500 miles
Eliminate transfers and all their
costs and delays between the head of
navigation and the seaboard.
Extend to all the region between
the Rocky Mountains and the Alleg-
hanies the benefit Of the cheapest
transportation in the world"
Give ocean vessels easy access to
the lake ports"
Let the lake fleet move freely be-
tween inland and coastal waters"
"Offer unlimited carrying capacity to
move the crops when the rush comes"
RELIEVE eastern roads of the con-
gestion that chokes them every year
during the crop movement"
RELIEVE the eastern roads from an
expenditure of billions to take care of
their peak load land rust the rest of
the year"
Ease the New York gateway. where
half of our commerce flows. of the con-
gestion that hampers its trade and
manufacture"
Make the states bordering the lakes /
a part of the Atlantic seaboard."
Put the Rocky Mountain slope as
near the sea as Kentucky and Ten
nessee are now"
Produce power that VIII pay for the
entire cost of the job"
Give western reduction an unobstr-
ucted way to the market--like cutting
a sluice through dixie"
1t has been the exerience of this COM
mission that each fall when crops be-
gin to move there always has been a
car shortage which has resulted in
great loss To producers. which would be
relieved if the crops could
move to a Great Lakes port such as
Duluth or Chicago for export. saving
somewhat in the freight rate, as well
as a loaded and empty car movement.
Of one thousand miles each way. there
by releasing a great deal of equipment
md relieving the congestion of the rail
ines at the eastern terminals. A study
If our economic and marketing system
is may be illustrated by commodity
which is grown in this state in great
Quantities, Potatoes" of which there
ire approximately 10000 car loads pro-
iuced annually shows that the geo.
graphical location of Idaho is such that
n normal times she has extreme diff
ticulty in disposing of that product
Illustrating; The rate from Idaho to
he Missouri River is 81 y cents again
st 20 cents from Minnesota and Wis
,onsin. Therefore, the Idaho potato
cannot go east of the Missouri River
md it is contended that by the build
ng of this waterway the enormous
,rops of Minnesota, Wisconsin and
would find an outlet for ex-
port trade, releivig, in a large measure,
he competition against the Idaho po-
alto in the central and southern sec
ons of the United States. The situa-
ion as regards other Idaho products is
Tery much the same.
We desire your assistance in secur-
ng data relative to Idaho shipments
hat may be affected by the proposed
to be presented to the Inter-
RATIONAL Joint Commission at its Boise
tearing, and we hope your community
nay send one or more representatives.
A good attendance will no doubt. he
elpful in securing a favorable report
0 the Governments of the United sra
Is and Canada by the International
oint Commission.
If yon are interested please coopcr-
tie with us in making as good show
lg as possible. May we near from
1u?
Yours very .rllv,