Evening star., 1922-01-23

inevitable expansion Of population
VIII enormously increase the bur-
den upon our transportation ia
ciiities. and proper forethought
must dictate the present adoption
or wise and far-seeing policies in
dealing with Transportation.
If, broad -visioned statesmanship
shah establish fundamentally sound
policies toward transportation, the
present crisis will one day be re-
garded as piece Of good fortune
to the nation. To this time rail-
road construction, financing and
operation have been unscientific
and devoid Of proper consideration
for the wider concerns of the COM
munity. To say this is simply to
admit fact which applies to
In the world. 1t is as true regard
Ing the railroads of Canada and.
Great Britain as it Is in reference
to those Of the United States. It
is equally applicable to the rail-
ways of continental Europe, in
whose development considerations
OF political and military available
ity have too far overweighed eco
nomic usefulness. In America we
have too long neglected our water
ways. We need practical devel-
both transportation and power. A
large share of railway tonnage is
coal for railroad fuel. The ex-
pertence Of railway electrification
demonstrates the possibility of re-
ducing this waste and increasing
efficiency. We may we'll begin very
soon to consider plans to electrify
our railroads. If such a suggestion
seems to involve inordinate de-
mands upon our financial and in
dustrial power, 1t may be replied
that three generations ago the
suggestion of building 100000
miles of railways in this country
would have been secuted as
financial and industrial impossi-
bility. Waterway improvement
represents not only the possibility
OF expanding our transportation
system. but also of producing hy-
dro-electric power for its operation
and for the activities of widely
diffused industry.
l have spoken Of the advantage
which Europe enjoys because Of
Its access to the sea, the cheapest
and surest transportation facility.
In our own country is presented
one of the worlds most attractive
opportunities for extension OF the
seaways many hundred miles in
land. The heart of the continent,
with its vast resources in both ag-
riculture and industry, would be
brought in communication with all
the ocean routes by the execution
Of the st. Lawrence waterway
project. To enable ocean going
vessels to have access to all the
ports of the great lakes would
have a most stimulating effect
upon the industrial life of the con-
tinent's interior. The feasibility
of the project Is unquestioned. and
its cost, compared with some other
great engineering works. would be
small. Dfsorganized and PROSTATE.
the nations Of central Europe are
even now setting their hands to
the development of a great conti-
METAL waterway. which, connecting
the Rhine and Danube. will bring
water transportation from the
Black to the North sea. from Med
iterranean to Baltic. If nationalist
prejudices and economic difficult
ties can be overcome by Europe,
they certainly should not be for
midable obstacles to an achieve
ment less expensive and giving
promise of yet greater advantages
to the peoples of North America.
Not only would the cost Of trans
portation be greatly reduced. but
a cast population would be brought
overnight in immediate touch with
the markets Of the entire world.
New Conception Needed.
This conference needs have no
fear of unfortunate effects from
the fullest development of ma
tional resources. A narrow view
might.dictate, in the present agri-
cultural stress. antagonism to
projects Of reclamation. rehabilita-
tion and extension of the agricul-
tural area. To the contrary, If
agricultur" is to hold it's high
place. there must be the most lib
eral policy in extending its oppor-
tunity. The war. as was recently
well said by the Secretary of Agri-
culture. has brought our country
more quickly. but not more in
evitably, to the necessity of decid-
ing whether this shall be predom-
inantly an industrial country or
one in which industry and agri-
culture shall be encouraged to
prosper side by side and to COM
plement each other in building
here a community OF diverse in
terests. If our policy shall be. as
it ought, to encourage the dual de-
consider the early and continuing
reclamation Of those great areas
which with proper treatment would
become valuable additions to our
agricultural capacity. To this end
every practical proposal for water
ing our arid and semi-arid land. for
recla inning cut-over forest areas,
for protecting fertile valleys from
foundations, and for draining the
potentially rich and widely ex-
tended swamp areas. should be
the government. All this should
be a part of recognized permanent
policy. Not otherwise will it be
possible to keep the nation self
supporting and as nearly self-con-
tained as it has been in the past.
There must be a new conception
Of the farmers place in our So
cial and economic scheme. The
time is long past when we may
think Of farming as an occupation
fitting for the man who is not T.
equipped for or has somehow failed
at some other line of endeavor.
The successful farmer Of today, far
from being an unframed laborer
working every day and every hour
that sun and weather permit. is
required to be the most expert and
particularly the most versatile OF
artisans. executives and business
men. He must be good deal Of
an. engineer to deal with problems
Of drainage, road building and the
like. He requires the practical
knowledge Of an all-round me-
chanic to handle his machinery and
get best results from it. The prob
lens of stock raising and breeding
demand understanding of biology,
while those of plant raising and
breeding call for a wide practical
knowledge Of botany and plant
pathology.
In handling his soils for best re-
suits, in using fertilizers, deter
mining rotations, and in selecting
and using feeds for stock, he has
need for working knowledge Of
chemistry. AS our timber supply
is reduced, hiAservices in conserv-
ing and expanding the timber re-
sources Of the farm will be in
creasingly important, ,.necessitating
an intimacy with forestry and for
estation. There is no business In
which the executive talents Of the
skilled organizer and manager are
u IN