The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-01-20
Develop U. S. Transportation,


As the family. properly educated
is the backbone of a nation, so
transportation, IL properly adjusted
is the economic backbone of the
world
II the moral tone of the family
is lowered in that degree the nation
becomes a field for Adventures and
moral vultures, who exploit the
less resistant TO their own advan-
tsge: or, by plot and intrigue cap
ture the strongholds and use them
against those who have produced
and rob. pillage and destroy. until
the power to produce and transport
breaks down. when ruin. famine and
lpestilence stalk through the land.
This has been, and is now being
demonstrated in Russia under Boil
shevist control. To save her trans
portation must be restored: without
1t the back is broken and there is
no power to stand or to act as q
body polite.
Transportation. to be efficient,
must use every facility within the
power of the individual corpora
ton. municipality or state to keep
things moving, and the vehicles.
trucks. cars or ships must be I'M
loaded and returned as rapidly as
up-to-date methods will permit in
order to repeat the performance.
Terminals must be large enough
and the means for unloading quick
enough to prevent congestion. with
its consequent waste and great loss
in the case of perishables and the
coming of high prices if not speed
lily put on the market.
There was a great cry of short
age in cars with which to convey
coal to the consumer, when the
truth is transportation for some
cause was held up and thousa nds OF
cars were lying idle upon sidings.
The result was that prices ran up,
and when they got up some one
would keep them up while the con-
sumner footed the bill
Recently. there was a tie-up or
freight in the yards adjacent to
Washington and long lines OF ears
stood upon the tracks. with no
means for quick unloading and re-
turn: much produce spoiled and
prices doomed. So far as il known
no attempt has been made to en-
large the terminals or install means
for, quick unloading.
Many times whole trainloads OF
fruits have been dumped and pota
toes rotted from the same cause. Is
1t not time. then, that our business
and commercial organizations should
concern themselves with the crying
need for suitable terminals and up
to-date methods for unloading?
Take our infantile. but growing.
merchant marine. How can we
have il il we do not prepare for II
with port terminals. etc? Are they
now sufficiently large and commo-
dious. and equipped with the ma
chinery to make them efficient? Are
we keeping pace with our COM
petitors overseas? Not only must
we do this IL our merchant ships
are to live. but we must, IL possible,
Guido them in order to receive
suitable share of business which is
knocking at our doors for admis
sion.
Our nation must wake up and
get into speedy action at once n
We are to succeed. -.
Take one instance of petty causes
which prevent better establishment
OF lines of communication between
the Atlantic coasts from the in
terror. through local objections.
Here Is a proposition Of utilizing
our Great Lakes and the St.
Lawrence River with whatever
canalization may be needed to make
a great waterway. Minnesota and
Michigan. rich In native ores of a
high-grade of iron and copper, are
eager for 1t, while a great city in
another State Is reported against
it. Is she interested in some other
scheme in which she has invested
a few of her local dollars? Would
she hold up an. Interstate necessity
on some petty, local plea?
Would any of US through local
selfishness wrap ourselves in a
cloak of criminal neglect and let
the hungry world staIve? 1t needs
our foodstuffs. our iron. our cop
per, our cotton and wool. We have
the ships to carry them and. shall