The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-01-25
EXPERT OPPOSES
WATERWAY Plan
E. 7. Bentley Says Water.
way Will Not be Panacea
for Traffie's Ills.
TELLS OF RAILWAYS

will not be the panacea for the trans.
portation ills to which this country
may fall heir, declared Frank I. Bent,
ley of the Illinois Steel Corporation
in an interesting address given Mon
| day evening at the regular monthly
meeting and dinner of the Mems club
of the Congregational church in the
parlors of the church. He told the
members Of the club that in his opih.
ion the country would find that the
| deep waterway, when completed, as he
believes it will be, would not solve all
of the problems which it's proponents
claim for it.
'It is absolutely an easy matter tc
build this great waterway so far as
the engineering is concerned" declar-
ed the speaker. "There are no engi-
neering difficulties that amounted to g
hill of beans but after it is done what
will we do with it. In the first place
1t can not be built to take a larger
ship than one which will draw less
than twenty-five feet of water and
that class of ships is not economical
Have to Dig Out Harbors.
'Then the country will find that aft
err the canal is completed it is only
started on what must be done. The
harbors must all be dredged out as
there is not at the present time a har.
Dor in the Great Lakes district which
would handle the boats"
He added that the most serious OBJ
lection would be to provide the com
nIerce for such canal, pointing out
that to make it profitable there would
have to be strict cargoes to one port
or else the cargoes would be forced to
be carried to Liverpool and then scat
tered by English lines. This distribu-
tion is now taking place at New York
and in summer months might be done
at Montreal with a great expense fol-
providing terminal facilities.
"The waterway will be built" he
added, "for the people have decided
on that but sooner or later the ship
per will find that it will not bring
cheaper rates or prove the boon that
it has been declared
Tells Romance of Transportation.
| Mr.. Bentley in a most interesting
way told of che rise of transportation
in America from the time in the thiF-
ties when railways started until the
present day. He laid particular stress
on his discussion Of the period when
I the government managed the roads de-
claring that it proved the truth of the
statement that ne government fune-
toned business ever paid a cent OF
ever would.
r. Regarding the present federal rail
way board he said: "There is a strong
sentiment that the railway board
should be abolished; I agree with that
100 per cent. Never will we get eff
cheney back in the railways until the
employers and employees can get to-
gether and talk over their problems
without taking them through 2 third
party.
Future Not All Dark.
He declared that the romance of
transportation was the story of civ
ilization and that unless this country
solved its transportation problem, it
was through progressing. He cited
the fact that the railways were far
behind in providing facilities but held
that in time the situation would be
bettered.
In touching on water transportation
he declared that the public had been
fooled into thinking it was cheaper
because the government stood the cost
of keeping up the waterways. He
reminded those present that the pub
lie paid this in the end in the way Of
taxes.
It was declared that railways were
TO the place where no more trunk
lines would be built across the ma
ton and that the only expansion
would be in the way of double track
ing and short lines. He held out,
however, that motor transportation
over highways properly regulated and
even aeroplanes might help to solve
the problem.
Were going to need all the trans
portation we can get in this country
some day." he declared. I'VE may
have to go back to the mule and use
him too. / am sure that 1928 will Be
as prosperous a year as labor and
transportation will permit"
Announcement was made that at the
February meeting, Edward ST. Jordan
president Of the Jordan Motor com
pany and formerly of kenosha, would
be the speaker.