Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1925-01-31
transportation on
the Great Lakes
Congressman Peavey Has Introduced
Bill Providing for Establishment
of Lake Carriers.

Washington, D. C.-While the
president Of The United States has
appointed a commission to "learn"
the cause Of the economic failure of
the grain states Of the Northwest;
and leaders Of both the big political
parties have made it the basis Of
much political agitation, Congress
man Hubert H. Peavey, of Wisconsin,
representing one Of the states in
e5lmd. hss told the members Of
congress that the cause is associated
with the dissolution Of the railroads
and steamship transportation COM
panies which occurred under the
Panama Canal Act, and which ter
minated competition between the
Railroads and Lake Carriers, there
by making freight rates so prohibit
tive that the farmer of the North
west is gradually starving to death or
being forced into bankruptcy.
Mr. Peavey has introduced bill
providing for the establishment of
transportation lines on the Great
Lakes, and to increase the capital
stock, powers, and duties of the
Inland Waterways Corporation, the
passage Of which, he declares, will
restore general commerce on the
Great Lakes and relieve agricultural
depression in the Northwest.
Mr.. Peavey pointed out that the
present lake carriers confine them
selves exclusively to the carrying of
ore and coal, and that no private
transportation of freight is solicited
or wanted. This, he says, allows
the railroads to make freight rates to
suit themselves, and these are so high
that they can not be met by the
agricultural interests.
There is not single harbor on
the Great Lakes today where
physical connections between water
born commerce, and that by railroad
is encouraged, maintained, or for the
most part permitted" said Mr..
Peavey Nineteen Northwest rail-
roads centering in Chicago in no
way compete Tor or solicit the trans
portation business now being carried
by the Lake Carriers Association, nor
does the Steel Corporations carriers
try to obtain the freight or solicit
the transportation business for
central North America which is now
being carried exclusively by the rail-
roads
Neither myself or the people / re-
present hold any prejudice against
the United States Steel Corporation
or the Railroads, but we believe that
our economic condition would be
greatly bettered if the Inland Water
ways Corporation shall be authorized
TO increase its capital stock OF $12,-
100000 to take over and to operate
the 800 vessels now belonging to the
/ United States and - the possession
and under the control of the United
States Shipping Board or Emergency
Fleet Corporation. These vessels
are now stationed in the several
harbors on the Great Lakes and
I Hudson River where they are float
ing idle at the docks and fast de-
/ teriorating in value. They were
constructed by the United States
government during the war especial
I ly for lake service. They were of
immense practical value in such ser
vice and will of necessity become of
little or no value if left to rot at
their moorings | therefore propose
that the saidInland Waterways Cor
poration be authorized and en-
powered to put into aetural service
in the carrying on of general lake
commerce as many of these boats as
may be found practicable and
necessary and that the number of
boats SO used shall be increased as