The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-08-24

fave ar contributed TO the realizar1Un
that the problem must be solved. They
will be invited into conference. Out
standing farmers such as Governor
Lowden will be asked to join in the
search for common ground upon which
we can act.
Calls Waterways Vital
had thought today to particularly
point out the Importance Of the devel-
opment of our interior waterways as
bearing on the prosperity not only of
agriculture but of the whole of our
Midwest business and commerce. It
Is most important supplement TO
agricultural relief. The necessarily
large advances in railway rates from
the war initiate against the economic
setting Of this whole interior section.
This, together with the completion OF
the Panama Canal and the fact that
ocean rates have increased but little
since before the war, further disturbs
the whole economic relationship Of
the Midwest. 1t is as II row of toll
gates had been placed around this
whole section Of our country. It seri-
ously affects the farmer. I think we
can accept 1t as an economic fact that
the farmer on most occasions pays the
freight on his products. 1t Is de-
duction from the ultimate price; you
yourself can attest this. In general
way, the centerpoint of markets Is
overseas or the Atlantic seaboard,
where prices are determined by the
meeting Of streams of world products.
For every hundred miles you are re-
moved from these market eenters the
price Of farm products Is lower by the
amount Of freight rates. Some calcu-
lations which made few years ago
showed that the increases in railway
rates had in effect moved the Mid
west 200 to 400 miles further from
seaboard. Moreover, eome Of the
competitive agricultural regions such
as the Argentine and Australia are
close to seaboard and with sea rates
about the same as before the war,
they are able to compete with the
American farmer in foreign markets
to a greater advantage than before
the war. This increase in transports
ton rates also affects the prices Of
many things which the farmer must
buy, for much raw material which
comes into the Midwest pays the In
creased freight rate and this in turn
Is taken up by the consumer. We
cannot return to pre-war railway
rates without ruin to the railways.
Therefore. have long asserted that
the real hope OF reducing charges
upon our bulk goods was through the
modernization Of our great interior
waterways. By modernization, Imean
increasing depths to a point where
we can handle ten thousand tons In
. line Of barges pulled by a tug. This
administration has authorized the
systematic undertaking of this mod
ernization. Within a few years We
will have completed the deepening Of
the Ohio up to Pittsburgh, the Mis-
souri, I'D to Kansas City, Omaha, and
beyond, the Mississippi to St Paul
and Minneapolis, the Illinois to Chi
cago. We already have experience
with results, for with only the main
river from st. Louis to New Orleans
as yet working properly, the rates for
transportation Of bulk agricultural
products through that section is near
pre-war railway rates. We will not
have the advantage Of full results
until the entire Mississippi and its
tributaries are in one connected trans
portation system.
Assures Lake-autf Route
We have another great opportunity
Of relief in the building OF shipway
from the great lakes to the sea. Our
engineers have recommended the st.
Lawrence route as; the preferable out
let, The administration has under
taken negotiations with Canada upon
, the subject. If these negotiations fail
we must consider alternative routes.
IN any event the completion Of this
great system Of barge lines on the
rivers and connecting the lakes with
the gulf, Of opening 9 shipway from
the lakes p the sea, will make an ef-
fsctiye <tsansportation system $4,000
miles ID length penetrating twenty
midwest states. twill connect these
states with seaboafd at the gulf on
one hand and with thesMorth Atlantic
on the other. And this means more
than the mere saving upon the actual
goods shipped over these routes. II
part Of our Gro can move to market
atsa seven to ten cent saving per
busheI the buyers competitive bid
ding for this portion OF the crop will
force upward the price Of the whole
crop.
And this development concerns
alone agriculture: but every industry
dnd business in the midwest. The
manufacturer and merchant In this
section is suffering from curtatlment
OF his distribution field; his business
province has shrunk. This develop
ment should tend to increase manu-
featuring industry in the midwest and
thereby create larger diversity of
employment and greater local mar
ket for agricultural products. Nor
does this development mean the Grip
ping of our railways. The annual
increase in railways traffic will give to
them a far more and complete Offset
to these diversions. Moreover, every.
thing that increases the prosperity Of
the country also helps the railways.
The policy Of rapid contamination of
this great project will be continued If
the Republican administration be con-
tinued. We should at the present rate
Of progress have completed the Mis-
sissippi system within the next four
years. 1t Is q vital part of the reha-
Utilization of the middle west agricul.
ture and business.