Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-28
Waterways Meeting Stirs
New Interest i'm Projects

Meeting at Albany, N. Y. the At
lantic Deeper Waterways Association
focused attention on the importance of
development of water transportation iii
meeting the future needs of the coun-
try. Secretary of War Good is believed
to have voiced the purpose of the ad-
ministration in his Endorsement of big
projects in this sphere. Regional inter-
ests also have been aroused by evidence
that engineers are giving attention to
the matter.
Speaking presumably for the admin
istration in Washington" says the
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle,
Secretary Good asserted that there
would be need for all the waterways. as
we'll as the rail routes. to move the
commerce of the United States in the
not distant future, at the present rate
of increase. There seems no
reason to doubt the purpose of the adj
ministration to make the best possible
use of the waterways as a means of
promoting the prosperity of all America
tor decades to come"
IF We were privileged to hazard a
guess as to the Presidents desires in
the way of achievement for his first
few years in office" comments the
Waterloo Tribune. I'VE would unheSi-
tatingly declare that his ambition runs
to development of waterway transport
tation and connection of the Middle
West with the oceans. Here we have,
in the Mississippi and tributary rivers
t,aversing the heart of the country
with the Great Lakes at the head, the
most natural waterway in the world
II this great resource were in any other
progressive country in the world, it long
ago would have been put to good pur
pose"
The economic basis for the improve
mentS." according to the Hartford Cou-
rant, lis found in Mr. Goods statement
that improvements already made have
reduced the freight bill of the Nation
by 5000, 900. Waterways were PROM
ised as measure of agricultural relief
during the presidential campaign, in
order to enable the farmer to ship his
products to market more cheaply. Mr..
Good does not believe that improved
waterways would injure the railroads,
inasmuch as only bulky. slow-moving
freight would be carried by water, while
the railroads would be relied upon to
carry the increased finished products
anticipated as the result of cheaper raw
material. The project is vast one,
calling for the expenditure of billions,
perhaps. before it is completed. 1t in
trigues the imagination, but its eXecu-
ton will depend upon continuing proof
of its economic feasibility. In any case.
it is a problem of the. future rather
than of the immediate present"
1T takes a mighty long, uphill fight,
suggests the Lansing State Journal, "to
change what the lawyers call the status
quo or, as some one else has suggested
to win away the followers of the GOO
of things as they are The effort to gel
agreement necessary to building the. st
Lawrence waterway is a case in point
1t may be that progress is being made
toward the realization of that great and
engaging idea, but the opposition Is
vastly outspoken and bellicose.
1t behooves people who see in the st.
Lawrence waterway consummatlon
! devoutly to be wished for everlastingly
to do their part to keep the tension OF
opinion straining in the right direction"
Emphasis is placed by the Syracuse
Herald on the fact that Secretary