Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-04
WATERWAYS PLAN
STIRS OBJECTIONS
Rail interests Desire "Jus.
tice" in Matter of Rates
on Freight.
BY JOHN F. SINCLAIR.
nisnatch to The star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, November 4.-Wher
Pittsburgh celebrated last week the
completion of the lock system on the
Ohio River and the nine-foot channel
from Pittsburgh to Cairo, ILL.,, six rail-
road presidents were on hand to join in
the festivities.
A few years ago this would have been
front page news. 1t would have sig
niffed that the railroads had decided
to cooperate in the vast Government
program for the improvement OF the
inland waterways, including as 1t does
400 harbors, 800 rivers and more than
so canals.
February / the Mississippi Valley
barge line expects to start a weekly
common carrier service between Gin
cinnati and New Orleans. 1t seems
that under the DenniSon amendment
to the waterways act the Interstate
Commerce Commission must institute
proceedings with the railroads, requir-
ing them to make through routing
agreements with the waterway carriers.
Two Problems Involved.
There are two far-reaching problems
involved in this. The first is that Of
finding whether the Interstate Com
merce Commission must proceed in this
matter under mandatory methods, or
whether such action is discretionary.
Second: Just how far can the Govern
ment insist on promoting cooperation
between the inland waterways and the
railroads?
The railroads have not filed any OBJ
iections yet. R. H Ashton, president of
the American Railway Association, and
opposing Government competition, asks
"eVen-handed justice" and has said
the railroads are likely to protest to the
commission against granting the GER
tificateS.
Railroads object on the ground that
the Government, which has no tax bur-
dens and no overhead charges, is giving
a 20 per cent reduction from the cor
responding rail rates to those using the
barge lines.
Nevertheless, the presence of the rail-
road presidents at Pittsburgh shows
that they believe a closer and more
friendly cooperation between water
and rail in the interior sections Of the
country is desirable. That's O good
omen.
Drought Affects Crops.
The severe drought during most of
the Summer was the real reason why
. the total yield of crops this year
throughout the country will run about
per cent below the ten-year average,
according to the Bureau OF Agricultural
Economics of the United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture.
The drought caused a shortage of
pasturage, curtailing milk production
throughout the East and giving con-
siderable trouble to livestock men in
the West.
The dry season had its effect on
many crops. The potato crop is eSti-
mated at about $50 900 900 bushels and
is one of the smallest in ten years.
The total carload shipments of fruits
and vegetables for this year, through
August and September. we're Is per
cent smaller than last year.
So prices are high for potatoes. This
will have a. tendency to stimulate and
increase the production for next year
In the early potato crop country.
Florida growers now indicate that they
will increase their paintings Of early
potatoes, starting in January, about
one-fourth over last year. Southern
Texas win add about 8 per cent.
In the case of apples there was a
forecast of 29,500, 900 barrels, or about
100000 barrels fewer than a year ago.
Apple prices are now running so per
cent higher than last year.
While crops are smaller in several
lines prices are so much better that the
net return may be higher. on the whole,
than year ago. But this does not tell
the whole story. Many farmers have
no crops at all, while others have but
little. Those lucky ones with big yields
get the real reward.
II only there was some way to re-
ward farmers based on the amount Of
work they debut that is an idle
dream. The farmer, gambling on the
weather, and on prices largely fixed on
the outside, continues the worlds great
est optimiSt, however.
Group Life Insurance.
During the present year disease will
have accounted for the death of 10000
insured employees, whose dependents will
receive as benefits $50 900 ,00O This
statement is made by B. A. Page, vice
president OF the Travellers Insurance Co.
Accidents will have caused the death
OF nearly 5000 workers more, for which
claims will be $4,000, 900. Then 1000
employees will have been kept from work
because of permanent and total dis
they will receive $l0.O00,0oo as a sub
Etitute for their pay envelopes.
Group life insurance began only II
years ago. Yet more than a quarter Of
billion dollars in benefits has been
paid to 100000 claimants. It is believed
that by the end of this year $500, 900
employees Of 10000 concerns will be in
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
This is one-tenth of the total of all
life insurance in force in this country.
On the average, those included in
group life plans are insured for 81 500
each. This amount Is larger than the
estate left by two-thirdS of the wage
earners of the country. 1t exceeds the
average annual wage or salary income
of possibly 5000 900 workers over the
age of 10 who are employed in the
United States.
Including this type of insurance, the
United States is the most heavily in
sured country in the world.
Federal Reserve Board.
"Is the Federal Reserve Board in
good shape to handle the present stu
ation?" Pennsylvania reader wants to
know.
Excellent! The board requires that
the Federal Reserve banks carry mini
mum OF 40 per cent reserve against
their note liabilities and their deposits
Only once have they gone below. That
was in the defiation of 1920.
But the combined figures for the
week ending October 80 show that the
Federal Reserve has 69.4 cents in GOLD
tc Jack up every dollar OF deposits ano
= deral Reserve notes outstanding
This Is 2 per cent better than veal
Boston has the highest ratio, 83.4 pei
cent. Chicago follows with 1877 pei
cent New York has 7l.8 per cent
Cleveland shows the lowest, with 54.l
per cent.
or course, the Federal Reserve ha
many critics. They attack it from oil
ferent angles. These problems we ar ar
not discussing here. Financially, I'M
Federal Reserve is in excellent shape.
(Copyright, 1879 by North American news
paper Allianee.l
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