Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-16
Waterways Measure Hailed
AS Congress Achievement

Much commendation is expressed for
the passage Of the current rivers and
harbors bill carrying $145 100000 for
ITO projects in waterway improvement.
1t is held to be a major achievement
of the session of Congress, and SatiSfac-
ton is felt that cities of the inland sec
ton are to be provided with means of
access to the sea. Better freight rates
and employment are held to be i'm
portant results. Some areas feel that
they have not been properly favored,
however, and there is touch Of skep-
ticiSm as to results.
I'm its present phase the project is a
promising economic experiment" says
the Cincinnati Times-Star, with the con-
clusion: ION the whole, the waterways
system should knit more closely the
greatest free trade area in the world
namely, the United States. With our
foreign trade menaced by uncertainties,
1t is all the more necessary that the
various sections of the country have
cheap access to each others products. !"
The Long Beach Press Telegram OBJ
serves that 1.-The Mississippi, Missouri
and Ohio Valleys have felt that they
have been deprived of the full benefits
of the Panama Canal" and that the
plans that now take form are especially
designed to meet the situation.
THE Illinois waterway may not be
completed by 1888, as Gov. Emmerson
hopes, but it will be completed-no
doubt about that" declares the Rock
Island Argus. THE great Mississippi
basin is to have sea connections. More
favorable freight rates are bound to
come. It will take time, yes, but the
national waterway program is at last
taking definite shape. For that let us
be thankful"
1.-THE interrelation of water conserva-
ton, personal and property safety, con-
Sequent sterilization of values and the
meshing of annual crop transportation
facilities into the maximum of speed,
with the minimum of expense, will con-
stitute the greatest economic equation
of the ages" AYERS the Fort Worth
Record Telegram, describing the project
as one which has been "a Veritable po-
litical will-o-the-wisp for nearly half
century" and "one of the really con-
structive pieces of legislation turned out
by Congress in the 1905"
AS an engineer and a business man."
remarks the Louisville Times, "Presi-
dent Hoover looks at inland WATERWAYS
as every State looks at its possessed or
prospective highways. He wants the
gaps improved, just as Kentuckians
system improved. His attitude toward
the projected outlay is highly praise
worthy and highly constructive" The
Hartford Courant looks upon the mat
ter as 'fulhllment of a campaign pledge
to improve and consolidate the coun-
try's inland waterways system" as
giving impetus to our recently begun
return to economic normality'' and as
promising 10000 miles Of waterways"
There seems to be no question"
thinks the Chattanooga Times, that it
Will have profound effect upon the
country especially that part of 1t lying
between the Allegheny and the Rocky
Mountain ranges" The Times adds:
1.-THE work of developing these water
ways will give employment to thousands
Of men at time when unemployment
Is serious problem. 1t will also stin-
ulate other lines of endeavor, in that
1t will create demands for machinery
and supplies. Boat and barge building
win be Spurred
The Cleveland News also advises:
"Quick action is the important re-
quirement, so far as concerns relief of
unemployment. Work for thousands of
additional men might be extremely de-
sirable this Summer and not particularly
needed next Summer. Fortunately.
speed should be possible - this con-
nection. Plans for dredging and other
wise improving rivers and harbors are
usually prepared by Army engineers
long in advance of the appropriations.
If the President can speed up depart
mental procedure in letting contracts
and attending to other details the en-
ployment benefit should not be long de-
layed"
4 X X
"a powerful antidote to insularity''
Is seen by the San Antonio Express.
which believes that "the system will
make virtual seaports of such places
as Minneapolis, Sioux City, Chicago
and Chattanooga" and will stimulate
the landlocked peoples interest in the
merchant. marine, the Navy, world
trade and diplomacy" The Evansville |
Courier Tvs that ut should effect, In