The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1930-02-20
NAVICABLE ROUTES
VERY IMPORTANT
Before Railways Came Along
Great Cities of World
Were Served by Boats
WATERWAYS NECESSARY
Development of Upper Mis-.
sissippi Will Be Of Great
Benefit to Northwest

Before the railway came, the
great cities of the world were all
located upon navigable waterways
and, since the railway came, the
great cities of the world have con-
tinued to be located upon navig-
able waterways, just as they were
for thousands of years before the
railway was dreamed of.
There are only three cities in the
United States with population OF
more than 100000, where the Cit
les are on navigable water. There
are twelve with population OF
more than 500,000-and every one
of these is also upon navigahle
water. There are twenty-five cities
with population of more than
100000, and all but two are situat-
ed upon waterways. The proper
ton of inland towns increases rap
idly as we go down the population
scale, for out of the seventy cities
in the United States which have q
population of 100000 or more, there
are seventeen in which the whistle
Search where you will through
out the world and you will find the
same thing true. The largest cit
les, the densest populations, the
greatest development of industry
and commerce are to be found in
those facilities-and especially
waterways. This is not an acct
dent; the two facts stand related
as cause and effect. The most po-
tent, dynamic and resistless factor
in the growth of cities, the devel-
opment of states and the prosper
ity of nations is economy of trans
portation-and the cheapest of all
transportation is water transporta-
ton.
Water transportation in the Up
per Mississippi would move Min
nesota and the Middle West in
what might be called transporta-
ton miles, 1900 miles nearer mar
ket destination. This applied to
the products of the Northwest and
the middle western states which
could be moved by water trans
portation would save the following
amount in dollars and cents upon
the agricultural production of
Minnesota and the neighboring
states composed of Iowa, North
and South Dakota and Wisconsin.
From an analysis of the figures
recently released by the Depart
ment of Agriculture, applied to the
seven principal agricultural. pro-
ducts, dairy products not included,
the value which would accrue to
such production in Minnesota
would amount to S11 ,259, 1888. 20.
This would increase the value of
the production in the states men,
toned, $76,S71 $1,000 These amounts
would be vastly increased from
time to time as the river transpor-
tation facilities become installed
and improved and more efficiently
operated.
Filling the West with factories
and cities would benefit the farmer
not only by increasing tine number
of consumers of farm products, but
also by allowing him to raise crops
which are of much greater value
per acre but which cannot be
shipped to distant points.
Always and everywhere the
greatest development of industry
and the greatest value PEI acre of
agricultural production are found
upon, or close by, a waterway
ocean, lake or river.
Things usually either get better
or worse; they seldom or never
stand still. Failure to improve and
use the waterways is more apt to
be followed by a drift toward dis
aster than by progress toward
prosperity, for, as the National
Rivers and Harbors Congress
pointed out more than ten years
ago, unless and until the water
; ways are improved and used, the
Panama Canal is not help but a
hindrance to the Middle West
When the Upper Mississippi waters
are improved, then will the farm
ers of Minnesota and neighboring
states secure a very substantial
| benefit from the Panama Canal.
AS green verdude follows the
trickling stream, so prosperity fol-
lows water navigation.