Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-25
DEMPSEY OUTLINES
WATERWAY PLANS
Forum Speaker Says Pending
Bill Would Link Atlantic,
Gulf and Great Lakes.

6Ntt OIIu VI V0t G0NV0s
The Nations future in waterways de-
Velopment, as contemplated by the
pending rivers and harborS bill, which
would authorize total expenditure of
Sic, 100000 on projects designed pri-
marily to improve the condition of ag-
riculture through the lowering of trans
portation costs, was outlined in a radio
address last evening by Representative
8. Wallace Dempsey of New York.
Mr.. Dempsey. who Is chairman of the
House rivers and harbors committee,
spoke in the National Radio Forum, ar
ranged by The Evening Star and spon-
Sored by the Columbia Broadcasting
system His address was broadcast To-
eally from Station WMAL.
Citing economists as authority for the
statement that the United States has
suffered impairment of distribution ia
cilities along with an increased eff
cheney in production, Mr.. Dempsey said
that some authorities go so far as to
say that some articles costing 20 cents
to manufacture reach the consumer at
o cost Of dollar.
Bill Provides Unified System.
1.-THE means by which the greatest
savings can be made IN distribution is
and waterways afford the cheapest of
all means of transportation, he said.
The pending bill, said Mr.. Dempsey,
would afford O connection between the
Great Lakes and the Atlantic ocean
and the Gulf. "Once these two connec-
lions were made" he said, and the
Atlantic intracoastal waterway was
complete, we would have, through the
two oceans, the Great Lakes and useful
connections of them with the Atlantic
and the Gulf. complete and unified
system Of waterways through which
commerce will move without unloading
or reloading, at a minimum COST for
the benefit Of both the producer and the
consumer"
Mr.. Dempsey asserted that the taking
over of the Erie and Oswego Canals in
New York State by the Federal Govern
rnent would not mean "the death" Of
the proposed st. Lawrence waterway.
The text of Mr.. DempSeys address
follows in full:
Method Is Outlined.
The improvement of the rivers and
harbors of the country Is done by the
Federal Government. The method of
securing an improvement is this: United
States Army Engineers are stationed
at all Of the important waterway CEN
They first make a survey or investiga-
ton of the improvement which is asked.
This report Is then sent successfully
to the division engineer, who has a
wide area, and from him to the board
Of engineers, consisting Of seven men,
bers, who meet III Washington, and from
them to the chief engineer. II the
project meets approval as the result Of
all Of this series Of investigations. 1t Is
90 WC
and harbors Of the House Of Repre-
Sentatives for its action.
This committee does not appropriate
money, but simply adopts projects, and
the appropriations come from the ap-
preparations committee and through the
budget.
The present rivers and hArbors bill
authorizes the adoption Of projects
which the engineers estimate viii cost
as shown by rivers and harborS his
tory, 10 years to complete the projects.
50 II all Of the projects in the pend
ing bill are appropriated for they would
share In appropriations at the rate of
one-tenth Of $4,000, 900. or In the
sum Of oil 600, 900 year.
The appropriations for rivers and
hArbors have been ct the rate, Of late
Of nifty TO hfty-five million dollars .
~ II
be increased to $50 10000, 900 year. II
the projects In the pending bill were
permitted to share equally with those
heretofore adopted the improvements
about to secure legislative approval
would absorb about one-sixth of the
annual appropriations.
Confusion Caused.
Much confusion has been caused by
the failure to distinguish between au-
thoriZationS and appropriations in
rivers and harbors legislation. The dis
tinction, it Is hoped, has been clearly
pointed out, and this should, 1t Is
believed, end the misunderstanding on
the subject.
The intention in each authorization
bill Is to cover all Of the improvements
which are necessary to give to the
waterways which the Government has
already improved their maximum of
efficiency through thorough modern
ization and to adopt such new projects
as will both reduce transportation costs
locally and add to the usefulness of the
waterway systems Of the country as
whole.
It was recently said by that great
economist, BabSon, that we had reached
O degree of efficiency in manufacturing
unequaled in the history Of the world,
but that we had gone back In diStribu-
ton; that an article costing 20 cents
reached the consumer at q cost of 81.
OF course such a distribution cost is
excessive and should be reduced in the
interest both Of the producer and of
the consumer. The means by which
the greatest savings can be made in
distribution is through reduced trans
portation costs and waterways afford
the cheapest of all means of transport
tation. These facts have long been
recognized by the farmers, who believe
that the improvement of our waterways
is one of the surest ways ITO enable
prosperous classes in our Nation. To
insure cheaper transportation for grain,
meat and other farm products and for
manufactured articles is the primary