The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-02-24
An Experiment in Government
Enterprise
Chicago Tribune)

A rev facts cleaned from our files
regarding government barge line oper-
alton on our inland waterways make
interesting reading when pieced to-
gether. Turning to the issue of July
6, 1918, We find press notice to the
effect that the government would pro-
coed to establish barge service on the
lower Mississippi and Warrior rivers
TO relieve the railways Of much Of the
heavy movement of bulk commodities
that Is clogging their wheels and de-
laying transportation Of war mater
ials."
Commencing with two barge loads of
grain that moved south from st. Louis
on Sept. %, 1918, weekly service was
inaugurated to New Orleans. A little
later we find q statement from the di-
rector general of railways that the first
five round trips had produced reve-
Eues Of $48,500 at cost Of $4,000.
The next items of interest consist
of series Of controversies involving
the disposition Of the government
barge line after the armistice removed
the necessity for tightening the rail-
way burden. From this emerged the
suggestion by the director Of railways
that a "thoroughgoing experiment
should be made with this equipment
to prove or diSprove economic justifi-
cation" Finally there appears state
ment Of Maj. Gen. T. Q. Ashburn that
during the year 1884 the Federal Barge
line probably will commence opera
tions on the Missouri river and that
the corporation is now the greatest
common carrier on interior rivers and
canals in the world. It Is no longer
dubbed an experiment.
AS a wartime emergency measure
this service was q failure. AS an ex-
pertinent it has taught us nothing OF
any value. We could have surmised
that any kind Of carrier operating free
OF overhead and tax obligations would
be able to meet its pay roll without
the expenditure Of twenty three mil
lion dollars to secure this information
We were willing to concede to the
advocates OF government operation
their emergency service and raised nc
particular objection to an experiment
on a limited scale. although able to Sc,
neither the necessity nor the logic, but
It IS certainly time to call halt to this
assumption Of common carrier status
Continuance Is not only unfair to com.
pettng forms Of transport that mus
meet capital expenditures and take
but actually Is proving q hindrance tc
the very development it Is supposed te
foster. Assuming that the restora-
ton Of river service will be profitable
and desirable. no private group IS 60
ing to risk capital to compete will
q government enterprise sprawled al
over the rivers, occupying the mos,
desirable waterfront sites and willin,
to resort to all the tricks Of the trad,
to attract business and make favor.
able showing.
The experiment WAS to be sold a.
soon as It had demonstrated its use.
fulness. Offers for the lower Mississ.
ippi service have been declined be.
cause the war department has rulec
that the properties must be sold er
bloc. The highly improbable uppel
Mississippi and Warrior services must
60 with the lower TO add Missouri
river navigation to this condition viii
have the effect Of taking the barge
line off the market to all practica
purposes.