Evening star., 1938-09-18
Great Industrial Empire Seen
Following T.V. AS Cheap Power
Navigation Channel of Tennessee River to Open
Way for Lower Transportation Rates.
Hence Goods for Less Money.
BY John Lear,
Associated Press staff Writer.
ORR1S, Tenn.-The makings of a
new industrial empire lie here in
the Tennessee Valley.

n 1ORRIS, Tenn-The makings of "a
M new industrial empire lie here in
the Tennessee Valley
They are little-known by-prod-
ucts Of the T. " A.
II properly put together, they can build
one of the greatest industrial regions in
American history.
The task of assembling them is now be-
ginning. When or how it will end are
questions for time to answer
The No. making is the new navi-
CATION channel of the Tennessee River,
which will be deepened to a year round
minimum of feet from its junction with
the Ohio at Paducah, KY, to Knoxville in
East Tennessee distance of 648 miles
rs result of construction of T. " AS
series of power producing, flood-controlling
DAMS
This channel will make the Tennessee
part OF the largest improved inland water
way in the world, connecting with the Ohio
and the Mississippi, the Gulf and the Great
Lakes, to touch a 570O-mile network of
port cities stretching from Florida Louisi-
ana and Texas to Illinois and Iowa, Minne-
sofa and Michigan, New York and Penn
sylvania
Cheapest Water Highway.
As an avenue for goods moving to and
from market. this water highway is in
tended to be the cheapest in existence.
Here are some examples T. " A. engineers
give Of how freight rates on it compare
with rail rates under present schedules of
the Interstate Commerce Commission:
A 36,O00-pound carload of iron and
steel, from Chicago to Chattanooga, would
cost 20 per cent less by water than by
Sail, saving of s35.2s Chattanooga in
dustries use $4,000 tons of steel year. If
. al OF this moved by water, its transporta-
ton would cost $4,000 less than by rail.
A 500-ton shipment of gasoline from
Wood River H., to Knoxville would cost
e9.40 ton by rail, $2.65 by water, a saving
II u per cent.
A carload of canned goods shipped from
Newport, Tenn, to st. Louis would cost
~ per cent less If moved by water and
rail than II moved entirely by rail-
Drugs. medicines and chemicals could
doat from Peoria. ILL.,, to Decatur, Ala,
at one-fifth less cost than by rail
Business already is taking advantage
OF this lower marketing expense, although
the deepening of the Tennessee Channel
will not be completed for at least nine
more years. Wheat was shipped in by
water this year from Kansas City, and
gasoline from the Gulf on big barges
sharply in contrast with the picturesque
packet boats of an earlier river boom. One
tug can push three of these freighters
easily. hauling as much as would two
trainloads of so tank cars each. It is
one way OF beating rail freight rates which
eoutherners say discriminate against them.
Industries Developed.
Up and down the river the first outlines
Of industrial development are taking shape.
Terminal sites and waterfront locations
for factories are being acquired along its
banks, purchases being recorded to date
at Chattanooga, Knoxville and Perrysville,
Tenn, and Sheffield, Decatur, Gunthers-
vile and Muscle Shoals, Ala. Inquiries
on the prospects for navigation flow regu-
larly into the Offices of the T. " A. and
the United States Army engineers.
This growing activity is rooted in two
historical facts:
OF the 3,071 counties in the United States
30 produce so per cent of all the manu.
factured goods in the country and have
20 per cent of the Nations total effective
purchasing power. OF the 80 counties, IS
have water transportation.
Virtually all the waterways that have
been improved by the Government since
the World War have increased commerce
by decreasing prices Transportation ac-
counts for as much as go per cent of the
price consumers pay for goods) and thus
expanding consumption. Illinois river traf-
nc multiplied 10 times in 10 years. The
Mississippi system carries almost three
times as much freight now as in 1920.
T. V. A. traft1c experts expect even
better results from the navigation channel
Of the Tennessee than from other improved
rivers. The high dams of the T. v. A..
they say, mean fewer time consuming locks
and wider pools in which to navigate. The
big lakes impounded behind the dams
can absorb an ordinary flood with only a
sight change in water level, providing q
more constant shore line than is found in
most rivers. Docks and loading equip
less expensive.
Compared to Panama.
Contemplating these advantages, the
r. v. A. men go so far as to compare
the Tennessee's inland possibilities with the
coastal results Of the Panama Canal, which
stimulated industrial development all along
the Atlantic, the Gulf and the Pacific.
The T. v. A. is keeping guiding hand
on these vast potentialities to see that
the thing is planned as much as possible
for what it considers to be the best in
terests Of the people Of this territory It
has directed the acquisition of sites for
publicly owned terminals. 1t is studying
the relation between river transport and
feeder lines, rail and truck, to reach into
the back country in integrated develop
ment
The resources of no section Of the United