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December, 1913 of distribution by rail or by seagoing vessels. Another advantage of these waterways is that they are available to every shipper,--they are free high- ways of commerce. Anyone can use them under reasonable rules and regu- lations. It is essential that suitable termi- nals shall be provided at shipping points, and these should be owned by municipalities and regarded as public utilities. The powers and authority of the Interstate Commerce Commis- sion should be made, if they are not already sufficient, to include the regu- lation of rates on inland waterways involving interstate traffic, and re- quiring traffic arrangements between the .waterways and rail linés. The commission should have power to fix the minimum as well as the maximum rates on. the rivers and canals. and the entire system. Facilities for Trade We need to provide every facility _for carrying on trade, not only be- tween different coasts of the United States and varios regions along the same coast, but with foreign coun- tries. The completion of the Panama canal foretells immense increase in our trade. Commercial transactions are experiencing a new stimulus.. The commerce which will move along the Atlantic: and Gulf . coast) and out through the south Atlantic ocean and Gulf of Mexico, is bound to increase in volume. Our deep water ports will be taxed to their utmost. The chief points of distribution will be crowded: The demand for facilities will be urgent and continuous. Our rail- way lines will experience no want of business no. matter. to what extent we improve our harbors and rivers and build canals connecting up a great, efficient, complete waterway system, bhe 'tecent "tart act "car ries a provision -which gives a 5 per cent differential in favor of im- ports carried This legislation will unquestionably stimulate shipbuilding in this country, and greatly benefit our merchant ma- tine. This is not new. About the first. tariff act recorded on the stat- utes of the United States, prepared by James Madison, and approved by George Washington, and commended by Thomas Jefferson, was just such a provision in the earliest days of the republic. For some reason it was dropped, after some years. Now in this century we are impressed again with its wisdom and we realize the necessity for ships, and the building up of our maritime interests. Cheap transportation furnished by the highly developed waterways is in American bottoms. -- THE MARINE REVIEW generally admitted to be a chief con- tributing cause of Germany's marvel- ous industrial and commercial growth. The railroads are government-owned and operated, and are not employed to destroy a supplementary method of transportation. France has adopted a comprehen- sive scheme for improving her rivers and harbors and internal waterways, involving the expenditure of $212,- 000,000. The extension and improve- ment of canals will be included. Not over 60 miles of existing canals are not in use for transportation pur- poses. Canal navigation contributes immensely to supply facilities to many towns and cities. No country hag the natural conditions which. the United States possesses, by reason of which waterways can be more conveniently available so readily. Great improvement has been made in the means of furnishing motive power. The gasoline engine for boats, the producer gas engine for barges, the refrigeration devices whereby fresh meats and fruits and vegetables can be preserved in transit for months are modern appliances which will in- crease the use of waterways and add to water-borne commerce. In making navigable many rivers, that mysterious hydro-electric power can be developed and_ transmitted hundreds of miles to turn the wheels of Andustty,. One cu. it. ol water falling 9 ft. every second makes one truck horsepower. Millions of horse- power can be developed in our rivers and streams and today as you travel across the country you observe a perfect forest of towers along which this power: iS "beige 'transmit ted for lighting cities, operating car lines, running the machinery in fac- tories and developing new enterprises and opening up new opportunities. Florida is peculiarly blessed by riv- ers, harbors, lakes, bays, bayous and sounds which only need to be con- nected up by easy and inexpensive means. The South Atlantic and Gulf states have been given by nature wonderful waters which can be readily joined so as to furnish thousands of miles for navigation by every kind of craft. It is our duty to improve and uti- lize these facilities. W. B. Close, senior member of the banking house of Close Bros. & Co., of London and Chicago, is authority for the statement that the White Pass & Yukon route will build two first-class ocean-going steamers to ply between Seattle and Alaskan ports. The new steamers will cost approximately $1,000,000 each. 'and much freight. Our local harbor 449 Benefit of River Improvements By M. C. Garber Madison, Ind., is deeply interested in river, lake and harbor improve- ments. From the national standpoint the development of these waterways is essential. Germany has achieved her industrial growth during the last four decades largely through the deep- ening and unification of her water- ways. France, Holland and Belgium, England and Scotland have also done much and profited in these directions. Vhe marvelous development and pros- perity of the Rhine cities has been the immediate consequence of river and harbor improvement, modern ter- minals and the removal of hampering restrictions. Business on Rhine boats is conducted according to railroad system. The construction of the locks at Sault Ste. Marie and the deepening of the harbors upon the great lakes brought into existence that vast in- land water traffic which is now the admiration of the world. Brazil's enormous system of rivers is being opened to commerce by the former secretary of the Rivers and Harbors Congress, the able and distinguished Captain, Jo B, sEllison: The Panama canal, the most stu- - pendous engineering triumph of man, is about to change the oceanic ave- nues of the world and enlarge and cheapen commerce. The grand plans for intercoastal waterways along the Atlantic and the Gulf, and the im- provements for the Pacific coast are well matured. The work in the Miss- issippi valley with its 5,000 miles of navigable waterways drags along slowly where it should be- expedited and completed. Given the facilities for commerce and it will appear upon the Mississippi river and its tributar- ies as it did upon the lakes, the Rhine and elsewhere. Increased business has followed the 9-ft. stage on the Ohio river. Madi- son has enjoyed the benefit of the dam at Louisville for two summers. It now has, and will continue to pos-. sess, the longest unobstructed stretch of the Ohio river from Pittsburgh to Cairo. For fifty miles down and thirty miles up the river from Madison there is and will be no lock or dam, but 80 miles in all of unobstructed channel, 9 ft. deep the year round. The ef- fects are visible already in the unin- terrupted schedules of boats from Warsaw, Ky., to Louisville. Gasoline boats from below and above M?odison and the Kentucky river land daily at this port, bringing many passengers troubles have all disappeared.