AN INLAND WATERWAYS SYSTEM 



Part of an Address before the California State Farmers' Institute 



BY 

 Dr. Clarence B. Edwords, of the California State Promotion Committee 



MOTHING is of greater moment in 250,000 tons annually. France has so 



the political economy of the pres- thoroughly recognized the importance 



ent than inland waterways. We have of water transportation that she has 



had a railroad era, which, sweeping on expended upon her harbors alone the 



to its full tide, has forced its own lim- vast sum of $155,000,000. 

 itation ; for so great has become the de- The moment seems to have arrived 



velopment of the country, through in the United States for a concerted 



railroad progress, that all lines are action of all the people of the Nation 



now taxed to supply the means of get- toward the betterment of inland wa- 



ting the products of that development terways. Certain movements, great 



to market. As a result of these press- epochs in history, appear to spring full 



ing conditions, the navigable water- panoplied into being and astonish the 



ways of the country are occupying a world with their completeness. Such 



large place in the public mind, as the movements have been nurtured long 



logical and practical relief for a condi- in the minds of a few earnest and 



tion that is becoming unbearable. studious men who have worked out 



It is realized that the congestion of the problems to satisfactory solutions, 



freight of the railroads of the country and then have educated the people to 



must be relieved through the water- conditions, so that when public an- 



ways. Millions of tons of the heavier nouncement has been made the whole 



commodities can be transported by world grasped the idea and adopted it. 



slow water routes, thus permitting the So it is with the improvement of the 



railroads to transport the more valu- inland waterways of the United States, 



able freight rapidly and expeditiously. These problems have been occupying 



Germany long ago recognized the the minds of studious men for years, 



vast importance of her inland water- and now they are prepared to ask for 



ways, and as a result every city in that concerted action by all the people, and 



empire is connected with water trans- the people are ready for the opportu- 



portation. On her 3,700 miles of nat- nity. 



ural waterways and 5,000 miles of ar- Permit me to quote from an address 

 tificial waters, the German govern- delivered by Major T. G. Dabney, 

 ment has expended the sum of $1,- chairman of the Commission of En- 

 400,000,000, yet the German empire gineers, which investigated conditions 

 has an area of but 2o8-.ooo square in California, before the River Im- 

 miles, while California alone has an provement and Drainage Association 

 area of 160,000 square miles, and the of California, in August, 1904. Ma- 

 United States as an entirety has ex- jor Dabney's remarks are of peculiar 

 pended but a little more than one- value as they show the great work ac- 

 third of the sum that the German gov- complished in the improvement of the 

 ernment has found available. Mississippi river, and show how simi- 



What this development of Ger- lar work can be carried to successful 



many's waterways means is shown in conclusion in California. Major Dab- 



the fact that through this wonderful ney outlined the sporadic and individ- 



inland waterway system that nation ual efforts of the people along the 



has developed an inland commerce ex- great waterway to protect their lands 



eeeding her outside commerce of 2,- and to restrain the floods, and showed 



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