1909-] HAUPT— NATION AND THE WATERWAYS. 63 



heretofore appropriated for by Congress, and for continuing in 

 operation such dredging and other plants or equipment of any kind 

 owned by the United States government." Thus no extension of 

 works is permitted and furthermore it is proposed to increase the 

 dredging plants owned by the government doing work by the eight 

 hour day and in open waters, without regulating works to maintain 

 the channels so improved. 



A brief analysis of the unprecedentedly large appropriation of 

 1907, indicates that more than one half is applied to transfer points 

 on or near the seaboard and at terminals, so that the overland, 

 domestic traffic is not materially relieved, while a large sum is also 

 applicable to tentative works and to efforts to compete with the 

 deteriorating forces of nature by mechanical devices, involving large 

 annual expenditures for operation and maintenance. 



A general review of the conditions which prevail as to the deca- 

 dence of the waterways of the country, indicates that the assump- 

 tion of authority by the government has operated to restrain state 

 and corporate initiative, has reduced the available mileage of the 

 canals to about one half that of i860, has added largely to the 

 expenses for maintenance and has rendered it difficult, if not im- 

 possible, to secure legislation for much needed local improvements 

 because of the claims of governmental jurisdiction and control, thus 

 destroying competition by water and preventing development. 



Remedial Legislation. 



Since it has been shown, in cxtcnso, by citations from the high- 

 est authorities that the states have not surrendered their sovereign 

 control over the local waterways included within their boundaries, 

 and that it is practically impossible to secure national appropria- 

 tions for such local improvements, save for political purposes, it 

 would appear to be most practicable and necessary to confine the 

 operations of the government to those interior waterways which are 

 strictly interstate, and the improvement of which would promote 

 the general welfare; such as the rivers which form borders between 

 two or more states in whole or in large part, as in the case of the 

 Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Delaware, Potomac, Savannah, Colum- 



PROC. AMER. PHIL. SOC. XLVIII. I9I E, PRINTED JULY 6, I909. 



