Report on the Barge Canal from the Hudson River to the Great Lakes, February 12, 1901 (Volume 2); Maps and Profiles (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1911. Excerpt: ... APPENDIX XL TERMINALS A VITAL BUT NEGLECTED MATTER. (Chapter IV, "American Inland Waterways," by Herbert Quick, published by G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York.) A voyage by water, whether it be by ferry across a river, or by liner from continent to continent, is obviously a means, and not an end. It involves contact at two places at least with the land. If it be a coastwise or interior voyage, it is likely to mean many landings. We speak of the "free navigation" of our waterways; but whether or not they are really free depends on the conditions governing their terminals. Given a private monopoly of terminals, and water transport is as easily controlled for private profit as any. Nay, the monopoly need not be that of the whole shore. It need take in no more frontage than abuts on the deepest water, and deep-water harbors are rare. The ship drawing thirty feet of water can put out of business the vessel drawing only twenty, because, with only a slightly augmented expense, it can carry a load of more than thrice the tonnage. The owner of dock facilities with forty feet of water may charge in wharfage the difference per ton in freight between the earnings of the larger ship and the smaller, and the latter will be crowded off to-poorer docks, or to shallower harbors. This advantage in site will be capitalized in the values of waterfront lands, and will constitute a fixed charge on commerce. The value of increased efficiency in vessels will go to the owners of terminals rather than to the world at large in lowered rates. More than this, those who control the dock sites at which alone modern vessels can discharge and load, will see the opening offered to the control of the carrying trade itself, and will force combinations manipulated by themselves; and at last gath...