Show STUDY OF CANALS AND WATERWAY congressman burton found only one ca nal project to compare with the proposed erie canal in cost berlin sept 9 the russian cabinet has decided to again propose to the construction of a garat cross country canal lo 10 connect the chine weser and elbe thus completing the emperors proposed system of internal waterways congressman burton chairman of the rivers and harbors committee of tho house who has returned hero from his inquiry into the river and harbor improvements prove ments in eastern and southeastern europe bays this is the only canal project seriously considered in europe that compares in expense to the proposed erie canal improvements the rhine abe canal was estimated to coat though it is now thought it will cost considerably corp morp air burton who is accompanied by major F mahan united states engineer corps retired and his secretary sir floyd were received most courteously in tha countries through which he passed russia provided mr burton a steamer for their transportation and off and other engineers went with mr burton and his party on the volga from tier to Tsar itzin aco mites mr burton spent eleven days on the volga and then visited the black sea harbors the danube and the upper elbe speaking of his investigations which were begun early in june mr burton eliat we found throwing light upon proposition in the river and harbor works of the united states everywhere in europe there is disposition to make increased use of the inland waterways whether rivera or canals the value of these means of transportation ij coming to be realized more and more in france and germany and portions of russia the quantity of freight carried by water is increasing more than that carried by rail there ia a strong movement for the improvement of inland waterways and there ia a growing opinion also though not as potent or universal in favor of tolls on the waterways which are improved it would seem that europe affords better opportunities than america to study the relations between railroad and waterway trana portion because frequently a state which is improving its rivers and building canals also owns the railways but for various reasons tho field is not much better in some countries the policies adopted towards the two methods of transportation aie widely din erent in others the railways and waterways are managed by differ i ent government departments each thyi ing to make a good showing and the 5 competition which arises ia almost as keen as in the united states i |