Intracoastal Waterway - 19th-century Growth

19th-century Growth

Starting in 1826, Congress authorized the first survey for an inland canal between Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, and during early developments the growth of steam power to propel water, land and sea transportation. Over time, additional portions of other coastal improvements were authorized for development, including the Houston Ship Channel and the Delaware River in 1872. Following the Civil War, waterway system developments suffered as government funding moved increasingly from navigation to railroads; over time this resulted in anti-competitive pricing and acquisition practices by railroads over water transportation, but also in insufficient haulage capacity to move the required freight to the coasts. These conditions would be investigated, accompanied by considered conclusions and recommendations, as early 1873 by the "Report of Windom Select Committee" from the Senate's Select Committee on Transportation Routes to the Seaboard, but their plans and recommendations "received less attention than was anticipated, of course by reason of the rapid growth of interest in railways." While some policy corrections would be implemented over the next 30 years, continued insufficient capacity of railroad transportation would become apparent following the harvest season of 1906.

In the River and Harbors Appropriations Acts of 1882 and 1884, Congress signaled its intent to improve waterways to benefit the nation by promoting competition amongst transportation modes. The earlier act was the first act of Congress to combine appropriations for development of nation's waterways with a reaffirmation of the policy of freedom from tolls and other user charges, first stated in 1787; it was passed over President Chester Arthur's veto, who considered it wasteful spending for the government's growing federal surplus. In 1887, the Interstate Commerce Act would establish federal regulation of railroads; Congress continued to promote the policy of freedom from tolls or special taxes on waterways. In 1890 Congress passed the Sherman Antitrust Act, the first Federal statute to limit cartels and monopolies, but the federal government would utilize it minimally until Theodore Roosevelt's presidency more than 10 years later.