Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1904-10-28
RIVER IMPROVEMENT AS FACTOR
IN The PROGRESS OF the WEST
Most interesting Address Delivered by Rufus P.
Jennings Of California Before Trans
Mississippi Congress, St. Louis

tE,
ST. LOUIS, Oct. 2S.--rhe following
address was delivered last evening be-
fore the Trans Mississippi Com
mercial Congress now in session In this
city by Rufus r. Jennings. president
River Improvement and Drainage as
ISOLATION of California and executive
officer OF the California Promotion |
Committee:
Water and its control Is one Of the
most vital problems confronting us.
1t is no new problem. It has been met.
with varying degrees Of success. at
many different times and under differ
ing conditions. A phase Of the water
question which In Of especial interest
Eat prssent is that which has ~ 40 with
the Improvement and control Of rivers
as influencing the development Of the
west.
III rivers. especially those fed by
mountain streams. as we all know. the
supply at certain times OF the year IL
too great, and at other times too little.
It is toward regulating tese extremes
that floods. when uncontrolled. cause
that hus goes to waste. would. Il con-
served for use att lines Of the year
when the natural supply Is insufficient.
be OF inestimablc value for irrigation
purposes. The improvement of rivers
and the control OF flood waters IL In
tinately connected with the work Of
irrigation and reclamation.
Intensified Farming
| It il ia well known fact that the low
lands tributary to rivers-lands that
have been overlooked at periods for
ages--are the richest in the world. The
| expense OF reclaimiAg these lands is
offset, many times over, by the returns
from the products Of the reclaimed
Hands. In the west intensive farming
IL rapidly taking the place Of former
methods Of farming in this country.
Al land becomes more valuable inten-
sive farming will become more and
more popular and profitable. The lands
tributary to rivers. and lands sure of
plentiful and regular water supply by
means OF Irrigation are especially
adapted to intensified farming. In
California much attention Is being
adapted to intensified farming. In Cal
ifornia much attention h being directed
TO, this kind Of farming. One Of the
chief endeavors OF the California Pro-
motion committee has been along the
line OF inducing the holders Of large
4 tracts Of lands to break them up into
small ranches or farms. As a result
opportunities have been provided with
in the reach OF the small farmer. The
small farmer is the man we want ir
the west
Navigation and Freight Rates
The Importance of keeping water
ways open for the purpose of naviga.
ton increases with the increased value
OF the adjacent lands. For. as tn
lands increase In productiveness. there
lis corresponding increased necessit,
OF facilities for transportation of pro
ducts to market and for the transpor
4 tation Of supplies from distributing
points to the farming districts.
There is no better adtuster of freigh
rates than water.
The Financial Question
In carrying out plans for river i'm
provement there always have been an
3 always will be two salient figures t
consider. First, that Of the physica
condition, and secondly. that OF tn
! financial question. Engineers OF toda
with the experience Of the past to guild
! them, are capable OF dealing with tn
physical problem. AS to the financia
aspect OF such undertakings it resolve
itself into matter of common sens
and justice. River Improvement is nee
essarily intimately associated with tn
reclamation of adjacent lands. The In
creased value of lands when reclaime'
as has been shown before, fully wal
rants the expense of reclamation. Sue
y expense should. therefore, OF cours
a be borne in part by the owners Of II
- land, as they are thereby benefited ar
n also as they are pledged, in some
the states. at least to reclaim. II
state; however. sharing in the increase
general prosperity following the In
provement of rivers and the reclaim;
ton OF lands, should also bear a pa
of the expense. 1t should do so all II
/, more In such cases where in acceptiI
certain lands granted to 1t by Il
United States, the state committer
self to reclaim such lands. The du
Of the federal government has clear
to do with the channel Of the river al
its rectihcation in the interest Of nav
! CATION. There is no doubt that this o
legation of the government will be ca
ried out In all cases where river In
provement is being done or is confer
plated.
D In the West
There has been much accomplish
in the west In the way of river II
= provement as affecting navigator. a
in the attendant benefits resulting fro
reclamation and irrigation. Many pr
jects for further work are uncer way
Notable irrigation has been accoi