The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-12-03

country. one or the most important In
the United States, deserves special
consideration ut the hands OF the con-
gress. Our grain Is sold almost exclu-
sively by grades. To secure satisfac-
tory results In our home markets and
to facilitate our trade abroad these
grades should approximate the highest
degree of uniformity and certainty.
The present diverse methods Of inspec-
tion and grading throughout the coun-
try under different laws and boards re-
suit In confusion and lack of uniform
ity, destroying that confidence which
is necessary for healthful trade. Com
plants against the present methods
have continued for years, and they are
growing In volume and intensity not
only In this country, but abroad. i
therefore suggest to the congress the
advisability OF a national system OF in
spection and grading of grain entering
into interstate and foreign commerce
as remedy for the present evils.
Inland Waterways.
The conservation of our natural re-
sources and their proper use constitute
the fundamental problem which under
lies almost every other problem OF our
national life. We must maintain for
our civilization the adequate material
basis without which that civilization
cannot exist we must show foresight;
we must look ahead. AS a nation we
not only enjoy wonderful measure of
present prosperity, but If this prosper
ity is used Alright 1t Is an earnest Of
future success such as no other nation
will have. The reward Of foresight for
this nation Is great and easily foretold.
But there must be the look ahead;
there must be a realization Of the fact
that to waste, to destroy our natural
resources, to skin and exhaust the land
instead of using II so as to increase it's
usefulness, will result In undermining
i'm the days of our children the very
prosperity which we ought by right to
hand down to them amplified and de-
veloped For the last few years
through several agencies the govern
ment has been endeavoring to get our
people to look ahead and to substitute
a planned and orderly development Of
our resources in place Of a haphazard
striving for immediate profit. Our
great river systems should be develop
ed as national water highways, the
Mississippi, with its tributaries. stand
ing first in Importance and the Colum-
aIf ar m m W
others of Importance on the Pacific,
the Atlantic and the gulf slopes. The
national government should undertake
this work, and hope a beginning will
be made In the present congress, and
the greatest of all our rivers, the Mis-
sissippi. should receive especial atten-
ton. From the great lakes to the
mouth of the Mississippi there should
be a deep waterway with deep water
ways leading from 1t to the east and
the west. Such waterway would
practically mean the extension Of our
coast line into the very heart Of our
country. 1t would be of incalculable
benefit to our people. If begun at once
it can be carried through in time ap-
preciably to relieve the congestion of
our great freight carrying lines Of rail
roads. The work should be systematic
ally and continuously carried forward
in accordance with some well conceiv-
ed plan. The main streams should be
improved to the highest point Of eff
cheney before the Improvement OF the
branches is attempted, and the work
should be kept free from every taint Of
recklessness or jobbery. The inland
waterways which lie just back OF the
whole eastern and southern coasts
should likewise be developed. More
over, the development Of our water
ways involves many other important
water problems. all Of which should be
considered as part Of the same general
scheme. The government dams should
be used to produce hundreds Of thou
sands OF horsepower as an incident to
improving navigation, for the annual
value Of the unused water power OF
the United States perhaps exceeds the
annual value of the products OF all our
mines. AS an incident to creating the
deep waterway down thY Mississippi
the government should build along Its
whole lower length levees which, TAX
en- together with the control Of the
headwaters, will at once and forever
put complete stop to all threat OF
foods In the immensely fertile delta
region. The territory lying adjacent
TO the Mississippi along its lower
course will thereby become one Of the
most prosperous and popuous as 1t al
ready is one Of the most fertile farm
ing regions in all the world. have
appointed an inland waterways com
mission to study and outline compre
hensive scheme Of development alon,
all the lines indicated. Later shal
lay its report before the congress.
Reclamation Work.
Irrigation should be far more exten
sively developed than at present. no
only in the states Of the great plain
and the Rocky mountains, but in man!
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