The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-05
Much Money Spent.

Niii dso give protection to the adjacent bottom lands.
 Much Money Spent.
 Immense sums have already been spent upon the Mississippi by the states and the nation, yet much of 1t remains practically unused for commerce. The reasons for this act are many. One is that the work done by the national government at least has not been based upon a definite and continuous plan. Appropriations by Con- gross, instead of assuring the steady pro- gress and timely completion of each piece or work as it was undertaken, have been irregular and uncertain. As a direct con- sequence, far-reaching plans have been discouraged and continuity in execution
 has been made impossible. It fs alto gether unlikely that better results will be obtained so long as the method is fol- lowed of making partial appropriations at Irregular intervals for works which should never be undertaken until ry ts certain that they can be carried to com pletion within definite and reasonable time. Planned and orderly development is essential to the best use of every natural resource, and to none more than to the best use of our inland waterways. In the case of the waterways it has been consptcuously absent Because such fore sight was lacking the interests of our rivers have been in fact overlooked. In splte or the immense sums spent upon them. It Is evident that their most ur- gent need Is a far-sighted and compre- hensive plan, dealing not with navigation alone, nor with irrigation alone, but con- sidering our inland waterways as a whole, and with reference to every use to which they can be put. The central motive of such plan should be to get from the streams of the United States not only the fullest but also the most permanent a1A of the nation as whole.
 The industries developed under the stirs
 ulus of the railroads are for the most p, 4 permanent industries, and therefore u
 form the basis for future deveIopm, But the railroads have shown that alone can not meet the demands of country for transportation, and where
 is true the rivers should begin 10 sup
 ment the railroads, to the benefit of b 1 by relieving them of certain of the profitable classes of freight. The
 far-seeing railroad men, I am gle
 tell you, realize this fact, and ma
 them have become earnest advocai the improvement of the Milssissir
 that it may become sort of inlar l board, extending from the gulf the interior, and I hope ultmatel, great lakes An investigation of ;1e H posed lakes -to-the-gulf deep watt sas
 now in progress under an appr of the last Congress We shall results with the keenest intei decision is obviously of capita
 ance to our internal develop, scarcely less so in relation t, commerce.
 Important Project, This is but one of the ma
 which it is time to consider. most important one. Plans provement of our inland nay
 fairly begin with our greats
 it's chief tributaries, but the. there. The lands which drains include vast area fields and fruit lands, m
 is not easily reached by removal of Instructions ir and it's chief tributaries | navigation and inexpensiv portation fully POGO miles Sacramento and San Joa their tidal openings int bay are partly navigable gaton should be mai proved so as to open | rich valley of Califorr | traffic, in order to f. | regulation and the COT l for other purposes. An | of the United States ment so better l.,
 ments of increasing aH | soil, increasing ms sH rapidly growing pop While thus the imp l. | gation is a vital pro er | questions of no l h. nected with our wa ,se 1 relates to the pur tt for | the supply of towns ano g' the l prevention of pollution by manutact-ing | and other industries, and to the protection | of drainage areas from soil wash through | forest covering or judicious culti~ ion. 1 With our constantly tncreasin" ula- 1 ton this question omes |" lore pressing, because ltsz fety l of great bodies ctly | involved.
 | One of M -Ns | Citizens of all ] atry | are coming to rel lm- | portant the impr tion | may be, it Is onl to
 be kept in view. avi- | saiion is hardly the | demands for reel iga- | ton in the arid age in the humid loy .ing