Arizona republican., 1907-09-04
MIR. NEWLAND's ADDRESS.

I land waterways commission had only
 been in existence few months It had
 been engaged thus far in the work of investigation. and had not yet formu- lated its recommendations. What he said. therefore, must be regarded as his individual views rather than as the conclusions of the commission. Af- ter referring to the appointment of the inland waterways commission by Pres ident Roosevelt Senator Newlands said that the letter of instructions from the president enjoined upon the commission the study of all questions relating to inland waterways. with a view to recommending practical legis- lation upon the subject. The presi- dents purpose was to undertake now plan of practical utilization. i'm provement and development, which might in the coming years be worked out comprehensively and successfully. Whilst the primary purpose of ties inquiry" Mir. Newlands said. "is to fa- cilitate water transportation, it Is i'm possible to perfect the machinery of the waterways without taking into consideration the related questions of forest preservation, of irrigation of arid land. of reclamation of swamp land. of bank protection. of clarifica- tion of streams, and other kindred questions.
 Whilst these questions are import ant" said MT. Newlands. "the use of these great waterways. lakes or rivers. for purposes of transportation of men and of products is the most important.
 
 in some degree to the volume of the river or lake which should serve as a part of the great machinery of trans portatiOn. and thorough and compre- hensive plan of artificializing water ways should be adopted. with a view of securing stability of channel
 Tt is impossible" the speaker con tinued. ito indicate now what the form of legislation should be. Individually. I should say that some plan in which the chiefs of the great scientific serv- ices of the country could be brought together in a national board of public works. with power to make compre- hensiVe plans. and to work them out gradually. might be the most efficient way. I cannot imagine an organiZa tion more perfect than one which would include the chief of the engineer corps of the army. the director of the geological survey the director of our coast and geOdetic survey. our Pana- ma canal service our reclamation ser vice the chiefs of our forestry service. and of the bureau of soils. Such a board would mold into unity of action these great services, each of which is now engaged in some form of study and work relating to our waterways: and there could be created a fund sim liar to the reclamation fund. which could be placed under their, control. Their work could, in a measure, be made self compensatory. by tolls. charges for water power. and other means of revenue. Their action would cover all questions relating to the con struction of canals. the development of water power. and all the related ques- tions of irrigation. reclamation. fores- try. soil treatment, etc. Their action would not be spasmodic and disjointed. as has been the action of congress up- on these subjects: but great and com prehensive plans could be inaugurated. which they could gradually work out within the limits of the fund created by congressional action
 -Mr Newland in concluding his speech. touched on the naturalization of the development of inland rivers, lakes. and all modes of transportation, Including railways. and the final solu tion of all questions by national in-