Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1907-12-07
Inland Waterway systems
Should De Developed.


The conservation OF our national re-
sources ana their proper use constitute
the fundamental problem which under
lies almost every other problem OF our
national life, We must MAINTAIN tor
our civilization the adequate material
basis without which that civilization
cannot exist. We must show foresight
we must look ahead. AS nation we
not only enjoy wonderful measure oil
present prosperity but II TINS prosper
ity Is used Alright 1t is an earnest OF
future success such as no other nation
Will have. The reward or foresight Tor
this nation is great and easily toretold
But there must be the look ahead
there must be realization or the tact
that to waste, to destroy, our natural
resources, to skin and exhaust the lana
instead of using 1t 80 as to Increase its
usefulness, will result in undermining
in the days of our children the very
prosperity which we ought by right to
hand down to them ampliiied and deVel-
! oped. For the last few years, through
Several agencies, the government has
been endeavoring to get our people to
look ahead and to substitute planned
and orderly development of our re-
sources in place OF haphazard striv-
ing for immediate profit. Our great
river systems should be developed as
national water highways; the Missis-
sippi, with its tributaries. standing first
in Importance, and the Columbia sec
ond although there are many others Of
Importance on the Pacific and Atlantic
and the gulf slopes, The national gov
ernment should undertake this work,
and | hope a beginning will be made
in the present congress; and the great
est Of all our rivers, the Mississippi,
| should receive especial attention. From
the Great Lakes to the mouth of the
MISSISSIPPI there should be deep wa
! terway with deep waterways leading
from 1t to the east and the west. such
| a waterway would practically mean
| the extension OF our coast line into the
very heart or our country. 1t would be
of incalculable benefit to our people. II
| begun at once 1t can be carried through
in time appreciably to relieve the con-
| gestion OF our great freight-carrying
| lines OF railroads. The work should be
| systematically and continuously carried
| forward in accordance with some we'll
| conceived plan. The main streams
should be improved to the highest
point OF efficiency before the improve
ment Of the branches is attempted and
the work should be Kept free from
every taint OF recklessness or Jobbery."
Attention Is called to the work OF ir-
rigaton ana reclamation or govern
ment lands. In the same connection he
asks Tor revision or the pubic land
laws along the lines proposed by the
| public lands commission. Believes the
government should Increase its efforts
to conserve our forests ana should IN
/ hV DtlrrhnSH the existing forest
preserves. on the subject of the natural
resources of the nation he says;
In the eastern United States the
mineral fuels have already passed into
.e 81, 80 - ,t,,,.. ,aS, ., ''.O
7, 10 oh,,lous ,hot thosa fnais shonI5 hn
conserved and not wasted, and 1t would
be well to protect the people against
unjust and eXtortionate prices, so far
as that can still be done. What he's
been accomplished In the great oil
| fields OF the indian Territory by the
action of the administration offers a
striking example OF the good results
of such a policy. In my Judgment the
government should have the right 10
keep the fee of the coal, oil and gas
fields in its own possession and to lease
the rights to develop them under
proper regulations; or else, IL the con-
gress will not adopt this method, tine
coal deposits ehould be sold under linn
itations. to conserve them as putlic
utilities. the right to mine coal being
separated from the title to the soil.
The regulations should permit coal
lands to be worked In sufficient guam
tity by the several corporations. The
present limitations have been absurd.
excessive, and serve no useful purpose.