Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-09-04
THE NATIONAL
IRRIGATION
CONGRESS
SENATOR NEWLANDS
ADDRESSES DELEGATES
Father of the Reclamation Act
Tells of Proposed Work of In
Land Waterways Commits
sion in West,

the National Irrigation congress and
there was a large attendance of dele
gates when the morning session was
called to order bv Governor Chamber
lain shortly before 10 o'clock. The
congress agreed that all resolutions
shall be referred to a committee on
resolutions by title only. AS result
the debate at the outset Will be shut
off.
4 letter from Secretary Garfield of
the interior department was read re-
GREETING his inability to attend the con-
greSs.
United States Senator Newlands OF
Nevada. a member of the inland wa
terways commission, was introduced
after the opening of the convention,
and he received a warm welcome. He
delivered an Interesting address on the
subject witr which the inland Wa
waterways commission deals.
senator Newiands' Address.
Senator Newands said that the In
land waterways commission had only
been in existence a few months. 1t
had been engaged thus far In the work
of investigation, and had not yet for
mulated its recommendations. What
he said. therefore. must be regarded
as his Individual views rather than as
the conclusions of the commission.
After referring to the appointment of
the inland waterways commission by
President Roosevelt Senator New
lands said that the letter of instrue-
tions from the president enjoined upon
the commission the study of all ques
tions relating to inland waterways,
with a view to recommending practi-
cal legislation upon the subject. The
presidents purpose was to undertake
now a plan of practical utilization, i'm
provement and development, which
might in the coming years be worked
out comprehensively and successfully.
while the primary purpose of this
inluiry," Mr.. Newlands said lis to
facilitate water transportation, 1t Isl
impossible to perfect the machinery or
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, and other /
kindred questions.
whilst these questions are import !
ant" said Mr.. Newlands, "the use of
these great waterways, lakes or rivers, I.
for the purposes OF transportation of
men and of products is the most I'M |
portant Every creek, every brook. !
contributes in some degree to the vol (
ume of the river or lake which would (
serve as a part of the great machin-
cry Of transportation, and a thorough |
and comprehensive plan of artificial |
izing waterways should be adopted 1
with a view of securing stability OF
channel"
1T Is impossible" the speaker con-
tinued. ito indicate now what tho /
form of Legislation should be. Indi- |
vidually. | should say that some plan |
in which the chiefs of the great sci |
entifc services of the country could |
be brought together in national |
board of public works, with power to 1
make comprehensive plans, and to I
work them out gradually. might be the /
most efficient way. | cannot imagine I
an organization more perfect than one I
which would include the chief of the I
engineer corps of the army, the dirsr-
tor of the geological survey, the di- 1
rector OF our coast and geodetic SIR 4
vey. our Panama canal service. our
reclamation service. the chiefs of our (
forestry service. and of the bureaus Of |
soils. Such 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
and waterways: and there could be |
created a fund similar to the reclama-
tion fund, which could be placed un-
in a measure, be made self-compensa-
tory by tolls. charges for water power.
and other means of revenue. Their |
action would cover all questions relat-
ing to the Improvement Of harbors and
rivers. the construction Of canals. the
development of water power, and all
the related questions Of irrigation,
reclamation. forestry, soil treatment,
etc. Their action would not be spas
modic and disjOinted. as has been the
action OF congress upon these subjects;
hut great and comprehensive plans
could be inaugurated. which they
could gradually work out within the
FI hnHs
sional action.
The people OF the United States
are awakening 10 the necessity of util-
izing the national power for the pro-
motion of the general welfare. We
banking and currency be-
cause We realized the folly OF having
as many different financial systems
as there were states. the danger Of
imitation and panic arising from care
less and inconsiderate state action. We
irrigation because We saw
the futility Of subiectiBg the treatment
Of the sources. the water sheds and
the valleys. OF streams flowing through
several states. 70 the localized action or
the indfvi iual states. We realized that
every great river must he treated a.
a unit regardless Of the state lines,
and that the action Of the Union on
lines was therefore essential
We nationalized the quarantine be
cause we realized that the health and
safety Of the entire nation might be
endangered by the carelessness or the
Indifference Of single state. We are
now taking up the question of nation
alizing the development Of the inland
waterways embracing lakes and rivers
and connecting canals. and including
an the related questions Of forestry
% irrigation. Of channel opening az
well a. navigation: and the south. in
this latter movement. r. taking the
lead for national action. realizing. rs
i does. that the promotion of inter-
state and foreign commerce was one OF
he primary causes ~ the union ~ tne
states az n nation.
The demand for national action as
70 water transportation will include i