Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-10-03

on the great natural highway which
runs past your very doors-a high
way nee 80 important. now almost
abandoned, which | hope this nation
will see not only restored to all rs
former usefulness To correspond Win
the extraordinary growth In wealth
and population OF the Mississippi val
ley We have lived in an era Of phe-
nonfenai railroad building. As route.
for merchandise. the iron highways
have completely supplanted he old
wagon roads. n under their cOmpe-
tftion the Importance of the water
highways has been much diminished
The growth of the railway system has
been rapid al over the world. but no.
where so rapid as In the United
States. Accompanying his there has
grown in the United states a tendency
toward the practically complete aban-
donment OF the system of water trans
poftation. such a tendency Is GER
tainly not healthy and ! am convinced
that Il viii not be permanent. There
are many classes Of commodities. es-
pecially those which are pei ishable lp
their nature. and where the value Is
high relatively 70 the bulk. which VIII
always be carried by rail. But bulky
commodities which are not Of a per-
ishable nature Will always be specially
suited for the conditions Of water
transport. To Illustrate the truth Of
this statement II would only be neoes-
sary 10 point 10 the use of the canal
system In many countries OF the Old
World: but II can be illustrated even
better by what has happened nearer
home. The Great lakes offer a prime
example of the importance OF a good
water highway for mercantile traffic.
As the line OF traffic runs through
lakes, the conditions are IN some re-
spects different from what must OBJ
tain IN even the most important river /
Nevertheless II N wen 10 remember
that a very large part Of this traffic
II conditioned upon an artificial water
way, q canal-the famous 500. The
commerce that passes through the 500
far surpasses Ia bulk and In value
that OF the Suc1 canal.
From every standpoint II Is desira-
Bile for the nation 10 join In improv-
ing the greatest system Of river high
ways within IT. borders, a system ser-
ond only In Importance to the high
way afforded by the Great lakes; the
highways OF the Mississippi and rs
great tributaries, such as the Missouri
and Ohio,
Task for the Government.
This river system trayerses too
many states to render II possible to
leave merely 10 the states the task Of
hitting II for thu greatest use OF which
" Is capable. IL Is emphatically a
task, for this great river sys-
TEN II itself one OF our chief national
assets. Within the last few years
there has been an awakening in this
to the need Of both the con-
servation and the development of our
national under the supervl. F,
sion OF and by the aid OF the federal !
government. This II especially true /,
" all that concerns our running wa }
iers. IN the mountains from which +,
The springs start We are now endeav-
)ring to preserve the forests which
the water supply and prevent D.,
90 startling variations between :
and freshets. Below the 4
mountains. In the high dry regions Of I,
he western plains, we endeavor 10 se- :
'ure the proper utilization OF waters !,
or irrigation. This Ii at the sources =
u the streams, Farther down. where :
hey become navigable. aim must <
% To try TO develop a policy which =
hall secure the utmost advantage T.
rom the n%avigable waters. Finally, -
'n the lower courses OF the Mississippi =
he nation should do It's fun share Of
he work OF levee building, and. inoi- y
TO It's purpose OF serving nav !,
cation, this viii also prevent the ruii y
{ alluylal bottoms by floods. our !,
n%owlcdEc n not sufficiently far adj :,
~ - ~ ~ EIFNNNH afN a.
itely ~ 10 the plans which should be y
doptedi hut let me say one word ~ J"
The danger OF entering On =
ny such scheme lies In the adoption -
I impossible and undosirabla plans. ~
the adoption of which means ~
n outlay OF money eNtravagant be- -,
ond all proportion 20 the return. or ~
.hich. though not feasible. are not. 90
TO other plans, OF an Inn :,
which warrant their adop- ~,
u will not be easy TO secure the n
OF a fundamentally cautious :,
eople Ike our TO the adoption of "
ich n policy a. that I hope 10 see I,
and even II We begin To- ~
'llow out such "a policy Il ccrtaini5 "
entail reckless oxtravagbrcs or 30 -
tainted with 1obbery. The interests
the nation as a whole must be al n,
ays the first consideration. ~
This IL properly a national moV,- ~
ent, n all interstate aud tor N
commerce. and The improvements ~
nd methods OF carrying II on. are ~
FOR national action. More ID
while OF course. the mntttr Of ,'
II improvement Of the Mississippi !,
Yer n IL tributaries h one when y.
.pecia'lv concerns IA, great middle ~
iftion { our Count y. the raulon be- -.
the Alieghenies and the Rock ~
- NfA " " 81 CONCERN 10 rest tiI.f
r. country also, Tor u cannot too oftun !, =,
a be said that whatever h really M
'nctcial O. one part 90 our country ~
ultimately Of benefit a. the whole. IA,
rs II H. a good thing FOR the ~,
terior Of our ounuN that the ata- =,
on the Atlantic uad Pacific and "
e. gulf should b. ma 4 safe aud ~,
mmodiou-. 80 u d to The interest 90 -
e. jewellers ON the coast that the in-
iul should possesses ample mciiitics
TIE transportation or III urnduc.s y.
az interests are an closely interwo- -
o. an In the Ions run o. Will De ca.
und that We 40 up or go down to- SCI
thcr str
Satisfied MA III Canal Ina
Iake, for Instance. the Panama ,4- uf
O. n the Mississippi O. restored i0 70
former place Of iupurtanc. as o. rsl
lhNay ~ commerce. thtn thc huIld- A.,
3 uf the panama canal Will BE- leii ~
an lmmediatce "a nutage fn the vi
-lucss of sNery city and ouutr dls- az
80 in the Mississippi valley. ! thtnk on
m the building OF the canal viii he Ito
especial advantage Co the states thr
li ltc along the paciac and Tire Ito
That ue along the Gull. and Yet l. !
.ef an } feel that the advantage viii bat
shared in an only less degree nN esp
states of fh. Interior apt of .hc Zee.
anuc coast as a. whole. Therefor. . taal
glnd to he able 10 report tu f.u Ma
"a wei We ace ainug with thr canal VII