Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-10-05

to the Rockies; most Of them being
situated on the great river which flows
/ by your doors or upon some of It's
numerous navigable tributaries. New
/ mineral fields are discovered every
year; and the constantly increasing
use of all the devices of intensive cul-
'''aiia" -'-'''''' .[E. sDoTe oTedaT- aiI,
81 .age man is honest, intelligent.
IseIf-rel nj, and orderly, and there
fore fOOd citizen. and farmer and
wageworker alike-in the last analy-
sis the two most important men in
the cor m1nity-enioy a standard of
living nd have developed a standard
of respecting. self-reliant man
hood, which are Of good augury for
the future of the entire republic. No
man can foresee the limit of the possi-
bilty of development in the Missig
sippi valley.
Such being the case. and this valley
being literally in the heart Of the
United States, all that concerns its
welfare must concern likewise the
whole country. Therefore, the Mis-
sissippi river and its tributaries ought
by all means to be utilized to their
utmost possibility. Facility Of cheap
transpc rtation is an essential in our
modern civilization, and we can not
afford any longer to neglect the great I
highways which nature has provided {
for us. These natural highways. the /
waterways, can never be monopolized (
by any corporation. They belong TO 4
all the people, and it is in the power I
of no one to take them away. Where +
a naVigable river runs beside railroads +
the problem of regulating the rates on
the railroads becomes far easier, be
cause river regulation is rate regula-
ton. When the water rate sinks, the
land rate cannot be Kept at an excess
sive height Therefore IT is of ms
tonal importance to develop these
streams az highways to the fullest eN- (,
tent which Is genuinely profitable.
Year by year transportation problems \
becom, more acute, and the time has
come yirn the rivers really fit to
serve . arteries Of trade should be
provide with channels deep enough
and wide enough TO make the inves-
ment of the necessary money profita-
Bile to the public. The national gov
should undertake this work
Where the land Immediately abutting
Is markedly benefited, and this bene
"a can be definitely localized, | trust
hat tn -e will be careful investigation
10 see neither some way can be de- ,
ssed bs which the immediate bench
,iaries may pay "a portion of the eN- ,
penses--as Is now the custom as re-
cards certain classes Of improvements (
N our municipalities, and measures I
should be taken to secure from the To-
'alities specially benefited proper ter /
nlnal facilities. The expense TO the 7
nation of entering upon such a scheme |
lf river Improvement as that which I I
believe u should undertake, viii Z
be great. Many cautious
md coz servative people Will look ask
ince upOn the project and from every
standpoint II is necessary. If we wish !
O make It successful. that we should !
inter- upon Il only under conditions {
which viii guarantee the nation
lgainst waste of it's money. and which 3
will insure us against entering upon )
my project until after the most elab- (
rate expert examination, and reliable /
of the proportion between /
'Ost and benefit. In any project like
his there should be a definite policy,
md a resolute purpose TO keep I'm
mind that the only improvements
made should be those really national s
n their character We should act on q
he same principle IN improving our J
.Wers lhat we should follow in inn
proving our haTbors. The great har- Z
iOrs are of consequence not merely 10
he Immediate localities, but to inn
nense stretches of country, and the
anne is true OF the great rivers. II Isl
hesc great rivers and great harbOrs
nary national interest The main
treams should be improved to the
highest practical degree Of efficiency
,efore improvements are attempted on
he branches, and work should be un
ertaken only when completion is in
ight within a reasonable time. so that
.ssured results may be gained and
he communities affected depend upon
be improvements. Moreover as an
Incident In caring for the river SO that
[ may become al efficient channel of
ranspg rtaticn, The United States gov
rnment should do its full part in
eyee building, which, in the lower
caches OF the river. will not only !
live channel for commerce, but will y
lso give protection to the adjacent
,ottom lands
Immense sums have already been %
pent upon the Mississippi by the y
tates and the nation, yet much of 10 Y
emains practically unused for COM
nerce. The reasons for this fact are :
many. one Is that the work done by
ne national government at least has :
Ontinuous plan. Appropriations by
ongress, instead Of assuring the J.
teady progress and timely completion g
II each piece Of work as IL was under !
aiken. have been irregular and un-
ertain. As a direct consequence. far
thtnlDB pans nave bttu AlstOu uIdEtu
md continuity i'm execution has been J.
made impossible. IL is altogether un-
ikely that better results Will be OBJ
aimed so long as the method is fol- .
owed Of making partial appropria !
ions at regular Intervals for works
which should never be ndertaken un- y
% Il is certain that they can be car
led to completion within "A definite \
md reasonable time. Planned and
,rderly development is essential To :
he best use of every natural resource. .
md none more than 90 the best use
,f our inland waterways. In the case I
lf the waterways IL has been conspic-
iously absent Because such fore
hought was lacking. the interests of r
iur rivers have been in fact over
Ooked in spite OF the immense sums
.pent upon them. 10 is evident that
heir most urgent need is a farsighted
md and comprehensive plan dealing
rot with navigation alone. nor with
irrigation alone. but considering our
inland waterways as "a whole, and
With reference 10 every use 10 which
hey can be- put. The central motive
,f such a plan should be 20 get from
he streams of the United States not
lnly the fullest but also the most per
nauemt service they are capable OF
snnHarfnw ia the nation as "A whole.