The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1907-04-04
EDITORIAL COMMENT
TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS.

President Roosevelt in a recent number OF
Golfers Weekly, gives another proof that the
tural resources OF the United States has
come to an end He has appointed
an Inland Waterways Commission to
prepare a comprehensive plan for the improve
ment and control Of the river systems OF the
union Representative Burton, OF Ohio, who
has been chairman OF rhe house committee on
rivers and harbors thru several congresses, is to
head this new body, which will include Senators
Newlands of Nevada, and Warren OF Missouri;
General Mckenzie, chief OF engineers OF the army;
President McGee, OF the National Geographic
society, Mr.. Newell, director OF the reclamation
service; Forester Pinchot, and Mr.. Herbert
Knox Smith, commissioner OF corporations
1t will doubtless be news to some people that
we nave river system in this country. We
haverive but they have never been treated as
a system, except to a limited extent in the river
and harbor bills, which intelligent pubicists in
the east have ridiculed as 'pork barrels" When
MI Hartman or Mr.. Morgan gains control OF
lot OF railroads those roads naturally fall into
systems, and are administered as such, but the
great natural routes OF water transportation
which belong to the whole people have never
had the benefit OF a comprehensive develop
ment
Now the railroads find that they can no lon
ger handle their business and they are willing to
have some OF it diverted to the rivers. But the
matter OF transportation is only one item IN
the treatment OF the waterways. There is va
rietv of interests of enormous Importance, all
closely interlaced. The Missouri river, for in
stance, ought to be great artery OF trade. In
order to make it such, it's flow must be regu-
lated This confronts us with the food prob
lem.
river which is to be useful for navigation
the greater part OF the year must not send the
bulk Of it's years supply OF water roaring down
upon the towns and farms OF it's lower course in
few weeks. The prevention Of floods in the
Missouri would help to solve the flood problem
on the lower Mississippi, and at the same time
improve the navigabilitv OF that stream To
deal with floods 10 the Missouri we mustcontro
it's head waters by storage reservoirs and forest
plantations. That would incidently check the
appallingswaste OF e-giving materials lnvolv-
cd in the transfer every year OF hundreds OF mil
tons Of tons of rich sediment from our upands
to the Gulf of Mexico.
The flood water held back would be available
for irrigation in dry seasons. Ihetores is which
helped to regulate the water supply would be
available at the same time for our timber needs.
Thus one vast supply would be available at the
same time for our timber needs. Thus onevast
national interest would supplement- the other.
These are sample Of the thots touched upon
by our president in his letter to the members OF
the new commission. The work laid out for
them is no small matter but if they do it as well
as their past records seems to give reason to
expect that they will, the national benefits to
he derived from it will be beyond compution
ssand fifty years ahead Of legislation against
the railroads in the west.