Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-10-04

! become more acute, and the time. has
come when the rivers really fit to
serve as arteries of trade should be
provided with channels deep enough
| and wide enough to make the inve.t :
ment of the necessary money profita-
BILE to the public. The national gov
ternment should undertake this work,
Where the Immediately abutting land
is markedly benefited, and this bene-
/ fit can be definitely localized, I trust
that there will be careful investigation
to see whether some way can be de-
vised by which the immediate bene-
ficiaries may pay a portion of the ex-
penses-as 1t now the custom as re-
CARDS certain classes of improvements
in our municipalities: and measures
should be taken to secure from the 10
calities specially benefited proper
terminal facilities. The expense to the
nation of entering upon such a scheme
of river improvement as that which 1
believe it should undertake will neces-
sarily be great. Many cautious and
conservative people will look askance
upon the project, and from every
standpoint 1t is necessary, if we wish
to make it successful, that we should
enter upon it only under conditions
which will guarantee the nation
against waste of It's money, and which
will insure us against entering upon
any project until after the most elab-
crate expert examination, and reliable
calculation of the proportion between
cost and benefit In any project like
this there should be a definite policy,
and resolute purpose to keep in mind
that the only Improvements made
should be those really national in their
character
We should act ON the same principle
in improving our rivers that we should
follow in improving our harbors. The
great harbors are of consequence not
merely to the immediate localities, bat
to immense stretches of country; and
the same is true of the great rivers. It
is these great rivers and great harbors
the Improvement of which Is of pri-
mary national interest The main
streams should be improved to the
highest practical degree of efficiency
before improvements are attempted on
the branches, and work should be I'M
dertaken only when completion is in
sight within reasonable time, so that
assured results may be gained and the
affected depend upSn the
Moreover, as AM incl
lent in caring for the river so that it
may become an efficient channel OF
transportation, the United States gov
ernrnent should do It's full part in Ievee
which, liz the lower reaches
IF the river. will not ongy give cham
mel for commerce but win also give
to- the adjacent bottom
ands.
Need for coptfnuouE Pfan.e
Immense sums have aIreads been
spent upon the Mississippi ~ the
states and the nations yet rnucff Of itf
practically unused for COM |
merce. The reasons for tfris fact are
many. One is taat the work done by |
he national government at least has |
rot been based upon DEFINITE and /
plan. Appropriations by /
congress, instead OF assuring the /
steady progress and timely completion I
4 each piece of work as it was under
aiken, have been irregular and uncer- /
ain. As a direct consequence, Ear
earhinE plans have beerR discouraged |
and continuity in execution IRIS been
made impossible. 1t is altogether an
kelly THAT better results will be OBJ
aimed so long as the method is fol-
owed of making partial apprUprfa-
ions at irregular intervals for works
which should never he undertaken I'M
il tt is certain that they can be car
ried to completion Within a definite |
ana reasonable time. Planned and or |
lerIy development is essential to- the |
'est use of every natural resource; and |
o none more than to- the BEST use of |
'ur inland waterways. In tile case of |
he waterways it has beer conspfcu-
)usIy absent. Because such foresight |
vas lacking, the interests Of our riv- |
ers- have been in fact overlooked, in
pitas OF the immense sums spent upon |
hem. 1t is evident that their most
urgent need is a farsighted and com
orehensive plan, dealing not with nav
cation alone, nor with irrigation alone,
,ut considering our inland waterways
is a. whole, and with reference TO ever
use, to- which they can be put The
central motive of such plan should
be TO get from the streams of the
United States not only the fullest, but
also the most permanent, service>I
they are capable of rendering to thu
nation as a whole.
The industries developed under the
stimulus of the railroads are for the
most part permanent Industries, and
therefore they form the basis fer fu-
ture development, But the railroads
have shown that they alone can not
meet the demands of the country for