The Cairo bulletin., 1907-03-18
PRESIDENT NAMES COMM SSION
or EIGHT TO UNDERTAKE
VAST IMPROVEMENTS.
NOT ENOUGH RAILROADS
To Move Crops and Manufacturer
Products, He Says--Aims to
Use Rivers as Highways
for Transportation.

\ washington, Mafcn lf.--FfeS.uell
/ Roosevelt has decided to appoint al
/ inland waterways commission whose
| duty it will be to prepare and repor
! comprehensive plan for the i'm
prcvement and control Of the watel
systems of the United States. Eight
| public men have been asked to serve
| ON the commission and Representa-
! tive Theodore e. Burton, of Ohio
chairman of the rivers and harbors
| committee in the last congress, Is to
| be its chairman.
! In a letter which he has ad,
dressed to each OF these persons the
president sets out that he is in
! auenced in creating the commission
by broad considerations of national
policy; that the railroads are no
longer able to move crops and manu-
features rapidly enough to secure
the prompt transaction of the busi-
ness of the nation, and that there ap-
pears to be but one complete remedy
the development Of complement
airy system of transportation BY
water. The presidents letter fol-
lows:
Numerous commercial organiza.
tions of the Mississippi valley have
presented petitions asking that ! ap,
point commission to prepare and
report a comprehensive plan for the
improvement and control Of the river
systems Of the United States. ! have
decided to comply with these re-
quests by appointing an inland water
ways commission, and ! have asked
the following gentlemen to act upon
ii. ! shall be much gratified II you
win consent to serve: The Hon.
Theodore e. Burton. chairman. Sen
ator Francis G. Newlands, Senator
William Warner, the Hon John H
Bankhead Gen. Alexander Macken-
zie, DR., ". ]. McGee. Mr. F. H. New
ell, Mr.. Clifford Pinchot, the Hon.
Herbert Knox Smith
Waterways National Asset
"In creating this commission | am
influenced by broad considerations OF
national policy. The control of our
navigable waterways lies with the
federal government and carries with
it corresponding responsibilities and
obligations. The energy of our peo-
pie has hitherto been largely directed
toward the industrial development
connected with field and forest and
with coal and iron. and some of these
sources of material and power are
already largely depleted, while our
inland waterways. as a Whole. have
thus far received scant attention. II
is becoming clear that our streams
should be considered and conserved
rs great natural resources.
Works designed TO control our
have thus far been under
trken for a single purpose, such MS
the Improvement of navigation, the
development of power, the irrigation
Of arid lands. the protection of low
lands from foods or to supply water
for domestic and manufacturing pur |
poses. While the rights of the peo
we 10 intSt anu Siiilitdi uS'9 W |
water must be respected. the time !
has come for merging local projects |
and uses of the inland waters in q |
plan designed for the
benefit of the entire country.
"Such a plan should consider an"
include all the uses TO which streams
nav be put and should bring to
sether and coordinate he points Of
view of all users Of water. The task |
involved In the full and orderly de
pelopmcnt and control Of the river
svstems of the United States is ai
great one. yet it Is certainly not too
great for us 10 approach. The re-
,ults which it seem to promise are
even greater.
Railroads Are overworked.
ut is common knowledge taat the
ailroads of the United States are no
onger able 10 move crops and manu-
aotures rapidly enough TO secure the
,rompt transaction Of The business OF
he nation. and there Is small pros
,ect OF immediate relief Representa-
i've railroad men point out that the
PRODUCTS Of the northern interior
taies have doubled II ten wears
while the railroad facilities have in
.reased but one-eighth. and there is
eason TO doubt whether any develop
nent OF the railroads possible in the
lear future will suffice to keep trans
.orfstiOn abreast Of production.
There appears 10 be but enc com
'leie remedy-ihe development of a
system Of transPorta
ion by water. The present conges-
ion effects chiefly the people of the
fississippi valley. and they dema- d
elief. When the congestion Of
rhich they complain is relieved. the
-hole nation will share the good re
ults.
while rivers are natural resources
II