Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-04

ways.
Dr.. w. J. McGee of the United
States bureau of soils and member of
the inland waterways commission then
delivered an address.
]. A. Holmes of the department of
the interior followed with an address
on the CONSERVATION of Mineral Re
sources" and was followed by M. o.
Leighton, United States photographer,
,on conservation of water. The com
mittees were named by the different
delegations and submitted to Secretary
Anderson during the afternoon. The
honorary vice presidents named by
each delegation follow: California,
Mrs. Lowell White; Idaho, Mrs. H. r.
French; wyoming, ]. M. Carey; New
Mexico, Gov George Curry; Colorado,
M. D. Vincent; Oregon, G. T. Baldwin;
Illinois, w. l.. Rohrer; Kansas, F. D.
Coburn; Minnesota, G. w. Mott; Texas
Mr. Lobardy; North Dakota W. M
Post; Rhode Island, Oscar Lapham; Me-
vada, Richard A. Riepe; Utah, John H.
Smith; Hawaii James T. Taylor; Ar
kansas, o. N Killough; North Carolina,
J. A. Holmes; New York, w. Wake
man; Ohio, J. M. Amos; New Jersey
M NJ Baker; Massachusetts, H. Myrick.
The evening session was largely at
tended. Morris Bien of the United
States reclamation service spoke on the
Community Idea in the Reclamation
Act"
"The Work of the National Reclama-
ton" was the subject discussed by F.
H. Newell. director of the United
States reclamation service. 1t was
illustrated with stereopticon views.
There was a large attendance of
delegates when the morning session
was called to order by Governor Cham
berlain shortly before 10 o'clock. Pro-
-.vtAt
delivered by Rev. George e. Swan of
Sacramento A number of addresses
on subjects of great interest were an
nounced for the three sessions today.
Men prominent in the great work OF
the congress were the speakers.
The first step made evidently with
the idea of shutting off the alleged
grievances of the so-called "kickers
from Yuma valley and other points
coming directly before the congress de-
veloped when Matthew Dougherty OF
Utah moved that all resolutions be re-
ferred to the committee on resolutions
by title only This was seconded by
John e. Parker of Modoc, Cal, and
unanimously adopted. AS a result de-
bate at the outset will be shut or.
A letter from Secretary Garfield was
read regretting his inability to atteno
and speaking of the big work done.
United States Senator Francis q.
Newlands of Nevada, a member of the
inland waterways commission, was
then introduced and received a warm
welcome. He delivered an interesting
address on the subject with whlch tne
inland waterways commission deals.
Senator Newlands said that the inland
waterways commission had only been In
existence a few months. 1t had been en-
gagged thus far /, the work of investiga-
ton. and had not yet formulated its rec
concentrations. What he said, therefore,
must be regarded as his individual views
rather than as the conclusions OF
the commission. After referring to the
appointment of the inland waterways
commission by President Roosevelt, Sem
ator Newlands said that the letter of in
structions from the president enjoined
upon the commission the study of all
questions relating to inland waterways.
with a view to recommending practical
legislation upon the subject. The presi-
dents purpose was to undertake now a
plan of practical utilization, Improvement
| and development, which might in the
coming years be worked out comprehen-
sively and successfully.
| "While the primary purpose of this
| inquiry Mr.. Newlands said. sis to ia
! cilitate water transportation, 1t is i'm
I possible to perfect the machinery of the
waterways without taking into consider
alton the related questions of forest pres
ervations. of irrigation of arid land, of
reclamation of swamp land, of bank pro-
lection, of Qualification of streams, and
other kindred questions.
while these questions are import
ant" said Mr.. Newlands. ''the use of
| these great waterways, lakes or rivers,
! for purposes of transportation of men and
of products is the most important Every
creek every brook, contributes in some
degree to the volume of the river or
lake which should serve as part of the
great machinery of transportation, and q
thorough and comprehensive plan of ar
tifcializing waterways should be adopted,
with a view of securing stability of chan
mel.
''It is impossible" the speaker con-
tinued. ITO indicate now what the form
of legislation should be. Individually,
should say that some plan in which the
chiefs of the great scientific services of
the country could be brought together In
national board of public works. with
power to make comprehensive plans, and
to work them out gradually, might be
the most efficient way.
'I{cannot imagine an organization more
perfect than one which would include the
chief of the engineer corps of the army,
the director of the geological survey,
the director of our coast and geodetic
survey, our Panama canal service, our
reclamation service the chiefs of our for
estry service and of the bureau of soils.
Such a board would mold into unity Of
action these great services each of which
is now engaged in some form of study
and work relating to our Waterways; and
there could be created fund similar to
the reclamation fund, which could be
placed under their control. Their work
could, in a measure, be made self-com-
pensatory, by tolls, charges for water
power and other means of revenue.
'Their action would cover all questions
relating to the improvement of harbors
and rivers, the construction of canals,
the development of water power and all
the related questions of irrigation re-
clamation, forestry, soil treatment etc.
Their action would not be spasmodic and
disjointed, as has been the action of con-
gress upon these subjects; but great and
comprehensive plans could be inaugur-
ated. which they could gradually work
out within the limits of the fund created
by congressional action.
"The people of the United States are
awakening to the necessity of utilizing
the national power for the promotion
of the general welfare. We nationalized
banking and currency because we rea-