The Washington herald., 1907-03-17
NAMES RIVER BOARD
PreSidentSelectS Commission
to Develop Waterways.
NEED COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Action Taken In Response to AP-
pcaIs Of Commercial Associations
che ApBOintees are Outlined in Let
ter by the Chief Executive.

In response to the appeals OF numer-
Gus commercial organizations Of the Mis-
sIssippf Valley. the President announced
yesterday the appointment of an inland
waterways commission. the duties of
which viii be to prepare and report a
comprehensive plan for the Improvement
and control of the river systems Of the
United States. The following men have
been asked BY the President 10 serve on
the commission.
Hon. Theodore f. Burton, chairman;
Senator Francis G. Newlands, Senator
William Warner Hon John H. Bank
head. Gen. Alexander Mackenzie, Dr. w.
J. McGee, F. II. Newell Clifford Pinehot,
and Hon Herbert Knox Smith.
To each of the men picked 10 serve on
the commission the President has written
a letter outlining his reasons for estab-
fishing the body and suggesting the work
to be accomplished. The President states
that he was influenced I'm creating the
commission by broad considerations Of
national policy
Statement of President.
The Presidents statement is, in part, as
follows;
''Ths control Of our navigable water
ways lies -Rith the Federal government,
and carries with it corresponding respon-
sibilities and obligations The energy of
our people has hitherto been largely di-
rected toward Industrial development con-
nected 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 received scant attention. It
is becoming clear that our streams should
be considered and conserved as great nat
uTaI resources
Works designed to control our water
ways have thus far usually been under
taken for a single purpose. such as the
Improvement of navigation. the develop
ment of power. the irrigation of arid
lands, and the protection of lowlands from
foods, or the supply Of water for domes-
tic and manufacturing purposes. While
the right Of the people 10 these and SINH
lar uses of water must be respected. the
time has come for merging local projects
and uses Of the inland waters in a COM
prehensive plan designed for the benefit Of
the entire country. Such a plan should
consider and include all the uses to which
streams may be put. and should bring to-
Gether and coordinate the points of view
Of all users Of water.
1t is a common knowledge that the
railroads Of the United States are no
longer able TO move crops and manufac-
tures rapidly enough 70 secure the prompt
transaction Of the business of the nation.
and there is small prospect Of immediate
relief
Other Transportation Needed.
Representative railroad men point out
that the product OF the northern interior
States have doubled in ten years. while
the railroad facilities have increased but
one-eighth, and there is reason TO doubt
whether any development Of the railroad
possible in the near future will suffice TO
keep transportation abreast Of production.
There appears to be but one complete
remedy. the development of a compile
mentary system of transportation by
water, The present congestion affects
chiefly the people of the Mississippi Val
ley, and they demand relief
The questions which viii come before
the Inland Waterways Commission must
necessarily relate to every part of the
United States, and affect every interest
within its borders. Its plans should be
considered in the light of the widest
knowledge of the country and its people.
and from the most divers points of view.
Accordingly. when its work is sufficiently
advanced I shall add 10 the commission
certain consulting members. with whom
shall 4cL that ffc raoerrr~97er,7 10 eb,u
be fully discussed before they are sub
mitted to NE. The reports Of the commits
sion should include both q general. state
ment Of the problem and recommendation
As TO the manner and means of attacking
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