The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-04
Water Transportation is Factor
 of Importance
PLANS ID BE WORKED OUT
Senator Says People of the United States Are Awakening to Necessity of Utilizing National Power
 for General Welfare.

Sacramento, Cal. September s.-The proceedings of the National Irrigation congress were marked with good attend ance today. After the hearing of various reports and the discussion of several important topics relative to the improve ment of irrigation plans and extending the campaign for work on the national waterways, Senator Newlands of Califor- nia delivered an address
 Senator Newlands said that the ln- land waerways commission had only been in existence a few months. It had been engaged thus far in the work of investigation, and had not yet formu- lated it's recommendations 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 in land waterways commission by President Roosevelt, Senator Newlands said that the letter of instruction from the Presi- dent enjoined upon the commission the study of all questions relating to inland waterways, with a view to recommend '''S P'pNtiSttI iNSiSldtlOn upuil iHt SupJtCt. The Presidents purpose was to under take now d plan of practical utilization Improvement and development. which might in the coming years be worked out comprshensively and successfully.
 Importance of Rivers.
 Whilst the prmady purpose of this inquiry, Mr. Newlands said, "s to fa- eilitate water transportation, it is impos- sible to perfect the machinery of the waterways without taking into considera- ton the related questions of forest pres ervation, of irrigation of arid land, or ie- clamatlon of swamp land of bank protec- tlon, of clarlfcatlon, of streams, and other kindred questions.
 Whilst 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 m some degree to they plume of the river or lake which should serve as a part of the great machinery of transportation, and a thorough and comprehensive plan of artihcializing waterways should be adopted, with a view of securing stability of channel
 Ut is impossible" the speaker con tinued to indicate now what the form of legislation should be- Individually. l should say that some plan in which the chief of tde great scientific serV- together ill a national board of public works, with power to make compre- hensive plans, and to work them out gradually, might be the most efficient way. 1 cannot imagine an organization more perfect than one which would in- clude the chief of the engineers corps of the army. the director of the geo logical survey, the director of our coast and geodetlc survey, our Panama canal service, our reclamation service, the chiefs of our forestry service and of the buerau of soils. Such 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 measure, be made self compensa atory, 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 develop ment of water power and all the related questions of irrigation, reclamation. for estry, soil treatment, ect. Their action would not be spasmodic and dls1olnted. as has been the action of Congress upon these subjects; but great and eomprehen- sve plans could be inaugurated, which they could gradually work out within the limits of the fund created by con gressional action.