The Washington herald., 1907-10-05

of river improvement as that which I
believe il should undertake VIII neces- /
sarily be great.
People Arc Conservative.
Many cautious and conservative peO- /
pie will look askance upon the project, /
and from every standpoint It is necessary, /
if we wish 10 make it successful, that I
we should enter upon it only under con- /
ditions which will guarantee the nation /
against waste of its money. and which /
viii insure US against entering upon any /
project until after the most elaborate eX- (
pert examination, and reliable calcula- /
ton OF the proportion between cost and /
benefit
In any project Ike this there should be /
a definite policy. and a resolute purpose /
70 keep in mind that the only improve |
ments made should be those really 1
national in their character.
We should act on the same principle /
in improving our rivers that We should 1
follow in improving our harbOrs.
1t IS these great rivers and great har- /
bors the Improvement OF which Is OF
primary national interest. The main
streams should be improved to the high /
est practical degree Of efficiency before 7
Improvements are attempted on the
branches. and work should be undertaken |
only when completion IS in sight within
a reasonable time, so that assured results !
may be gained and the communities at- |
fected depend upon the improvements. /
Moreover, as an incident IN caring for
the river so that it may become an eff /
cient channel Of transportation, the
United States government should do its
ell fr..
lower reaches Of the river will not only /
give a channel for commerce. but viii
also give protection 70 the adjacent bot |
tom lands.
Demands Too Large.
But the railroads have shown that they
alone can not meet the demands Of the
country for transportation; and where
this is true the rivers should begin 10
supplement the railroads. 10 the benefit
of both, by relieving them OF certain Of
the less profitable classes Of freight The
more farseeing railroad men, I am glad
70 tell you. realize this fact. and many
OF them have become earnest advocates
Of the Improvement of the Mississippi. so
that IL may become q sort Of inland sea-
board, extending from the Gulf far into
the interior. and I hope ultimately to the
Great Lakes An investigation OF the
proposed Lakes-t0-thc-Gulf deep water
way is now ia progress under an appTO-
priation OF the last Congress.
We shall await its results with the
keenest interest The decision is obviously
Of capital Importance 20 our internal de-
velopment and scarcely less SO ia Tela-
tion % external commerce.
.4l Sc 4F-.
which il Is time 20 consider. although a
most important one Plans for the i'm
pr0vement OF our inland navigation NAV
fairly begin with our greatest river and
its chief tributaries. but they can not
end there.
Is Vital Problem.
While thus the Improvement q inland
navigation IS vital problem. there are
other questions Of no less consequence
connected with our waterways.
"OUe OF these relates 70 the purity Of
waters used for the supply of towns and
cities. to the prevention of pollution by
manufacturing and other industries. and
To the protection OF drainage areas from
soil wash through forest covering or ju-
dicious cultivation With our constantly
increasing population THIS question be-
comes more and more pressing. because
the health and safety Of sreat bodies OF
citizens are directly involved.
Hitherto such opportunities for using
water 90 double purpose have not always
rcsn eafzaf TrruS - has reoa0r7- haan
shown thar water er0!gh IS flowing nm
r,sod oyar government dams bvft 10 inn
u-ova NAVIGATION +. rr,5usa many Err-
dra5s NJ thousands M ro-senavar II fs
connected cha, the animal Z-aIuc of th4
s,-aiiahI. lint unused ,r,r.r r,ov,er sr th.,
United states exceeds tla annual value
of the rra5urts Of an ou- mines Fur
thermorc II is calculated that under fu-
dicIous handling the mower of our streams
may bee made 10 nav for aII the works To-
auirad for the complete DEVELOPMENT and
control of our inland waterways
Fore.,s pr.,e,,. EJooJs
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So, - ..,..-.,-, -.
-,
- -. - ~.
60. -
- -, - 90 -. 20
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-, a., --.,-..-- -.
,'t....- = -, -, - -.
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Tortert t5e ir,r-ora,,ert of T,,-iratfon
NAV he il X aIv one of many ends
TO be kept in view. The demand for
navigation is hardly more pressing than
the demands for retaining lands by
irrigation in tho arid regions and bv