The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-12-09
PRESIDENTS MERSAGE.
Continued from Page l.

clio judges. 1t is tine last winch Is
most Immediately effective and to
which we should look for the reform
of abuses.
If there is any one duty which more
than another we owe it to our children
and our children's children to perform
at once it is to save the forests Of
this country, for they constitute the
first and most important element in
the conservation Of the natural re,
sources Of the country.
Shortsightod persons, or persons
blinded to the future by desire to
make money in every way out of the
present. sometimes speak as if 10
great damage would be done by the
reckless destruction of our forests. 1t
Is difficult to have patience with the
arguments of these persons. Thanks
to our own recklessness in the use of
our splendid forests, we have already
crossed the verge of a timber famine
in this country, and no measures that
We now take can, at least for many
sCtIs. uiluo ilC la Has al
ready been done. But we can prevent
further mischief being done, and it
would be in the highest degree repre-
Lcnsible to let any consideration Of
temporary convenience or temporary
cost interfere with such action, espe-
which the nation cal now at this very
moment control.
1.-THE president here cites In support
of his contentious the great destruc-
ton wrought in China by the denuda-
ton Of the forest areas
What has thus happened In northern
China, what has happened in central
Asia, i'll Palestine, in north Africa, in
parts Of the Mediterranean countries
of Europe, viii surely happen in our
country If we do not exercise that
wise forethought which should be one
of the chief marks of any people call
ing itself civilized. Nothing should be
permitted to stand in the way Of the
preservation Of the forests, and it is
criminal to permit individuals to pur-
chase a little gain for themselves
through the destruction of forests
when this destruction is fatal to the
well being Of the whole country in the
future.
inland Waterways.
Action should be begun forthwith,
during The present session of congress-,
FOR the Improvement of our inland wa
terways-action which will result in
giving us not only navigable but
navigated rivers. We have spent
hundreds of millions OF dollars upon
these waterways, yet the traffic on
nearly all of them is steadily declin-
ing. This condition is the direct re-
suit of the absence Of any compre-
hensive and farsecing plan Of water
way Improvement. Obviously we can
not continue thus to cxpcnd the rev
cnues of the government without re-
turn. 1t is poor business to spend
money for inland navigation unless
we get II.
Such shortSightcd, vacilluting and
futile methods are accompanied by de
crca&ing water borne commerce and
increasing traffic congestion on land.
by increasing floods and by the waste
or public money. The remedy lies in
abandoning the methods which have
so si@nally failed and adopting new
ones in keeping with the needs and
demands Of U people.
In a report on a measure introduced
at the first session Of the present con
grcss the secretary of war said, "The
chief defect in the methods hitherto
pursued lies in the absence of cxecu-
tive authority for originating comprc-
hcnSlye plans covering the country or
natural divisions thereof" In this
opinion | heartily ncu
Until the work of river Improvement
is undertaken in Il modern way it can
not have results that will meet the
needs of this modern nation. These
needs should be met without further
dilly-dallyiuG or delay. The plan which
promises the best and quickest results
is that of a permanent commission au-
thoriHcd TO coordinate the work of all
the government departments relating
TO waterways and 10 frame and super
wise the execution Of n comprehensive
plan. The time for playing With our
waterways is past. The country de.
mands results.
National Parks.
| urge that all our national parks ad,
jacent to national forests be placed
completely under the control Of tho
forest service Of the agricultural de
partmcnt, instead of leaving them, rs
they are now, under the interior de
partment and policed by the army.
Secret Service.
Last year an amendment was incor
porated in the measure providing TO
the secret service which provided tina
there should be no detail from the st
cret service and no transfer therefrom
1t is not too much to say that thi
amendment has been of benefit only
and could he Of benefit only, to tn
criminal classes. The amendment i
question was Of benefit to no one eN
Innfinv IN prin,;no1s and c,r;,rr1