Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1908-03-05
President Emphatic.

N"V ava ANSs,tAio Y
physical needs of the country. They \
are interdependent. and they should \
be met vigorously, together, and at =
tion. powers and appropriations are \
now before. the ongress. There is =
urgent need for prompt and decisive 4
action. Theodore Roosevelt. \
Washington, Feb. 2S.-Most important
recommendations regarding the gov
ernment's future policy toward the
waterways of the United States are
contained in a preliminary report of
h inland waterways commission. sub
mftted to congress by President ROose-
welt today.
In his letter of submission, the presi-
lent says:
To the Senate and House of Representa-
tives:
transmit herewith a preliminary re-
port from the Inland Waterways COM
mission. which was appointed by me last
March in response to a widespread inter-
est and emand from the people. The
basis Of this demand lay in the general
handle promptly. the traffic of the coun-
try. and especially the crops OF the pre-
This report is we'll worth you attention.
II is thorough. conservative, sane and just.
It represents the mature judgment Of a
BODY OF men exceptionally. qualified, by
gSIoCAd experience ana knowledge OF con.
ditions throughout the United States, to
understand and discuss the great problem
OF now best to use our waterways in the
interest of all the people. Unusual care
mas been taken to secure accuracy and
balance of statement. If the report errs
at all It g by over-conservatism. 1t con-
talns findings or statements of fact, a
number OF specific recommendations, and
an account of inquiries still in progress,
and 1t is based in part on statistics and
other information contained in a volum-
tnni1C nnroVnd:N IT, c,,h{N4A STIR ,,,l,{,l
It deals Is of critical Importance both to
the present and the future of our coun-
try.
Our river systems are better adapted to
the needs of the people than those of any
other country. In extent, distribution,
nav ~nyiga Ra. " and ease of use; they stand
country are so poorly developed, SO little
used, OF play so small a part in the indus
tr:al life Of the nation as those of the
of rivers elsewhere, the failure to use our
own is astonishing, and no thoughtful man
can believe that 1t will last. The accom-
panying report indicates clearly the rea-
sons for 1t and the way to end 1t.
Railway Competition.
The commission n that 1t was unreg-
Ulated railroad competition which pre-
vented or destroyed the. development of
on our inland waterways. The
Mississippi, our greatest natural highway,
is a case In point. At one time the traffic
upon Il was without a rival in any coun-
Try. lie report SHOWS Cn3C commerce
was driven from the Mississippi by the
railroads. While production was limited,
the railways. with their convenient ter
minals. gave quicker and more satisfac-
tory service than the waterways. Later
they prevented the restoration Of river
traffic by keeping down. their rates along
the rivers, %recouping themselves by higher
charges elsewhere. They also acquired
water fronts n terminals to an extent
which made water competition impossible.
Throughout the country the railways have
boat lines that today inland waterway
transportation Is largely in their hands.
This was natural and doubtless inevitable
under the circumstances, but It should not
be allowed to continue unless under care.
4ul government regulation.
Comparatively little inland freight is car
its journey by rail also. AS the report
shows, the successful development and use
OF our interstate waterways will require
intelligent regulation of the relations be.
tween rail and water traffic. When this
is done the railways and waterways will
assist instead of injuring each other. Both
will benefit, but the chief benefit VIII ac-
crue to the people in general through
quicker and cheaper transportation.
The report rests throughout on the fun
damental conception that every waterway
largely and in as many different ways as
possible. 1t Is poor business to develop
q river for navigation in such q way as
little foresight It could be made to serve {
both purposes. We can not afrord need.
lessly to sacrifice power to irriga ton. O,
Irrigation to domestic water supply, when
by taking thought we may have all three
Every stream should be used to the ut.
most. No stream can be so used unless
such use Is planned for in advance. Wher
such plans are made We shall find that
instead of interfering. one use can otter
be made to assist another. Each river sys
tenn, from It's headwaters in the forest e
Ats mouth on the coast, Is q single uni
and should be treated as such. Navigator
Of the lower reaches Of a stream can no,
be fully developed without the control o.
floods and low waters by storage and
drainage. Navigable channels are directl,
concerned with the protection of sourct
waters. and with soil erosion which take,
the materials for bars and shoals from tn,
richest portions of our farms. The use,
of a stream for domestic and municipal
water supply, for power. Gnd in man!
cases for Irrigation. must also be takei
into full account.
National Defense.
The development of our inland water
ways will AVE results far beyond the Inn
mediate gain to commerce. Deep channel
along the Atlantic and gulf coasts an,
from the gulf to the great lakes will hav
high value for the national defense. tn
use of water power will measurably re
plies Of coal, and transportation by waite
Instead Of rail only will tend to conserv
our iron. Forest protection. without white!