The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1908-03-05
President Sends Special Message
with Report on Waterways
to Congress.
VAST POWER BEING WASTED
Commerce and Irrigation Possible
ties Of Big Rivers-Would Guard
Against Private Monopoly.

message to Congress dealing with in
hand waterways. together with pre-
liminary report Of the inland water
ways commission. The President points
out the vast possibilities of the river
systems Of the country. which he says
are better adapted to the needs of the
people than those of any other coun
try, yet the rivers of no other civilized
country are so poorly developed.
Running parallel with the possibili
ties of the rivers as fYeight carriers
the President points out their posslbili
ties for purposes of power and irriga
tion, which he says are no less impor
tant. He contends that all three pur
poses can be served without injurins
either. In this connection the neces
sity of guarding against the possibility
of private monopolies controlling the
water power to be developed is pointet
out. A plea for systematic plan b
stop the waste in natural resources II
urged, based on the commissions re
port.
Mr.. Roosevelt commends the proposed
waterway very highly and urges its con
struction. After speaking of the repor
he says:
1.-THE commission finds that it was un
regulated railroad competition which pre-
vented or destroyed the development o.
commerce on our inland waterways. Tn,
Mississippi our greatest natural highway
is case in point. At one time traffi'
upon it was without rival in any coun
try. The report shows that commerce,
was driven from the Mississippi by thu
railroads.
while production was limited, the rail
ways, with their convenient terminals
gave quicker and more satisfactory servio
than the waterways. Later they prevent
ed the restoration of river traffic by keep
ing down their rates along the rivers, re
coupling themselves by higher charges else
where. This should not be allowed t,
continue.
''The report rests throughout on TIN
fundamental conception that every water
way should be made to serve the peoph
as largely and in as many different
ways as possible. 1t is poor business tt
develop river for navigation in such &
way as to prevent its use for power, wher
by little foresight it could be made tt
serve both purposes. We cannot afforf
needlessly to sacrifice power to irrigation
or irrigation to domestic water supply
when by taking thought we may have al
three. .
''The development of our inland water
ways will have results far beyond the i'm
mediate gain to commerce. Deep chan
nels along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts
and from the Gulf to the Great Lakes will
have high value for the national defense
Forest protection, without which river
improvements cannot be permanent, will
at the same time help to postpone the
threatened timber famine. Irrigation
will create the means of livelihood for mil
lions of people. If the policy of water.
ways improvement here recommended is
carried out, it will affect for good every
citizen of the republic"
The President then warns against the
shortsighted granting Of franchises to cor.
porations and against the absorption OF
water power by combined capital. He
says:
mo rights involving water power
should be granted to any corporation in
perpetuity, but only for length of time
sufficient to allow them to conduct their
business profitably. A reasonable charge
should of course be made for valuable
rights and privileges which they obtain
from the national government. The val
ues for which this charge is made will
ultimately, through the natural growth
and orderly development of our population
and industries, reach enormous amounts.
The proceeds thus secured, after the cost
Of administration and Improvement has
been met, should naturally be devoted to
the development of our inland water
ways" ..
After urging the Importance of the
waterways, Mr.. Roosevelt closes:
adequate funds should be provided, by
bond issue il necessary, and the work
should be delayed no longer. The de-
velopment of our waterways and the con-
seryation of our forests are the two most
pressing physical needs of the country.
The question of organization. powers, and
appropriations are now before the Con-
gress. There is urgent need for prompt
md decisive action" $50
Points In the Message.
Running water is most valuable nat
ural asset of the people.
No rights involving waterpower should
be granted to any corporation in perpetu-
ity.
The first condition Of successful deyel-
opnent of our water power 10 q definite
and progressive policy.