The Washington herald., 1908-07-20

Problems which confront the National
COnservati Commission are set forth
in a letter which President Roosevelt has
received from the chamber Of commerce
/ Of ConneIlsvilIe. Pa
B. P Wallace. president Of that or
/ ganizaticn, selects his own part Of the
| country as a striking Illustration Of the
I havoc being wrought by devastation Of
resources Conditions there are pro-
nounced. but they are typical Of dangers
which threaten all parts OF the country.
Serious injury to the business future Of
| Connellsville and its vicinity is threat
ened. President wallace says. by the
| dwindling and exploitation Of natural re-
sources ConneIlsvnIe is known as the
/ center Of the coldng coal region. and ig-
ures are presented to President Roose-
velt by Mr. Wallace to show that the an
nuaI gross revenue from the coke indus
I try has increased in twenty-seven years
/ from 100000 70 s55.0O00o0. But this
heavy output is a tremendous drain upon
the mines. and Nj Wallace assures the
President that IT will end the coke in
dustry in a very few years.
And 50, Mr.. Wallace concludes. the fu-
ture Of the region must rest upon soine
other basis. It cannot rest upon the for
est growth. he says. because that has Al
ready been swept away 70 a great extent.
/ The region abounds in valuable deposits
| Of iron, fire clays. and silica rock. but
President Wallace asserts that more val
liable than these, more valuable even than
/ the harvests OF coal and timber which
have been gathered. IS the bountifuI sup
ply OF water.
Blames Water Companies.
But now the water supply is going the
way that other resources went Already
water companies have organized the let
/ ter reads, and appropriated watersheds
/ IN this vicinity. and obtained from our
people franchises enabling them 20 charge
exorbitant rates for inferior service" Al
ready. he declares. a company has tapped
( the reservoirs IN these mountains. and "a
volume OF water several feet in diameter
lis rushing past our community to supply
! the compa1y's needs elsewhere.
M Wallace goes on 20 show that the
l Houghiogheny River. upon the banks OF
which C0nneIlsville stands. can be made
navigabls Up To the city by the construc-
tiOn Of locks and dams Such a scheme
I '- Na-iia anu Ec~eE FtlEr VIII cAech Jile
floods which menace that region. accord
I ing 20 Mr. Wallace's argument. The
I Foughiogheny joins the SIOnonEsheIa FOR
/ ty-three miles below ConneTsvilIe and
contributes largely % the foods which
annually menace Pittsburg- And the
I PittsbUrg foods are notorious the coun-
try over for the millions Of damage they
I do 10 property ard commerce. and for the
| loss Of life which they cause
Would Improve River.
President Wallace makes a unique pro-
posaI for the Improvement Of the
/ YouEhiogheny River he suggests that
/ The entire project be placed IN the hands
Of the chamber Of commerce Of ConueIs-
Vile. subject 70 the supervision and con-
troll of the Federal government. and IN
4 cooperation with IT, No such arrange
ment has been made heretofore in deveI-
oping American waterways. but President
Wallace advances many arguments in its
! support He points out the necessity that
! whatever rights shall be granted BY the
government IN connection with waterway
development shall be 50 safeguarded that
they shall inure 70 the benefit OF all the
! people. particularly those OF the region
or district directly affected and not be
D
gain
IN going into the questions OF iurssdic-
tion which may be encountered in carry
ing out such q project, Mr.. Wallace
opens up what IS likely 10 prove an i'm
pOrtant phase of the inquiries Of the
National Conversation Commission.
He says 1t would seem. however.
that an enterprise Of this character may
not be prosecuted 20 its legitimate con
/ clusiOu without encOunterinE the posi-
/ bjlity Of some conflict Of authority and
jurisdiction between the Federal govern
meut and state governments"
The writer's view Is that the greatest
good Of the greatest number car best
! be obtained through the Federal govern
ment being invested with the general
supervision and regulation power. sub
1 ject only 10 such inherent State rights
as have the sanction OF constitutional or
{ judicial authority.