The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-12-10
A Valuable Resource.

Valuable Resource.
The West Fork river is a small
stream. Elk creek is a smaller
stream. The tributaries of these two
are still smaller. But their small
ness ought not to mean necessarily
that they can not be made to be
means OF usefulness. Indeed, they
are valuable or would prove them
selves so, If human effort but supple
mented what mature has given In
such bounteo way.
One may not hope to have navi-
gable streams from Clarksburg,
though that may eventually come.
but water is an invaluable asset and
can be used to advantage in many
ways, one of which is domestic use,
II properly awaited, and another is
motive power, but neither eclipses its
use as a fire fighter.
1t Is feared that even Clarksburg,
after going through such a prolonged
drouth and suffering all the incon-
Veniences and the risks it brought is
not aroused to the extent of elimin-
ating opposition co betetr water facil-
titles. the averred lethargy being the
result more of prejudice than lack
of apprecia ton of the public need
BE that as 1t may, it is hard, even
painful, to conceive that some petty
Jealousy may influence men to vote
against measures that tend to the
public good and to guarantee to
them better conditions than prevail
The water question is not local by
any means 1t interests the nation.
In truth, it is a basic principle upon
which the life of the nation Itself
depends largely, though there has
been neglect and Indifference thus
far. The future of sClarksburg
greatly depends on the solution of
the water question and it can no
longer be said that Clarksburg can
get along and grow without ade-
quate water supply. In this respect
nature, perhaps, has not been as kind
to this city as has been the case at
other points, but nature has done
amply enough to avoid our distress.
provided the people themselves
would do their part.
While only the most hopeful may
entertain the idea that our city will
he able some time to avail itself of
navigation, yet from other view
points water as natural resource as
certainly one of the most precious,
and at this particular time it is not
amiss to quote such a splendid and
honest authority as the President of
the United States, who but yesterday
in closing an address to the National
Conservation Commission, said:
Our natural resources are so re-
lated that the use OF one affects the
use of all the others. This is es-
pecially true of our waterways. Ev-
cry man, woman ma child within
our borders has an interest in them,
through navigation, power. irriga-
ton. or water supply, or through all
four. We have neglected our water
ways more than any other natural
resource and we must put an end TO
that neglect. The Inland Waterways
Commission has told us how.
First. let us prepare a compre-
hensive plan for inland waterway de-
velopment along the lines pointed
out by the commission. Such plan
must consider every use of the wat
ers, 1t must put the interests of all
the people in advance of any private
interests whatever. The preparation
of this comprehensive plan should be-
gin at once.
Second, let us proceed immed-
lately with the construction OF the
waterways for which plans have al
ready been approved, and which we
are now certain will fit into the out
lines of the general plan. Our
previous policy of procrastination,
delay, and htful and partial action.
has borne its perfect fruit Our
waterways are deserted and in return
for our vast expenditures we have
little or no actual navigation to show
The people are ready for a change.
Let us have il, and at once. If we
can pay the cost from current rev.
enues let us TO do. If not let us is