The Washington times., 1908-02-26

people OF the country, in whose inter
ests Il should be administered with
careful regard for present and pros
pectiye conditions. In the light OF re-
cent progress in electrical application
~ Is clear that over wide areas the
appropriation OF Water-pCwer offers an
uneQualed opportuR ty for monopolistfc
control OF Industries.
There is here presented an urgent need
Tor prompt action and vigorous action
oy state and Federal governments.
me control OF waterways on which
successful navigation depends is so in
Lmately connected with the proven tiog,
or hoods and low waters. and works
designed for these purposes: with the
Pto.ectlon ana reclamation Of overflow
amos, and works designed therefor.
VIII the safeguarding or banks and
ILitiiatAlna1ce OF channels. and works
employed therein; with the purihcaf{or
ana clarmca1on Of water supply. and
MOTHS designed therefor IN Continuation
w." uJelS tate commerce; with control
ana utilization OF power developed in
connection with works or the fr1nrc,,s-
tlsht OF TyigdttOn; with the standard
lLlls or methods and facilities an tba
S 800 ulilAtlhg or water way and railway
i illati inner Tan yes and throughout the
.si ger area OF the c3uRtry with recIs ~
llon by irrigation and drainaee -
"oIhS designed primarily for these y-,1r-
poses-that local ana snecIaT gff,ns.t,,--
-. S5LIhlnE the control OF WATERWAYS
- ,Sst,- oe treated as a general question
- ...Lt.olai extent while local or specisi
L.oJects should be considered as r,s,-tz
% comprehensive policy OF vyafa1-v-, -
SOli'Toi IN The interests OF all the peopIe
Eighth Of National Wealth
While precise figures are not n7uz oh-
1al ll' Il IS safe to say that the chr
rent value OF our inland transportattor
Lacliities (of which railways form am
out small percentage exceeds one
eighth Of our national wealth: vet tbasA
faculties are 70 far inadequate that
production IS impaired and the s--ov-T ;,
or the country is retarded. VYniLs fr,,sf-
worthy estimates cannot be made with
out further data, IL IS reasoDa ne. 70 an
uclpate that congestion Of interstate
commerce can be obviated IN large
measure by judicious Improvement az
waterways adapted 10 barge and boat
JrdHic, at figure much less than that
estimated by competent authorities for
20 increasing railway facilities as to
meet present needs. Il Is desirable that
additional data be obtained BY regtIfsita
expert investigation
II is conservative to estimate that fu-
dicioUs improvement OF the waterways
OF the country VIII confer direct bene-
hts through increased transp ortatiOn Ia
cttttes which will exceed the cost. while
the collateral benefits will be at least
comparable with the gain TO commerce.
Under a cO-ordinated Dlan. such cOllat-
eral benefits as the enhanced value Of
lands reclaimed by irrigation and drain
age, the value OF water-pOwer devel-
oped, the increased values due to the
prevention Of floods and low waters,
clarified water, will more than balance
the cost Of the works
The benefits OF q comprehensive sys-
tenn OF waterway improvement viii ex-
al L. Il
sections and Staees OF the country; and
the means employed should be devised
SO far as possible TO distribute the cost
equitably through cooperation between
ties, communities, corporations, and in
dtviduals.
Our unsurpassed nat lraI wealth and
the eagerness of our people for fmmedi-
ate results regardless OF future needs
have led to a policy OF eXtravagant con-
sumption Of national resources and TO
an announcement of monopoly whereby
an excessive share of such resources has
been diverted to the enrichment Of the
Few rather than preserved for the equi-
table benefit Of the many. Monopohstic
tendencies have appeared "a in the ex-
tensive control of mineral fuels on pub
lie lands whereby large values essential
to the development OF the country have
passed beyond pu6lic regulation; OBJ IN
the acquisition and needless destruction
Of forests, whose preservation IS
public necessity for stream control, for
timber supply and for other purposes:
(c) in the acquisition Of controlling sites
on waterways and the appropriation Of
valuable water powers with their segre-
cation from public use without adequate
Compensation. whereby Indispensable
utilities escape public regulation in the
interests OF the people; Cd in the segre-
cation OF lands, especially in the semi
arid regions, whereby development IS
retarded 50 that the lands remain with
out benefit to commerce or advantage
to the growth Of the country: (e) in the
control Of products and Of Jrapsporta-