The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-02-27

Il
system, from It's hcadwaterS IN the
forest to its mouth on the coast, is u
single unit and should be treated rs
such. Navigation Of the lower
reaches OF stream can no, be fully
developed without the control OF
floods and low waters BY storage and
drainage. Navigable channels arc
directly concerned with the protec-
tion OF source waters, and with soil
erosion which takes the materials for
bars and shoals from the richest por-
tons OF our farms The uses Of a
stream for domestic and municipal
water supply, for power, and in many
cases for irrigation, must also be
taken into full account.
The development of our inland
waterways will have results far be.
yond the immediate gain to com.
meree, Deep channels along the At
lantic and Gull coasts and from the
Gull to the Great Lakes will have
high value for the national defense.
The use OF water-power will mcasur-
ably relieve the drain upon our dim
inishing supplies OF coal, and trans.
portation by water instead Of rail only
will tend to conserve our iron. Forest
protection, without which river i'm.
provement cannot be permanent, will
at the same time help 70 postpone
the threatened timber famine, and will
secure us against total dearth OF
timber by providing for the perpetual
ton OF the remaining woodlands, Ir-
rigation will create the means OF live.
lihood for millions OF people. and sup
plies OF pure water viii powerfully
promote the public health. II the
policy Of waterway Improvement here
recommended Is carried out, II will
affect for good every citizen OF the
Republic, The National Government
must play the leading part in securing
the largest possible use OF our water
ways; other agencies can assist, and
should assist, bu, the work is cssenti.
ally national in its scope.
The various uses OF waterways are |
now dealt with by Bureaus scattered |
through four federal Departments
At present, therefore. it is not pos.
sible TO deal with a river system as
/ single problem. But the Commis-
sion here recommends a policy under
which all the commercial and indus
rial uses OF the waterways may be
developed at the same time, To that
md. Congress should provide some
administrative machinery for co-or.
linating the work Of the various De.
,artments so far as it relates to water
ways. Otherwise there will not only
'e delay, but the people as whole
will fail to get from our streams the
benefits to which they are justly en-
titled.
The Commission recognizes that
he cost OF improving our inland
waterways will be large, but far less
han would be required to relieve the
Of traffic by railway extcn.
'ion. The benefits OF such improve
nent will be large also, and they will
ouch the daily life Of our people at
very point, uniting the interests Of
III the States and sections OF our
country The cost and the benefits
should be cquitably distributed, by
cooperation with the States and the
corporations, and indi-
'iduals benefcially affected. | heart
ly concur in the Commissions recon-
nendation to this end. Such cooper
Itions should result in united effort in
:arrying out the great duty OF i'm
proving Our inland waterways.
While we delay, our rivers remain
our traffic is periodically con
,ested, and the material wealth and
natural resources OF the country re.
ated to waterways are being steadily
lbsorbed by great monopolies.
Among these monoplies, as the re-
,ort Of the Commission points out,
here is no other which threatens, or
las ever threatened, such intolerable
Interference with the daily life OF the
,eople as the consolidation of COM
'anies controlling water power.
all your special attention at the pres
mt session, to escape from the pos
ibility OF Government regulation in
he interests of the people. These
bills are intended to enable the cor
'orations to take possession in per.
'etuity Of national forest lands for the
purpose OF their business, where and
is they please, wholly without com
'ensation to the public. Yet the
fleet Of granting such privileges,
AIKEN together with rights already