New-York tribune., 1908-02-27

relation of rail lines to such a parts Of
while naygable waterways ,s oesr that has rail-
ways can so control transportation as to Leave the ne
nd ternnas ina1o The railways
accordingly in certain exceptional casrS' and
nas he ppesent Unrestricted and shortsghed
| competition between the two systems Is Is ih'e''i-
So large portion Of railway traffic is free srord fEom
TO SO reduce rates on those portions affected + by
such competition as to destroy the proIts G uroits
the rail Which is pa these been he
With most of the great inland waterways, except
ing the Great Lakes where the conditions OF wt nite
of the great increase of traffic and the m ic
Improvement of waterways, the total & rlxer nronor
ticnately and absolutely, with the result that ieM f
capae cansPs It nsea viii IL no3 eeye
ways used hence it is obvious that relief Irol
the existing congestion by waterway mprosseli,eb s,gb
such &c eo-ordination Of rail- and water facilities as
will insure harmonious cooperation rather than
Engineering works designed improve naviga-
ton affect favorably the regimen of the streams
including floods and low waters The annual floods foods
of the United States occasion loss OF hjs
loss OF life While the low Water of late
edoe poW iaTs and In in he oang Of streams
consequent disease and death. 1t has been c1 caine9
both to control floods and meet the needs OF COM
Sgd s n BE Of hs ae nd the of ph and
clarity of waters are affected by and other
industrial operations the watersheds in whcn
they gather. Millions OF acres in mainland Inltea .sa
floods and low ascribed to this cause have
w With the VaI1ie of the timber Means should be
vsed and applied for coordinating forestry, farm
ing. mining and related industries with the uses
of streams for commerce and for other purposes
The effect of wide variations in the LEY level OF nab
ment of necessary terminals for the handling of OF
Utilization of our inland Waterways. The pre-
vention or mitigation of such variations Wouid oe
to this end should be adopted in plans for
There have already been put under irrigation over
ten m0n acres Of fertile land adding so GnnT5ep ep
dollars Of taxable wealth and it is estimated that
by fully conserving the waters and by utilizing me
and other works fully three times as much land
can be reclaimed in the half of the United
States.
ENCOURAGEMENT OF MONOPOLY.
Our unsurpassed natural wealth and the eager
less of future needs have led TO pollcy OF ,5 eN5
tTavagant consgnpton Of nat0naI resources anG n
Seesye share Of has BEEN diverted 10
for the equitable benefit of the many.
MonOpostic tendencies have appeared ta) IN
lands. whereby large values essential to the de-
yel9pment Of the country have PasTed peyendd nd
needless destruction Of forests whose preserya-
ton is a public necessity for stream control for
acquisition of controlling sites on waterways
their segregation from public use without ade
fR ea P5bo in he Of
the people; I'D in the segregation of lands, eSpe-
ment is retarded so that tie lands remain without
benefit to commerce or advantage to the growth
Of the country: el in the control of products ana
of to disturb the normal nahes
undue burdens producers and consumers; and
% in various interferences with the production
and commerce of the country. whereby prosperity
Whiie such monopolistic tendencies have been
ConSpicuOuS in connection with the agencies OF
transportation, they are now in many cases op-
posing the best utilization of streams by divert
ing their control from state and federal JuTlsdlc-
ton in the public interests 70 persona ana ro COT
Since transportation is primary factcr in the
TeeRfs adTesg hHG mpoFan with the growth Of
1ation, it is essential that its means should be
regulated in the public interests: and any plans
for relieving congestion of transportation IN me
s S5ates STATE ea and Municipal agencies
in protecting fr}m monop9Istc contro @ m mot Gaiy
of interstate commerce
We recommend that hereafter plans for the
Improvement of navigation in inland waterways,
or for any of these waterways in connection
the b ntpn Of oods the reciamation of
lands by irrigation and drainage, and all other
uses of the waters or benefits to be derived from
We recommend that hereafter both local and
general benefits to the people shau be 1ully con-
navigation in inland waterways, or for any use
of these waterways in connection with interstate
commerce.; and that wherever practicabie ieaeral i
agencies shall cooperate with states mdnfdpa
with a view TO an equitable distribution of costs
and benefits.
STREAMS ASSET OF PEOPLE
We recommend that hereafter any plans for the
use of inland waterways in connection with inter
state commerce shall regard the streams of the
country asset of the people. shall take run
conservation OF all resources con-
nected with running waters, and shall look TO the
protection Of these resources from monopoly ana
10 their administration in the interests OF the
people
WI. recommend that the Congress be asked 10
authorize the coordination and proper development
of existing public services connected with water
WayS: and suggest that such enactment nhlSe
provide that the President of the United States be
authorized with the advice and consent or the sen
ate to appoint and organize d national waterways
commission TO bring into coordination the corps =
engineers the army. the bureau of soils, the
forest service. the bureau OF corporations,
Ciaration service and other branches of the public
service in far their work relates 10 inland
WATERWAYS, and that he be authorized 10 make
such details and require such duties from these
branches of the public service in connection with
navigable and source streams are not incon-
siStent with law, the said commission TO continue
the investigation of all questions relating 10 the
development and Improvement and utilization of
the inland waterways of the country and the con-
to consider and coordinate Herewith all mat
irrigation, swamp and overflow land re-
clamation, carifcation and purfcatiOn of streams,
prevention of soil waste utilization of water power
flow and control of floods transfer facilities and
sites and the regulation and control thereof. and
the relations between waterways and railways, and
that the commission be empowered TO frame and
recommend plans for developing the waterways and
utilizing the waters. and authorized by Congress
TO carry out the same, through established agen-
states, municipalities, communities. corporations
and individuals in to secure
equitable distribution of costs and benefits.