The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1908-02-29

don In such way as 20 preveAt ifs
use for power. when BY little fore
sight II could be made % serve both
purposes. We can not AFFORD need.
ltssly to sacrifice power b irrigation.
or irrigation 70 domestic water supply.
when by taking thought we may have
all three. Every stream should be used
TO the utmost. No stream can be so
used unless such use is planned for
In advance. When snch plans are
made we shall find that. instead OF
interfering one use can often be made
10 assist another. Each river system.
from Its headwsters IN the forest 10
Its mouth on the coast. Is single
unit and should be treated ms such
Navigation OF The lower reaches OF
stream can not be fully developed
without the control OF floods and low
waters by storage and drainage Navi-
gable channels are directly concerned
with the protection OF source waters.
and with soil erosion which takes the
materials for bars and shoals from the
richest positions OF our farms. The
use OF stream for domestic and mu-
nicipal water supply. for power. and
In many cases for irrigation must also
be taken into full account.
For National Defense.
The development OF our inland
waterways will have results far be-
yond the immediate gain 20 commerce.
Deep channels along the Atlantic and
Gulf coasts and from the Gulf 20 the
Great lakes will have high value for
the national defense. The use OF water
power VIII measurably relieve the
drain upon our diminishing supplies OF
coal. and transportation by water in
stead OF rail only will tend 10 conserve
our Iron. Forest protection. without
which river Improvement cannot be
permanent. will at the same time help
10 postpone the threatened timber
famine, and will secure us against a
total dearth OF timber by providing
for the perpetuat,on Of the remaining
woodlands. Irrigation Will create the
means OF livelihood for millions OF
people. and supplies OF pure water will
powerfully promote the public health.
If the policy OF waterways improve
ment here recommended Is carried out.
II Will affect for good every citizen
OF the Republic The National Gov
ornment must play tho leading part In
securing the largest possible use of
our waterways; other agencies can
assist. and should assist. but the work
Is essentially national In It's scope.
what Congress should do.
The various uses OF waterways are
now dealt with by Bureaus scattered
through four federal Departments At
present. therefore. Il is not possible 20
deal with river system as "A single
problem. But the Commission here
recommends "A policy under which all
the commercial and Industrial uses OF
the waterways may be developed at
the same time To that end. Congress
should provide some administrative
machinery for coordinatlng the work
OF the various Departments so far as
II relates 90 waterways. Otherwise
there will not only be delay, but the
people as whole Will fail 20 get from
our streams the benefits TO which they
are justly entitled.
The Commission recognizes that the
cost OF improving our inland water
ways will be large. but far less than
would be required 60 relieve the con-
gestion OF traffic by railway extension.
The benefits OF such Improvement will
he large also. and they will touch the
daily life OF our people az every point,
uniting the interests OF all the States
and sections OF our country. The cost
and the benefits should be equitably
distributed. by cooperation with
the States and the communities. cor.
poratlons, and individuals benencally
affected. heartily concur In the Com.
missions recommendation 20 this end.
Such cooperation should result In
united effort in carrying out the great
duty Of improving our inland water.
ways While we delay. our rivers re.
main unused, our traffic Is periodically
congested. and the material wealth
and natural resources OF the country
related 70 waterways are being stead
lily absorbed by great monopolies.
Schemes OF Corporations.
Among these monopolies. as the re
port OF the Commission points out
there is no other which threatens. OF
has ever threatened. such intolerable
Interference with tile daily life OF the
people as the consolidation OF com
panies controlling water power. cal
your special attention 90 the attempt
OF the power corporations. through
! bills introduced NJ the present session
20 escape from the possibility OF Gov
ernment regulation In the interest oi
the people. These bills are intended
TO enable the corporations 10 take pos
session In pcrpetuity OF national forest
lands for the purposes OF their bust
ness. where and as they please, wholly
without compensation 10 the public
/ Yet the cfrec, OF granting such priv
legcs. taken together with rights al
/ rcndy acquired under STATES laws