The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-02-28


sent of our inland waterways.
Valuable Natural Asset.
The report justly calls attention tothe
act that hitherto our national policy
has been one of almost unrestricted
disposition and waste of natural re-
sources, and emphasizes the funda-
mental necessity for conserving these
resources upon which our present and
future success as Il nation primarily
rests. Running water is a most valu-
able natural asset of the people, and
there Is urgent need for conserving 1t
for navigation, for power, for irrlga-
ton, and for domestic and municipal
supply.
The Commission was appointed to
obtain information concerning oCr
waterways as related to the general
welfare. Much work was done, but
more remains TO be done before plan
for their development can be prepared
in detail. We need additional in
formation on the flow of our streams,
the condition of channels, the amount
and cost OF water traffic, the require
ments for terminals, the area in each
watershed which should be Kept I'M
der forest, and the means of prevent
ing soil-waste and the consequent
damage to our rivers. But it is neither
necessary nor desirable to postpone
the beginning of the work until all
the facts are obtalnable. We have
suffered heavily in the past from the
lack of adequate transportation faclli-
ties. and unless a beginning is made
promptly we shall suffer still more
heavily in the future.
Mississippi Loop of Sea.
Being without funds or an expert
staff, the Commission has confined it,
self to principles affecting the whole
problem and the entire country. It's
report is plea, in the light of actual
facts, for simplicity and directness in
dealing with the great problem of our
inland waterways in the interest of the
people. 1t submits no specific plans
or recommendations concerning even
the most important projects. The
first of these of course concerns the
commercial development will directly
affect half our people. The MISSISSIPPI
pi should be made loop of the sea
and work upon it should be begun at
the earliest possible moment. Only
less important is the Atlantic inner
passage, parts ofwhich are already uu-
der way. The inner passages along the
G,,If oh no
connected with the Atlantic waters
The need for the developing of the
Pacific coast rivers is not less pressing.
Our people are united in support Of the
immediate adoption of a progressive
policy of inland waterway develop
ment.
Hitherto our national policy of i'll
land waterway development has been
largely negative. No single agency
has been responsible under the con-
gress for making the best use Of our
rivers or for exercising foresight IN
their development. In the absence OF
a comprehensive plan, the only safe
policy was one of repression and
procrastnation. Frequent. changes Of
projects have still further hampered
Improvement. A channel is no deep,
er than its shallowest reach, and to
improve river short of the point of
effective navigability is a sheer waste
of all its costs. In spite of large .ap-
preparations for their improvement,
our rivers are less serviceable for in
tar ~ 70
were half century ago, and in spite
Of the vast increase in our population
and commerce they are OH the whole
less used.
Definite and Progressive Policy.
The first condition of successful de-
velopment of our waterways Is
definite and progressive policy. The
second is a concrete general plan, pre-
pared by the best experts available,
covering every use to which our
coed until the responsibility for admin
istering the policy and executing and
extending the plan is definitely laid
on one man or group of men who can
be held accountable. Every portion
of the general plan should consider
and so far as practicable secure to the
people the use of water for power, ir-
rigation, and domestic supply as we'll
as for navigation. No project should
be begun until the funds necessary to
complete it promptly are provided, and
no plan once under way should be
changed except for grave reasons.
Work once begun should be prosecuted
steadily and vigorously to completion.
We must make sure that projects are
not ndertaken except for sound bust
ness reasons. and that the best modern
business methods are applied in eX-
ecutng them. The decision to under
take any project should rest on actual
need ascertained by investigation and
judgment of experts and on its reia-
lion to great river systems or TO the
general plan, and never on mere
clamor
The improvement of our inland
waterways can and should he made
to pay for itself so far as practicable
from the incidental proceeds from
water-power and other uses. Navlga
tiO, ehn,,IJ ~ cou,.co no frnp Dt1t cha