Panama City pilot., 1908-12-24
The Development of Waterways.

In his address, President Roose-
welt especially directed the attention
of the Conference to the subject of
waterways. every man, woman,
and child within our borders," he
said, "has an interest in them,
through navigation, power, irriga-
ton, or water supply, or through all
four. We have neglected our water
ways more than any other natural re-
source, and we must put an end to
that neglect. First, let us pre-
pare comprehensive plan for inland
waterway development. Such a
plan must consider every use of the
waters. 1t must put the interests of
all the people in advance of any pri-
vate interest whatsoever. The pre-
paration of this comprehensive plan
should begin at once. Second, let us
proceed INN ediately with the con-
structiOn of the waterways for which
plans have already been approved,
and which we are now certain will fit
into the outlines of the general plan.
Our previous policy of procrastina-
ton, delay, and titful and partial ac-
ton has borne its perfect fruit. Our
waterways are deserted, and in re-
turn for our vast expenditures we
have little or no actual navigation to
show. The people are ready for a
change. Let US have it at once" A
little later he said: "Forests and
waterways cannot be separated in any
successful treatment of either. For
est protection and river development
must go hand in hand" In addition,
therefore, to providing waterway
plan and proceeding at once on such
portions of the plans as are ready, we
must "provide amply for forest pro-
lection against fire, against reckless
cutting, against wantOn or reckless
destruction of all kinds, and secure
the Appalachian and White Noun
tain National forests without delay"
The Presidents call for waterway de-
velopment in accordance with COM
prehensive plan was indOrsed at near
ly every meeting of the Conference
by Governors, legislators, and busi-
ness men. Governor Johnson, of
Minnesota, declared that the devel-
opment of inland waterways is the
greatest problem of the hour, and
said, 81 believe the greatest invest
ment this Nation can make to-day is
to construct a canal from Lake Su-
perior to the Gulf of Mexico. 1t will
solve the problem of rate regulation
in the interior" The growing pub
lie demand for an adequate
and comprehensive plan of waterway
was further displayed in
the meetings of the National Rivers
and Harbors Congress which were
being held in Washington at the same
time as those of the Conference. Over
four thousand delegates from all parts
of the country were met to further
the cause of waterway development.
The Congress, under the leadership
of Representative Joseph Ransdell, of
Louisiana, Representative James H.
Davidson, of Wisconsin, and Repre-
sentative E. G.. Ellis, of Missouri, all
members of the Rivers and Harbors
Committee of the House of Repre-
sentatives, has consistently stood for
a broad plan of waterway develop
ment. and has steadfastly refused to
give its support to any specific pro-
ject. The meetings of the Congress
were crowded, and the subject of
river and harbor development was
discussed from every conceivable
angle and with the greatest enthu-
siasm. Mr. James Bryce, the British
Ambassador, fer example, told the
Congress of Great Britain's compara-
lively limited and Illuminating ex-
perience with waterway develop
ment. He called the attention of
those who are inclined to assert that
the development of river and canal /
will be a blow to the
railways to the fact that in Germany
the Rhine, which is extensively used
for freight transportation, is parallel
ed by two trunk lines of railway, each /
of which is also used to its fullest !