The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-27

and the consequent damage to Our
rivers. But 1t is neither necessary. nor
desirable to postpone the beginning OF
tho work until all the facts are obtain.
eu. We have suffered heavily in the
past from the lack Of adcdunte trana.
poartatioil facilities. and unless begin
fer sim more heavily In the future
Being without funds or an expert
staff. the commission has confined IL.
pro- anI ,hs affecting the whole
report is u plea In tho light of actual
facts. for simplicity and directness u IN
i inland W vain the great problem OF our
u, the people. It submits no specific
plans or recommendation concerning
s f,rst inc mos, most Important projects. The
Miss,s Ui uiese, or course, concerns tho
uississlppl and It's tributaries, whose
commercial development Will direetiv
affect half our people. The Mississippt
y Wopn , De MADE a loop Of the sea and
earliest possible moment only less
important is the Atlantic inner nass.
age. parts Of which arc already Under
way. .oa me , inner passages along tho
nected with the Atlantic waters. The
need FOR the developing OF the Pacific
coast coast rivers Is not less pressing. Our
people are united In support of the
policy of inland waterway develop
ment.
). H. Hitherto our nA<ional policy Of in
largely negative. No single agency
has been responsible under the Con
gress for making the best use of our
rivers river or for exercising foresight in
a comprehensive plan, the only safe
policy was one OF repression and pro-
crastination: Frequent changes OF
pan and piecemeal execution of pro-
gtf Fnr tiar l. -.
provement. A channel is no deener
than Its shallowest reach. and to i'm
prove river short Of the point OF
etfeet'Te navigability Is sheer waste
propriations for their Improvement.
our rivers arc less servlceable for in
terstate commerce to-day than they
were half a century ago and In spite
OF the vast increase In our population
and commerce they are on the whole
less used.
Urges Progressive Policy.
me first condition OF successful de-
Velopment OF our waterways is defi-
Mite and progressive policy. The second
IL a concrete general plan; prepared
by the best experts available, covering
every use to which our streams can
be put. We shall not succeed until
the responsibility for administering tho
policy and executing and extending the
plan Is definitely laid on one man or
group OF men who can be held account
able. Every portion of the general
plan should consider and SO as far as
practicable secure TO the people the use
Of water for ower-irrigation. and do
nestle supply as we'll as for navigation.
No project should be begun until the
funds necessary to complete IT prompt
~ 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 under
talsen except for sound business rea-
sons. and that the best modern bust
ness methods are applied in esecnt-
any project should rest on actual need
ascertained by investigation and judg
ment of experts and on fits relation to
great river systems or to the general
plan. and never on mere clamor.
The Improvement of our inland
waterways can and should be made
TO pay for itself so far as practicable
water-power and other uses. Naviga-
ton should of course be free. But the
greatest return will come from the in
creased commerce. growth. and pros
perity of our people For this we have
already waited too long. Adequate
funds should be provided. by bond Is
sue II necessary. and the worf. should
,nent OF our waterways and the con-
servation OF our forests are tie two
most pressing physical needs of the
country. They are interdependent
and they should be met vigorously.
together. and at once. The questions
OF organization. powers and appro-
prlations are now before the Congress;
There is urgent need tor prompt anu
decisive action.
&c. 1908,