Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-03-06

Washington, Feb. 2S.-Most important
recommendations regarding the gov
ernment's future policy toward the
waterways OF the United States are
contained in a preliminary report OF
the inland waterways commission, sub
mitted to ongress by President RoOse-
welt today.
In his letter Of submission, the presi-
dent says:
To the Senate and House OF Representa-
tives:
/ transmit herewith a preliminary re-
port from the Inland Waterways com
mission, which was appointed by me last
March in response to a widespread inter
est and demand from the people. The
basis of this demand lay in the general
and admitted inability OF the railroads 10
handle promptly the traffic OF the coun-
try, and especially the crops Of the pre-
SiouS fall.
This report is well worth you attention.
1t Is thorough, conservative, Sane,and Just.
II represents the mature judgment OF a
body Of men exceptionally qualified. by
personal experience and knowledge Of con
ditiOus throughout the United States. TO
understand and discuss the great problem
Of how best to use our WATERWAYS in the
interest Of all the people. Unusual care
has been taken TO secure accuracy and
balance of statement. If the report errS
at all It S by over-conserVatism. Il con-
talnS findings or statements of fact. q
number Of specific recommendations. and
an account of inquiries still in progress,
and IL is based in part on statistics and
other Information contained in a VoluTn-
nous appendix. The subject with which
1t deals IS of critical Importance both TO
the present and the future of our coun-
try.
the needs of the people than those of any
other country. In extent. distribution,
n~aViGahihty. and ease of use, they stand
first. Yet the rivers OF no other civilized
EOI1ntTV n re ~ pInrINr ,l,NrnInnnl en- iyt1a
used, or play so small a part i'm the indus
trial life of the nation as those Of the
United States. In view Of the use made
of rivers elsewhere. the failure to use our
W is astonishing, and no thoughtful man
can believe that II will last. The accom-
panyine report indicates clearly the rea-
sons for It and the way to end it..
Railway Competition.
The commission finds that It was unreg-
ulated railroad competition which pre-
vented or destroyed the development Of
on our inland waterways. The
Mississippi, our greatest natural highway,
is a case in point. AT one time the traffic
upon it was without a rival in any coun-
try. The report shows that mme
was driven from the Mississippi by the
railroads. While production was limited,
the railways. with their convenient ter
minAls, gave quicker and more satisfac-
tory service Than the waterways. Later
they prevented the restoration of river
traffic by keeping down their rates along
AitN Y l1SOhpAiS - ny llS z
charges elsewhere. They also acquired
water fronts and terminals 10 an extent
which made water competition impossible.
Throughout the country the railways have
secured such control of canals and steam
boat lines that today inland waterway
transportation is largely in their hands.
This was natural and doubtless inevitable
under the circumstances, but IL should not
be allowed to continue unless under care
fui government regulation.
Comparatively little inland freight is car
ried by boat which is not carried a part of
It's journey by rail also. AS the report
shows, the successful development and use
Of our interstate waterways will reuuire
intelligent regulation of the rela tons be-
tween rail- and water traffic. When this
is done the railways and waterways will
assist instead Of injuring each other. Both
will benefit, but the chief benefit VIII ac-
crue to the people in general through
quicker and cheaper transportation
The report rests throughout on the fun
Saneptal conception that every waterway
should be made to serve the people as
largely and in as many different ways as
possible. 1t Is poor business 10 develop
n river for navigation In such a way as
10 prevent Its use for power, when by a
little foresight II could be made to serve
both purposes. We can not afford need
lessiy to sacrifice power to irrigation, or
irrigation to domestic water supply, when
by taking thought we may have all three.
Every stream should be used to the ut
most. No stream can be so used unless
such use Is planned for in advance. When
such plans are made we shall find that.
instead of interfering. one use can often
be made to assist another. Each river sys-
TEN, from It's headwaters In the forest to
It's mouth on the coast, is a single unit
and should be treated as such. Navigation
of the tower reaches of a stream can not
be fully developed without the control of
floods and low waters by storage and
drainage. Navigable hanne are directly
concerned with the protection OF source
waters, and with soil erosion which takes
the materials for bars and shoals from the
richest portions of our farms. The uses
of a stream for domestic and municlpal
water supply, for power, and in many
cases for irrigation, must also be taken
Into full account.
National Defense.
The development of our inland water
ways will have results far beyond the inn
mediate gain to Deep channels
along the Atlantic and gulf coasts and
from the gulf to the great lakes will have
high value for the national defense. The
use of water power will measurably re-
lieve the drain upon our diminishing sup
plies of coal, and transportation by water
instead of rail only will tend to conserve
.our iron. Forest protection, without which
river Improvement cannot be permanent,
Will at the same time help To postpone the