The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1908-02-27
TRANSMITS SPECIAL MESSAGE
TO CONGRESS UPON THE
SUBJECT.
OF VITAL IMPORTANCE
is improvement Of Rivers-PIacea
Much Confidence IN Inland
Waterways Commission
Their Report.

| Roosevelt today transmitted to con
gIess q special message ON river i'm
proycnent together with a report Of
the Inland Waterways Commission Ii
his message he said in part:
u transmit herewith u preliminary
report from the inland Waterways
commission, which was appointed b,
| me last March in response to wide
spread Interest AMI demand from the
people. The basis of this demand lay
in the general and admitted inability
Of the railroads to handle promptly
the traffic III the country, and cs
pecially the crops of the previous fall
The Report.
An important part oil the commits
sion's report is rs follows:
Recommendation
A. We recommend that hereafter
plans for the improvement Of navI
cation IN inland waterways. or for
any use Of these waterways in co.'s
nection with Interstate commerce.
shall take account Of the purihcatioa
al the waters, The development q
power. the control Of floods. the re-
clamatiou Of lands by irrigation aud
drainage, and all other uses Of the
waters or benefits TO be derived from
their control
b. We recommend that hereafter
both local and general benefits to the
people SHALL be fully considered ia
any such plans for the Improvement
Of navigation in inland waterway
Dr. for any use of these waterways
in connection with interstate com
meFee: and that wherever practicable
federal agencies shall cooperate with
state. municipalities communities
corporations, and individuals with q
view to an equitable distribution Of
costs and benefits
C. we recommend that hereafter
any plans for the navigation or other
use % inland waterways in conncc.
ton with interstate commerce shall
take full account Of transfer facili,
ties and sites. and OF the location OF
tracks, grades, bridges dams, depots
and other works on nayigable and
source streams with a view to equit.
able cooperation between waterway
and railway facilities for the promo
ton az commerce and the benefit Of
the people.
ID. We recommend that any plans
for improving the inland waterway
shall Jake account OF the present and
prospective relation Of rail lines to
such waterways, and shall ascertain
so far as may be whether such water
ways when improved win be effective.
N rsod in the face Of railway compe
tition: ana thar the relations between
railways aud waterways be further
examined with the purp Sc OF devils
ing means of rendering the two sy5.
GEMS complementary and harmonious
and making such fair division of tra!
hc that rates and management may
be- co-ordinatcd economically and with
ucpefit 10 The country.
T.. We recommend the adoption o.
means for ascertaining regularly all
facts related to traffic on the inland
waterways. and for publishing the
same in form suitable for general
use.
f. We recommend the adoption u;
means Ter ascertainng and rendering
available. at such rate as to meet pub
lie necessities. all requisite data re-
lated to the physical character an
general utility of the navigahie am
source streams Of the country.
C.. We recommend that hereafter
ans plans FER the use of inland water
ways in connection with interstate
commerce shall regard the streams o.
the country as an asset OF the people
shall take full account Of the conser-
yation of AT resources connected With
running waters. and shall look to the
protection OF these resources from
monoaoly aud to their administration
in the interests Of the people.
II. we recommend that the con
eress be- asked to make suitable pro
vision for improving the inland water
ways of the United states at a rate
commemorate with the needs OF the
people AS determined by competenr
authority. and we suggest that such
provision meet these requisites. viz.
expert framing of q definite policy;
certainty Of continuity aud coordina-
zion OF plan aud work; expert inita
tive in the choice Of projects aud the
succession of works; freedom in So
lection Of proicCts 10 accordance viii
ltems of cooperation: aud the widest
opportunity ior applying modern busi
mess methods.
l. Nc recommend that the congr 81
he Fcd o. authorize the coordina
ton and proper development Of exist
ing fmhuc services connected VIII
WATERWAYS. and VIC suggest that such
enactment might provide that tn
president OF the United states b.
authodzeI. with the advice and con
seut a. the senate to appoint aud CT.
laanize o national waterways commits
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