The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14
STATISTICS ON
 BIG WATERWAYS Representative Burton Pre- pares Commission Report SOURCES OF FRESH WATER Report Shows How Waterways oriei- nate and How Waste May Be Pre-
 vented-Great Damage Done
 Annually By Floods.
SOURCES OF FRESH WATER

Washington, December 1S-(Special.)- J. The statistics which have been gathered during the last six months on the use Of water for all purposes in the United States under the direction of Representative The odore E. Burton of Ohio, chairman of the inland waterways commission, which forms the sections of waters of the na- tional conservation commission, show pos abilities of immense savings by a more economical utilization of the available supply of water. Some of the more in teresting parts of this report follow:
 What We Have.
 The sole source of our fresh water is rainfall Qncluding snow). From this source our running, standing and ground waters are derived. The habitability of the country depends on these waters. The quantity of rainfall, including the rain fall on water areas, is 215,000. .0OO GOO cubic feet Of the total rainfall, over half is evaporated; about a third flows into the sea; the remaining sixth is either con- sumed or absorbed.
 What We Use and Waste.
 Of the 7O,OO oOO, 100000 cubic feet annual ly flowing into the sea, less than 1 per cent is restrained and utilized for mu- nicipal and community supply and related purposes; less than per cent Cor some 10 per cent of that in the arid and semi arid regions) is used for irrigation; per haps per cent is currently used for nav igation; and less than per cent Is util- ized for power. It is estimated that S5 per cent to S5 per cent of the volume is wasted in freshets or destructive floods.
 There are in mainland United States 2S2 streams navigated for an aggregate of 26.115 miles, and as much more navigable by improvement; there are also 45 canals with a mileage of 2,1ss.O5, besides numer- ous abandoned canals. On lake and sound routes there is large traffic, but the nav igation of rivers and canals Is too small for definite record. The cost of water carriage averaging about one-fourth that of rail carriage, and our railway freight age during 1906 reaching 217,000, 100000 ton miles at an average rate of TT per cent,
 
 by water would have saved over $250, 600, eco to our producers and consumers.
 The theoretical power of the streams is over 2so, 600 horse power; the amount now in use is 5,25O, 600 horse power The amount available at cost comparable with that Of steam installation is esti- mated at 370Od.0O0 horse power, and the Q nj 1o1AI ,k ol.I~ 7S,oO0. Ooo to 100000 horse power. The ST. 00O,0o0 horse power exceeds our entire mechanical power now in use and would operate every mill, drive every spindle, propel every train and boat, and light every city, town and village in the coun- try.
 The direct yearly damage by floods since 1900 has increased steadily from $45 5OOO,0 900 to $23S, ,000,OO0; the indirect loss through depreciation of property is probably greater, while the largest loss is that arising in the impeachment of navigation and terminal transfers.
 The freshots are attended by destructive soil erosion. The soil matter annually carried into lever rivers and harbors or into the sea req ches 7S3, ,OO0, 900 tons It's removal seriously reduces the produc- tivity of upland farms and increases chan hel-cutting' ano building in the rivers It Is estimated that soil erosion reduces farm production 10 per cent to 20 per cent; and that the annual loss to the farms alone is s50OOo,OO0; and that large losses fellow ..le pollution of the waters and the dlminution of navigabilty in the streams.
 Through imperfect control of the run Ling waters, lowlands are temperoraily or permanently flooded. It is estimated that there are in mainland United States 100000 to SG,O00,O00 acres of overflow and swamp lands requiring drainage; that by systematic operations these can be drained at moderate expense; and that they would then be worth two or three times the present value and cost of drain- age, and would furnish homes for 10000, COG people
 What We Need To Do.
 In considering the uses and benefits to be derived from the 215, 900 600 000, GOO cubic feet of water annually received, the par amount use should be that of water sup ply; next should follow navigation in umid regions. and Irrigation in arid re- gions. The development of power on the ravigable and source streams should be kept subordinate to the primary and sec ondary uses of the waters; though other things equal, the development of power should be encouraged, not only to reduce the drain on other resources, but because properly designed reservoirs and power plants retard the run-off and so aid in the control of the streams for navigation and o.Aer uses
 The broad plan already framed by statesmen and experts and approved by the executive should be enacted into law; 1t provides for a system of waterway inn rrovement extending to all of the uses of the waters and benefits to be derived from their control including the clarifica- ton of the water and the abatement of floods for the benefit of navigation, the extension ot irrigation, the development and application of power the prevention of soil wash, the purificatio of streams for water supply and the drainage and utilization of the waters for swamp and overflow lands
 In the Atlantic-nterior system, there should be ] deep waterway from the Gulf of Mexico to the great lakes, and a deep and continuous Atlantic inner passage from New England to Florida the present rlan for improving the Ohio should be carried out promptly, and should be per fected by any forestation and reservoirs