The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-02-26

necessary nor desirable TO postpone
the beginning OF the work until all
the facts are obtainable. We have
suffered heavily I'm the past from the
lack OF adequate transportation facliI-
ties. and unless a beginning is made
promptly we shall suffer still more
heavily in the future.
Mississippi Loop of Sea.
Being without funds OF an expert
staf. the Commission has confined 1t
self to principles affecting the whole
problem and the entire country. Its
port is = plea. In the light Of actual
facts. for simplicity and directneSs in
dealing with the great problem Of our
inland waterways in the interest OF tire
people IT submits No specific pans
or recommendations concerning even
the most important projects. The
first OF these of course concerns the
Mis>jsS ppi and its tributaries. whose
commercial development viii directly
affect half cur people. The MiSs'ssln-
pi should be made 4 loop of the 500
ana work upon it should be begun a.
the earliest possible moment Only
less important * the Atlantic inner
passage. parts of which are already uu-
der way. The inner passages along the
Gulf coast should be extended and
connected with the Atlantic waters
The need for the developing OF the
PScific coast rivers is not less pressing.
Our ueople are united in support of tn
immediate adoption of progressive
policy of inland waterway develop
ment.
Hitherto our national policy of i'll
land waterway development has been
largely negative No single agency
has been responsible under the con
gress for making the best use of OAR
rivers. or for exercising foresight 4
their development. In the absence OF
a comprehensive plan, the only safe
policy was one OF repression anC
procrastination. Frequent changes o
plan and piecemeal execution q;
projects have still further hampere,
Improvement A channel is no deep
er than its shallowest reach. and L
improve a river short of the point o.
effective navigablity IS q sheer vast
OF all it's costs. In spite OF large ap
preparations for their Improvement
our rivers are less serviceable for in
terstate commerce today than the,
were half a century ago, and in spite
Of the vast increase in our popula tior
and commerce they are on the whole
less used.
Definite and Progressive Policy.
The first condition of successful de
veloDment of our waterways is
definite and progressive policy. Tn
second is a concrete general plan. pre-
pared by the best experts available
covering every nse to which on
streams can be put. We shall not sue
coed until the responsibility for admin
istering the policy and executing ant
extending the plan is definitely lai
on one man or group Of men who cal
be held accountable. Every PORTO
of the general plan should COnside
and so far as practicable secure to th'
people the use of water for power, il
rigation, and domestic supply as we
as for navigation. No project shout
be begun until the funds necessary (
complete il promptly are provided. ant
no plan once under way should b
changed except for grave reasons
Work once begun should be prosecute'
steadily and vigorously to completion
We must make sure that projects ar
not ndertaken except for sound bus
ness reasons. and that the best moder
{ business methods are applied in eJ
( ecuting them. The decision to unde!
take any project should rest on actus
( need ascertained by investigation an
Judgment of experts and on it's reis
ton to great river systems or TO tn
general plan, and never on mer
cIamOr.
The Improvement of our milan
waterways can and should be mad
to pay for itself so far as practicabI
from the incidental proceeds froT
water-power and other uses. Naviga
ton should Of course be free. But til
greatest return will come from the in
creased commerce, growth. and prot
perity OF our people. For this
have already waited too long. Ad'
quate funds should be provided b
bond issue If necessary. and the wor
should be delayed no longer. The d.
. velopment of our waterways and th
conservation Of our forests are the tw
most pressing physical needs of III
country They are interdependent, an
they should be met vigorously. Il
gether. and at once. The questions 4
organization mowers. and aDpropris