The state herald., 1908-03-06
PLEA OF PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT
IN SPECIAL MESSAGE TO
CONGRESS.
COMMISSIONS REPORT
NO OTHER CIVILIZED COUNTRY
MAKES so LITTLE USE OF
ITS RIVERS.

Washington President Roosevelt
Wednesday sent a special message to
Congress inclosing the report of the
commission on inland waterways and
urging immediate action looking to the
improvement of inland streams in the
interests of increased prosperity and
commercial growth of the country.
The message OF the president was in
part as follows:
ITO the Senate and House of Rep.
resentatives: l transmit herewith a
preliminary report from the inland wa,
terways commission, which was ap.
pointed by me last March in response
to widespread interest and demand
from the people. The basis of this de-
mand lay in the general and admitted
inability OF the railroads to handle the
traffic Of the country, and especially
the crops of the previous fall
This report is well worth your at
tentlon. II is thorough. conservative.
sane and just. 1t represents the mature
judgment OF Il body of men exception
ally qualified by personal experience
and knowledge Of conditions through
out the United States, to understand
and discuss the great problem OF how
best to use our waterways In the inter.
est of all the people.
Our river systems are better adapt
ed to the needs OF the people than
| those OF any other country. Ia extent.
distribution. navigabilty and ease OF
use. they stand first. Yet tho rivers
| of no other civilized country are SO
! poorly developed. so little used, or play
so small part in the Industrial life OF
| the nation as those of the United
| States.
THE comrpisslon finds that II was
unregulated railroad competition which
| prevented or destroyed the develop
mcnt Of commerce on our inland water
ways The Mississippi, our greatest
| natural highway. is a case In point, Al
one time tho traffic upon Il was with
out a rival in any country. The report
shows that commerce was driven from
the Mississippi by the railroads
Throughout the country the railways
have secured such control OF canals
and steamboat lines that today inland
waterway transportation is largely In
their hands. This was natural and
doubtless inevitable under the circum
stances, hut II should not be allowed IA
continue under careful government reg
ulntion.
THE development OF our inland wa
terways will have results far beyond
the immediate gain OF commerce. Deep
channels along the Atlantic and gull
coasts and from the gulf 10 the great
lakes will hay. high value for the ma.
tional defense. The use OF water power
will measurably relieve the drain
upon our diminishing supplies Of coal,
and transportation by water instead oi
rail win only tend to conserve our iron.
Forest protection. without which river
] Improvement cannot be permanent
will Rt the same time help TO postpone
the threatened timber famine. and VIII
secure us against total dearth OF tim
Der by providing for the perpetuation
Of the remaining woodlands, lrriga'
| tion will create the means Of n liycll'
hood for millions Of people. and sup
plies Of pure water will powerfully
promote the public health.
I'VE cannot afford neodlessly 10 sec
rifice power to irrigation, or irrigation
10 domestic water supply. when by
taking thought we may have all three.
While We delay our rivers remain un'
used. our traffic Ia periodically con
Fested and the material wealth and ns.
tural resources Of the country related
to waterways are being steadily ab'
sorbed bY great monOpolias,
] Among these monOpollcs. ns the 70
/ port OF the commission points out.
there n no other which threatens, or
has ever threatened such in,olsFnhls
/ Interference with tho daily life OF tho
people hs the consolidation OF com
| panios controlling water power, ! call
| your special attention 10 tho attemp,
of the power corporations, through
bills introduced at the present session,
TO escape from the possibility Of gov
ornmcnt regulation In the interests OF
/ the people. These bills are intended 10
enahl. IN. corporations 10 take pos
session In pcrp.tui,y Of national forss,
lands for tho purposes of their busi
meas. where ana ~ they please. wholly
without compensation 10 the public,
THE ausstions Of organizations.
powers and appropriations are now b.
/ fore N. congress. There Ia urgent need
I Ia, ,Fn,a,,, .,d Jssts,S. antis~, %