The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-01-22

TTIB MA
the country depends on these waters. |
our mean annual rainfall Is ABOUT 20
inchesf tile dtnintity about 3i5 coo 200 600 000
cubic feet per year, equivalent TO ten
Mississippi rivers
''Of the 10000 OOO. 600 900 cubic feet annu- |
ally flowing into the sea, less than one
per cent. Is restrained and utilized for
municipal and community supply less
than two per cent (or some ten per |
cent. of that In the arid and semi arid
reglons) Ia used for irrigation perhaps
| Ave per cent Is used for navigation, and
| less than five per cent for power.
"The practical utility of streams for
both navigation and power Is measured
| by the effective low-water stage. The
volume carried when the streams rise
above this stage is largely wasted and
| often does serious damage The direct
| yearly damage by floods since 1900 has
| increased steadily from $4,000 00C to over
| s23S 900. 600 The indirect loss through de-
| probation of property Is great, while
large loss arises IN iThpeded traffic
through navigation and terminal trans
| fefs
within recent months II has been rec.
| ognized and demanded by the people,
| through many thousand delegates from
/ all states assembled I'm convention in
| different sections Of the country, that the
| waterways should and must be improved
promptly and effectively as means of
| maintaining national prosperity.
| "The first requisite for waterway i'm
| provement IL the control OF the waters In
| such manner as to reduce floods and reg
| ulate the regimen OF the navigable rivers
| The second requisite Is development OF
| terminals and connections In such man
ner as to regulate commerce
Broad plans should be adopted provid-
| ing for a system Of waterway improve
| ment extending to an uses Of the waters
| and benefits tO be derived from their con-
troll including the clarihcatlon Of the
/ water and abatement OF floods for the
benefit Of navigation: the extension Of ir-
rigatlon the development and application
| of power: the prevention OF soil wash;
| the publication OF streams for water
| supply: and the drainage and utilization
OF the waters OF swamp and overflow
lands.
National Efficiency.
since the greatest Of our national as
sets Is the health and vigor OF the Amer
ican people, our efficiency must depend
i on national vitality even more than on
the resources OF the minerals, lands, for
Il ests and waters.
"our annual mortality from tuberculo-
sis is about 10000. Stopping three
fourths Of the loss OF life from this
cause. and from typhoid and other preva-
lent and preventable diseases would IN
crease our average length Of life over 10
| years.
There are constantly about 100000
persons seriously ~ In the United states,
OF whom 100000 are consumptives. More
than half this Illness Is preventable
III we count the value Of each life lost
at only $500 and reckon the average
earning lost by illness as 500 per year
for grown men, we find that the econom-
. ic gain from mitigation of praventable
/ an In would
ceed 81 500 600 GOO a year. In addition, we
would decrease sunering and Increase
happiness and contentment among the
people. This gain, or the lengthening ana
strengthening OF life which II measures
| can be secured through medical invest-
| Ration and practice, school and factory
hygiene restriction OF labor by women
!, and children the education OF the people
I'm both public and private hygiene, and
| through improving the efficiency of our
health service, municipal state and ma
uonal The national government has
| now several agencies exercising health
functions which only need to be concen-
| trated to become co-ordinated parts OF a
greater health service worthy of the ma
| ton.
"The permanent welfare OF the ma on
/ | demands that It's natural resources
, | conserved by proper use. To this en-
| the states and the nation can do much
| by legislation and example. Our welfare
. | depends on conservation. The pressing
| need Is for a general plan under which
| citizens, state and nation may unite IN
, | An effort to achieve this great end. The
| lack OF co cooperation between the states
| themselves, between the states and the
, | nation, and between the agencies or the
national government. is potent cause
, of the neglect OF conservation among the
people. An organization through whlGi'
3 all agencies, state, national, municipal
2 l la ms
common effort 10 conserve the founda'
| tlons OF our prosperity IA Indispensable "a
! the welfare and progress OF the nation
a | 10 that end the Immediate creation OF a
\ national agency Is essential MARY
states and associations of citizens nave
q | taken action by the appointment OF per
: | tnanpnt conservation commissions, u re-
: mains for the nation to do likewise, Ia
: | order that the states and the nation, as
: | soclatons and individuals, may join u
| the accomplishment of this great purpose
Accompanying this report, and trans
mltted us part thereof are detailed
! statements by the secretaries OF the seV
| eral sections and many papers ana ~
! | lustrationB prepared by experts AZ th'
i request of your commission.
CLIFFORD P1NCHoT.
y chairman.
"W. j. MGEE,
secretary, Section OF Waters
"OVERTON w. PRICE,,
"Secretary, Section OF Forests
"GEORGE w. WoODRUFF.
Secretary Section OF Lands.
~. A. HOLMES
Secretary Section OF Minerals.
ATTEST;
d THOMAS p. sHIPP,
! Secretary TO the Commission
Y December 7, 1905.
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