Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-21
BURTON BILL FOR WATERWAYS
Measure for Appropriation
of Almost Ten Million Dollars.

Measure Provides for Appropriation
of Almost Ten Million Dollars.
WASHINGTON, Feb. @.-Chairman
Burton of the house committee on rivers
and harbors today Introduced the emery
ency and maintenance bill for waterways
improvements. which reaches a total APP
preparation of 1871. SIS. 1t provides for a
large number Of surveys, for the mainten-
ance OF improvements previously author
lied and for continuing the operation of
government dredges and other works.
The bill provides for a national water
WAYS commission of five senator's and seven
members Of the house. For the expenses
of the commission, which is empowered to
employ experts to aid In investigating
waterways In this country and Europe,
s0,0 900 is provided.
No single channel OF Improvement 10 to
be allotted more than $4,000 out OF the
appropriation for emergencies. Tn secre-
tary of war Ia authorized TO make rules
ana regulations for navigation Of the south
and southwest passes OF the Mississippi
river. The bill repeats the act that au-
thorizes the Mt. Carmel Development COM
pany to draw water from the Wabash river
in wabash county. Illinois. and authoris -
the secretary VI wa " BiohN AN11SS
the use of the water created by the gov
erunasnt dam at Mt. Carmel.
The secretary of war Is directed to take
proceedings Immediately for the reduisition
of the property and lands OF various water
power companies along the channel OF the
st. Mary's river by condemnation or other
wise, payment to be made out Of any money
authorized or appropriated for the Improve
O.. uH.--fA -l-.- "a -. az
All permits and licenses granted to the
chandler-Dunbar Water Power company,
the Edison sault Light and Power company.
the Edison sault Electric company or the
st. Mary's Power company OF the United
states will be cancelled on January 1, 1911.
The president is requested to open negO-
tiations with Great Britain for a treaty for
securing the maintenance of ample water
levels for tie uses Of navigation in the
Great Lakes by the construction Of such
controlling and remedial works In the con-
Meeting rivers n channels Of the lakes as
may be agreed upon. Six hundred thousand
dollars is appropriated for examinations
and surveys. contingencies and incidental
repairs for rivers and harbors for which
there is no outlet. Among the waterways
Tor which preliminary surveys and
ton are ptoNfoSop A1Huo rum tue lhland
interstate waterways along the Atlantic
and gulf coasts. are:
Chicago and Rock rivers. Illinois; the
harbors and rivers at or near Chicago,
including Chicago harbOr, and the Chi
cage river; Calumet hsrbor. the Grand
and the Little Calumet rivers. Lake Cal
umet and the lake shore from the mouth
OF the chicago river TO the city OF Gary,
Ind. for the purpose of reporting q plan
for the complete. Systematic n broad
Improvement OF the harbor facilities for
Chicago and adjacent territory; the Des
Moines. Cedar and Iowa rivers. Iowa; the
Mississippi river between 81. Paul ana
Minneapolis and reservoirs at the head
waters OF the river. the Minnesota river
and reservoirs AZ its headwaters, the
Rainy river and the Duluth. Minn. and
Superior. Via. harbork