Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1909-01-28

the country depends on these waters
0wr moan annual rainfall IL about %
;rohes: ne quantity about 2is, OO0, 900, 100000
cubic feet per year. equivalent to ten
aOf the 10. OOO, 900, 900, 400 cubic feet annu-
ally flowing into the sea, less than one
Der cent. Il restrained and utilised TOT
municipal and community supply; less
than two per cent. Tor some ten per
cent. Of that in the arid and semi-ard
Yegions) Is used for irrigation; perhaps
1--WE per cent. Ia used for navigation, and
less than I'VE per cent. for power.
''The practical utility OF streams TOT
both navigation and power 10 measured
by the effective low-water stage. Ine
volume carried when the streams rise
above this stage is largely wasted ano
often does serious damage. The direct
YEARLY damage by foods since 1900 mas
Increased steadily from $45,OOO.0OO to over
1928. 900 900. The indirect loss through de-
probation Of property Is great, while
large loss arises in impeded franc
through navigation and terminal trans
fers. -,
'rWithin recent months II has been rec
ognized and demanded by the people,
through many thousand delegates from
all states assembled In convention AZ
different sections Of the country. tnat the
waterways should and must be Improved
promptly and effectively as means Oh
maintaining national prosperity.
"The first requisite for waterway III
provement Is the control OF the waters IN
such manner as to reduce FOODS ana req
ulate the regimen Of the navigaple Tlvels:
The second requisite is development OF
terminals and connections in such man
ner as to regulate commerce.;
"Rroad plans should be adopted provid'
,na for A system of waterway improve
ynert attending to all uses Of the waters
and benefits to be derived from their con
troI Including tho Qualification OF tne
water ana abatement Of foods for tne
henefit Of navigation; the extension OF ir'
rigation: the development and application
al power; the prevention OF soil wash;
the purification Of streams Tor wafer
suppiy: and the drainage ana utihsation
Of the waters Of swamp ana oveEho"
lands.
"s,nce the greatest Of our national as
sets Il the health and vigor OF the Amer,
lean people, our efficiency must oepenu
IN national vitality even more tnan on
tha resources of the minerals, lands tor-
ests and waters. ,,o
"our annual mortality from tuberculo'
ala IL about 100000 Stopping three'
Sourtha of the loss Of life from TINS
cause and from typhoid and other preva'
Iant ana nreventable diseases, would IN,
crease our average length Of life over II
years. -. .N.,,4 ann mi
nersons seriously Ill in the United states
- whom zoo 900 are consumptives. NOT
than half this illness 10 preventative,
"If we count the value Of each lie -ios
AZ onIv n.70O and reckon the averas'
earning lost by illness as 800 per yea
for grown men, we find that the econom
10 gain from mitigation of preventapl
disease IN the United States would ex
caed ii .bOO. 100000 year. In addition "
would decrease suffering ana lncreas
hanpiness and contentment among y.
neopie. This gain, or the lengtnenlns ~
strengthening Of life which u measuls;
can be secured through medlcal insso os
ration and practice, school ana tac.o 49,.
hygiene, restriction Of labor y wom S,
and children, the education OF tne peop'
N both public and private nyglehe, a. ~,
through improving the emclency ~ ~
health service. municipal, state anu ~ ~
tional. The national goveInnni ait
NOW several agencies exercising hean
Hsrotiora which only need to be concel
1000 ~ hecome co-ordinated parts OF
9reSter health service worthy OF tho ny
ton. -, % .ha uatio
Aaroanas that It's natural resources
Conserved BY proper use. TO TINS "
ne atates and the nation can 90 Hu NY
~, Meditation and example. our MelLal
Ssrsnds ri, conservation. The pressin
nssS Il for a general plan under WnlG
n,ti,ans state and nation may UNITS =,
az ofrort 10 achieve this great END ~
iao, N cooperation between the stat'
travoselves between the states ana y y
naNon. and between the agencies Oh
nstional government, IL a potent eau y
y. tha ne0lect of conservation among u
.aonie An organization through Whl'
iii AGENCIES. state, national, munlc,p'
an.oc;ota and Individual, may unite IN
ao,srror effort to conserve the louno
.snns ~ o,,r prosperity Ii indispensaDie
tha welfare and progress OF the nauC
NJ mat and the immediate creatoh Oh
, .a.,onal agency is essential MAJ
a.atsa and associations OF ciuzens ma
: ssSsn action by the appointment OF Pc
manent conservation commissions. ~
mains for the nation 70 " 1870. a
ora ,' that the states and the natlon.
Scc,at,ons and individuals, may ION
he accomplishment Of this great p pu .lsT
I, accompanying this report anu an van
! m,tted as a part thereof, are . 1ets "
I; statements BY the secretaries q tns ~ n
y srai sections, and many papers anu
: Illustrations prepared py
: reauest Of your commission
ASN~~ aartvrNUs0nn pINCHOT,
e chairman
"w. ]. MCGEE, ....
d ..Gacretary, Section OF waters
"oVERToN W. PRICE.
d .secretary, Section Of Forests
Z "GEoRGH W. WooDRuFF;
r. .'secretary. Section Of LANDS
{ ~, A. HOLMES, .,,,.
, secretary. Section Of Minerei'
. ''Attesti n
y "secretary to the Commission
4 "Deeember I, 1905"
7" oaaeh End NJ onu Journey,