The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-07-27
SENATOR STONE
FOR WATERWAYS
VETERAN OF MISSOURI TALKS
OF THEIR NEEDS.
Favors Immediate Development OF
Internal Means of Communi-
cation.
THE BENEFITS TO BE DERIVED

Il
'clal) Senator William ]. Stone, of
Missouri, whose career Is one of In
terest to the student of American
politics Is old-fashioned enough TO
believe that the future OF the coun-
TRY depends upon the solution of two
great Questions, the conservation of
the waters aud the forests. And he
is new fashioned enough to believe
that the largest measure OF prosperity
for the country depends upon the
improvement OF the rivers OF the
United States with particular refer
ence to those whose course is well
defined and susceptible of compre-
hensive treatment.
Senator Stone " chief among a
great galaxy OF Democrats who be-
lieve in the development OF the nat
,ural resources OF the United States.
TO harness the waters, protect the
forests and conserve the water power
that the future generations may en-
jay these inestimable advantages.
There is probably no more inter-
esting character IN the senate than
william Joel Stone, and he occupies
a unique place In that body. Quiet
On demeanor. soft in speech, tan with
Just the suggestion Of a stoop. he Is
one of the picturesque figures in the
upper branch OF the national leglsla-
ture.
For upwards OF quarter of a CEN
fury Senator Stone has been a COM
handing figure In the halls OF legis-
lation and as representative and sem
ator has taken an active interest in
the upbuhding OF the nation.
Senator Stones school days were
spent on the banks OF the Missouri
lat Columbia. where Is located the
State university. In those DAYS, when
a student at the university, which
later honored Senator stone by con-
ferring upon him the degree OF
LID. he was frequent visitor to
81. Louis. the fathers of his school
boy friends owning many OF the
boats plying on both the Missouri
and the Mississippi.
81 have seen In my student days
and on those rides to and from ST.
Louis scores OF vessels passing mp
and down the Missouri. II was no
uncommon occurrence In the ride
from Columbia TO ST. Louis TO pass
twenty or more boats engaged In
river trafic. and the leyees at the
important shipping points were al
most as busy az are the freight yards
OF our railroads OF today. These
steamboats,. and some OF them were
OF the most palatial character. car
ried the commerce OF the states
drained by the Missouri and the Mis-
slssippi.
twenty-five wears after my grad
uation from the University OF Mis-
souri, was elected governor OF the
state and took up my Official resi-
dance at Jefferson CITY and In those
twenty-five years conditions on the
Missouri and the Mississippi had COM
pletely changed. Railroads began TO
penetrate into the interior and paral-
lei the rivers. the day OF the steam
boat and river traffic passing with
the advent OF the railway. And to-
day II IS curiosity 20 see a steam
boat on the Missouri. the people flock
ing TO the abandoned wharyes 20 look
upon what was a common thing In
my boyhood days.
II grow dlsheartened aud SOME
times Disguised with the way men
handle great public questions and
do not know OF ANY greater question
that oonfronts us az a people than
the development of the waterways OF
the United States In order that the
river commerce may bring about
reduction in railway freight rates.
We have been most prodlgal of our
natural resources and the piece-meal
Appropriation In congress for river
and harbor improvements have in
many cases been worse than useless.
What We need is comprehensive
system OF waterway development and
by that mean not appropriations for
every little creek and stream but a
fixed policy on the part of the gov
eminent TO bring the rivers that once
carried the commerce of the United
States again into close relationship
with the traffic that originates along
their courses
What I want to see accomplished
is the project looking to improving
the waters from the lakes to the gulf.
1 want to see the Missouri navigable
from its mouth to Fort Benton. |
want to see the Ohio harnessed by
locks and dams its entire length.
want to see the Columbia improved
and the intercostal canals built and
the only way to accomplish this is,
az tsrongly urged by the national
rivers and harbors congress, the
adoption OF a comprehensive plan on
the part of the government looking
TO these improvements and yearly
appropriations made in order that the
work may be carried to a successful
finish"