The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1909-01-23

SPECIFIC steps 10 winch these facts nNd
principles ineylnbly lead. According.
~ call your attention 10 some Of the
larger features OF the situation els.
closed by the report and 70 the action
thereby clearly demanded for the gen
eral good.
The report says.
Within recent months II has been rec
ognlzed and demanded by the people
through many thousand delegates from
all states assembled In convention h dif-
ferent sections OF the country. that the
waterways should and must be improved
promptly and effectively as a means OF
maintaining national prosperity.
The first requisite for waterway I'm
provement Is the control OF the waters IA
such manner as TO reduce floods and reg
ulate the regimen OF the navignble riv-
ers. The second requisite II development
OF terminals and connections In such man
ner as 20 regulate commerce.
Accordingly | urge that the broad
plan for the development OF our water
ways. recommended by the inland wa
terways commission, be put Ia effect
without delay. II provides for com
prehensive system Of waterway I'm
provement extending to all the uses OF
the waters and benefits to be derived
from their control. including naviga-
ton. the development OF power. the ex-
tension OF irrigation, the drainage OF
swamp and overflow lands. the pre-
yention OF soil wash and the purifca-
ton of streams for water supply. IL
proposes 10 carry out the work by CO.
ordinating agencies I'm the federal de-
partments through the medium OF an
administrative commission or board.
acting In cooperation with the states
and other organizations and individual
citizens.
The work OF waterway development
should be undertaken without delay.
Meritorious projects In known con
formity with the general outlines Of
any comprehensive plan should pro-
coed at once The cost OF the whole
work should be met by direct appro-
priation II possible, but IL necessary
I by the issue Of bonds IN small denomi-
nations
/ II is especially important that the
development OF water power should be
guarded with the utmost care both by
; the national government and by the
states In order to protect the people
against the upgrowth of monopoly and
10 insure 70 them a fair share IN the
+ benefits which will follow the develop
ment OF this great asset. which belongs
70 the people and should be controlled
by them.
Forests.
I urge that provision be made for
both protection and more rapid deyel-
: opment OF the national forests. Other
wise either the increasing use Of these
forests by the people must be checked
or their protection against fire must
7 be dangerously weakened. II we COM
parc the actual FIRE damage on similar
areas on private and national forest
\ lands during the past year, the govern
ment Ere patrol saved commercial tim
/ Der worth rs much as the total cost Of
caring for all national forests at the
present rate for about ten years.
especially commend TO the congress
! the facts presented by the commission
as TO the relation between forests and
stream flow In It's bearing upon the Inn
portance OF the forest lands IN nation
al ownership. Without an understand
ing OF this intimate relation the con-
servation OF both these natural re-
sources must largely fail.
The time has fully arrived for recog-
nizing In the law the responsibility 10
the community, the state and the ma
ton which rests upon the private own
ers OF private lands. The ownership
OF forest land Is a public trust. The
man who would so handle his forest
as TO cause erosion and TO injure
stream fiow must be not only educated,
but he must be controlled.
The report OF the national conserva-
ton commission says:
Forests In private ownership cannot be
conserved unless they are protected from
fire. We need good fire laws. wen en-
forced Fire control r. impossible with
out an adequate force OF men whose sole
duty Is fire patrol during tho dangerous
season.
I hold as FIRST among the tasks be-
fore the states ana the nation IN their
respective shares m forest conserva-
ton ANt ti-NitaHilNU va NtNNtNtAt Wv
patrols and thc enactment az good lrr
I laws on the part of TIC states
The report says further
Present tax laws prevent refofestation
OF cut over ianI and the pcrpctuati0n of
existing fn7crls hy use. An annual tax
upon the lard Itself exclusive OF the tim
Der, and tax upon tho timber when cut
IL well adapted 70 actual conditions OF
forest Investment and Is practicable and
! certain. II Is far better that forest land
should pay moderate tax permanently
than that Il rtould pay an excessive rev
enue temporarily and then cease 20 yield
at all.
Second only I'm Importance 10 good
fire laws well enforced Is the enact
ment OF tax laws which VIII permit
the perpetuation OF existing forests by
use.
Lands.
With our increasing population the
time Is not far distant when the prob
lem Of supplying our people with food
VIII become pressing. The possible