The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-03-02
BOWRON OPPOSES
Bic BOND ISSUE
Reasons for Objection to Ma
tienaI River Project
SUBMITS REPORT TO KAUL
Need For Economy in Government
Matters One of Chief Objections
to Issuance of Half Billion
In Bonds.
SUBMITS REPORT TO KAUL

The report of Chairman James Bowron
of the public policy committee of the
Commercial club, in which he differs
from President Roosevelt, Mr. Taft and
Mr. Carnegie on the advisability of is
suing s5OO.00o,0 900 in bonds for the river and
harbor Improvements of the nation, has
been submitted to President Kaul and
is both unique and comprehensive. Here
it is:
Birmingham, February 26, 1908
Mr. John L. Raul, President.
Dear Sir: Your committee on public
policy returns herewith, adversely rec
commended. the proposal of the Rivers and
Harbors congress for the emission of $500,
100000 bonds by the United States govern
ment for the purpose of river and harbor
Improvement.
As chairman of that committee realiz-
ing that it requires moral courage to dis
sent from a proposal said to be Endorsed
by President Roosevelt, Mr.. Taft, Mr..
Carnegie, and other eminent men, beg
to submit in brief form the following
reasons for our actions:
l. Recognizing the entire propriety of
the principles of spreading over a long
period the cost of great works of I'm
proyement, I accept the proposition of
bond issue for such a national work
quite as readily as for any other devel-
opment, such as the Panama canal, or
irrigation in the west.
2. Considering the principles l submit
that at the present the proposal is prema-
ture, for the following reasons:
ta) The country is recovering from a
severe panic partially caused by extrava-
gance, and partially durable by economy.
OBJ The Panama canal, at first esti-
mated to cost $14O,OOo00O, is now estimated
to cost $94O, 900, OOO The people of the west
have announced that they will demand as
many millions for irrigation of the arid
lands as may be expended on rivers and
harbors.
The advocates of greater navy are de-
manding the assurance of $500 900, 900 or
| $SoO,0O0,0OO that our fleet may be doubled
Immediately
The war department complains that our
fortidcations at home and abroad need
quires to be quadrupled, and that a large
addition to the force of their engineers
and artillery will be required to make
such Notifications effective.
Demands are made on every hand that
the government shall pay out more money
and increase the number of officers, rates
of remuneration, and it is a bold man
here and there who dares to speak for
economy. If these various projects were
all acceeded to the interest charge alone
of the United States would be increased
$6o,000O0O per annum.
(c) The government has not in its ser
vice the required number of engineer Of
f1cers that would be required to take
charge of rivers and harbors improve
ments. If the same were to be doubled
the proposal to issue s5OO, 900 600 in bonds
over ten years would involve $4,000, o0o
per annum and that would more than
double the present rate of appropriations
and 1t would be several years before such
an addition could be made to the staff
of army engineers, as would permit prop
er supervision of these expenditures.
I'D new feature has recently been
introduced, which has already received
the approval of this club at it's la st
monthly meeting, namely: That of coop
GRAFTON in river improvements between
private capital and the government, on
the basis of private capital contributing
a suitable proportion of the cost of dams
and paying a rental to the United States
government for the use of water power
generated thereby. This policy is en-
Enthusiastically Endorsed by President
Roosevelt and 1 submit that until it has
become the settled policy of the nation
we should go slow in initiating any new
projects. -
ID The nature of locks for river i'm
proyement Is necessarily governed by the
height of the dams, the strength and To-
cation of the currents. the character of
work which is necessary for defining the
channel, the removal of rock or sand
beds and upon the depth of the water.
This is in turn controlled by the varia-
ton of each river as between dry and
food seasons. The attention of the Pres
ident, the governors of the different
states and of all other thoughtful men
has been strongly called to the oonserva-
ton of the nations resources. So far as
this subject affects the conservation of
forests upon the watersheds of our river
1t is vitality linked with the subject OF
flood stages and the maintenance of an
even flow. If by suitable forestry the
denudation of our watersheds can be pre-
vented and q humus be renewed which
has been once washed away, and thus
an equitable flow of water restored to
the streams, many floods will be obviated,
drouths will be aleviated and some river
locks which now appear necessary will
become unnecessary and others will be
greatly modified.
1t seems, therefore, to myself as chair
mnn of this committee, that 1t would be
the part of prudence TO act deliberately
and conservatively in this matter, instead
of In a moment Of enthusiasm, based on
the reclamation of a large gathering
characterized by American energy, to
commit the nation on so great a scale
to expenditures that may prove to be
hasty and now seem to be unwse. Yours
respectfully, JAMES BOWRON