Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-12-15
SHALLENBERCER FOR WATER
Governor Proclaims the Obvious at
Navigation Congress.
WAY TO REDUCE LIVING COST
Improvement of Waterways VIII
Help, Greatly, Says Speaker,
Who Urges Twenty-Five
Reservoirs

Governor. ShaIlenberEer, at the start Of
his remarks to the Missouri River Navigs-
ton congress yesterday afternoon, as
sured the delegates that he is friendly to
water.
some people in Nebraska think / am
altogether too friendly to water" added
the governor. pleasantly. because of GER
tain things that have occurred
The governor rir not make move on
big water piteher that stood on a desk be
fore him, but at once entered on discus
sion OF the tremendous sums lost to the
people OF the west because Of wasted
water, damaging floods and general neglect
Of the waterways Of the Missouri and
Mississippi valleys.
We want plenty Of water in the west
said the governor, and during the cam
paign Of 1895 an old farmer out In the
state told me pointedly that any kind OF
money would DO it. but he and his neigh
bors wanted lots Of water.
The governor then entered upon a dis
cussion Of the very close relation Of trans
cost Of living.
1t is the great element, in fact" he said
"snd we have practically lost control Of il
in recent years, as a governing element,
determining factor, in the problem con-
frc nting you They arc, in my judgment
control Of the water. redemption Of .hs
land. and the reha Utilization OF commerce
on the navigable rivers.
We must restore the Missouri river TO
the good graces Of congress We must
tuild great dams and have tremendous
reservoirs, not one. but twenty-five so
that we may Jet the water flow as we need
il; so that We can control it. bind II. and
tpresd It for irrigation in the dry regions
for power in the humid regions. and for
transportation purposes, 70 carry the i'm
meDse production of the west that can be
profitably handled on the rivers
West Must show E4rnestneSS.
The states Of This section must give
evidence of their material faith in the
thing they plead for
And OF this line Governor .Shaueuberser
told the delegates many interesting facts
he had learned on his trip with President
Taft, about the leyees and the dikes Of the
lower Mississippi river. He also instanced
the dikes Of the ancient Euphrates, and
the control OF water in the valley Of the
Nile.
Those were the very cradles OF civiliza-
ton said he. ages ago. What the in
habitants Of the valley OF the Euphrates
did 50 long ago, the men Of today can do.
In the west We have men Of courage and Of
I Independence sufficient to work out these
great problems and give US a civilization.
I an Industrial development which will be
the marvel OF the world
The governors brief speech leaned very
strongly toward the idea that the states
I concerned must bear part OF the expense.
together with the national government. in
any real movement TO improve. dyke and
buttress the rivers, 50 that they can be
held al flood time, and all the year round
dredse out their oWn channels.
Mayor in Happy Vein.
/ Mayor Dahlman welcomed the members
Of the congress with a happy little speech
/ Of welcome.
Your work. II well done" said he
means a great step toward better mar
4 kets and better living conditions in the
I richest stretch Of country that We know
Of anywhere.
This movement Is growing and must
succeed. because the people are behind IL
/ II the people demand the expenditure OF
millions Of money for the conservation and
better regulation Of our waterways con
gress might as wei get ready 10 give IL
for the people Of the west viii have II whsr
they make Up their minds they want H."
/ Following the mayors speech Of Wslcoms
Governor Burke, president Of the asso-
ciation, delivered his annual address. Their
| what threatened 70 be a tangie cropped
up. HoW 70 appoint the committee was Tn
question and men from every state repre-
scented took the floor 20 help solve. Of
| involve the matter.
Finally Governor Burke rose and said
I IF you gentlemen knew what an awfu
CcouttDuod on second PaTs1