The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-10-22
Nevada Senator Addresses Circular Letter to
Representatives of Other States
CALLS ATTENTION TO IMPORTANCE Or PROBLEM
Suggests Conference Between Senators and Representa-
tves From the Arid and Sem-arid States of the West
That Comprehensive Plan Of Develop
ment May Be Discussed.

Reno. New, Oct. 2i.-Senator New
lands has addressed a letter to the
senators from arid and semiard
states calling their attention tn the
waterway movement for the develop
ment of navigation. which is to be
emphasized by the presence of tha
president at the deep waterways con-
vention at New orleans October 50.
and to the Importance Of the senators
and representatives from the arid and
semi-arid states comforting together In
the interest of their region. He calls
attention to the Importance of COM
prehensive plans that will cover con-
temporaneous development of the
rivers in every section OF the country.
and particularly in tn" arid sections.
where the storage of flood waters can
be made useful both for irrigation and
navigation in the maintenance of Il
steadier stream flow.
He urges the creation Of Il water
way fund of s5o.000.000 annually. and
shows that of this amount the head
waters Of the navisab'e rivers in the
arid regions should receive about
$4,000. 600 which. in addition TO the
reclamation fund. will take care of un-
iit1Sfth dS wen ttit1tii1DidtNh
cation projects.
A Conference.
This movement contemplates con-
ference of senators and representatives,
from about Il states west of the Mis-
souri, at the beginning of the next
session of congress. with view to
making the arid region II factor in
a. r1na l.Eft Il.
as follows:
Reno. Nev. Oct. 2i.-My Dear Sen
ator: The waterway question viii
come up for consideration during the
next session of congress. and venture
to make a few suggestions as To the
course to be pursued by the senators
from the arid and scmi-arid states In
the interest of their region.
In the first place. we have from
these states nearly one third of the
entire senate and We have the power.
If we act unitadly. tn 80 shape action
as To benefit the region we represent
white aiding in the great movement
FOR IA scientific and business-like So
luton of the water transportation
question. which Is now SO much dis
cussed in the Mississippi valley and
on the Atlantic coast.
Business Side.
IN the second place. we have bcen
trained by actual experience in irrt-
cation legislation to take hold of the
business side of this question. which
involves such an expert and business
organization of the waterway service
as will insure comprehensive plans. !
.,-ISa Salartfnn If nrnI..TtS that will
dove tail into each other. as parts of
comprehensive whole. the union and
CO. ordination of the scientific services
of the government related to water In
such Il manner as to unite their exps- /
rience and knowledge in some effective
way: an ample fund that will insure
continuous work: and such co-opera-
tion of the nation with states. co..
nora,ions and individually as will in
sure the full exercise of all their power
and the enforcement Of all their re-
speetive rights in the development of
our rivers and streams. not only for
navigation but for every Incidental and
auxiliary Use to which civilization can
put them for the irrigation of arid .
lands. the drainage of swamp lands. .
the conservation Of forests. the pre- !
vention nf soil waste and the devel- /
opment Of water power
We, shaped the reclamation act on /
these lines. and think it is safe to
say that ii VAS the first piece nf con- !
struetive legislation in the history of
the country that was free from the /
evils of the spoils system, such as has
prevailed for years in legislation re- +
lating to rivers and harbors and pub /
lie buildings.
In the West.