The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-10-22
NEWLANDS CALLS
FOR UNITED WORK

| lands has addressed a letter 10 the
senators from the arid; and semi.arid
states, calling their attention 10 the
waterways movement for the develop.
/ mept of navigation which is TO be en-
| phasizcd by the presence OF the Presi-
dent at the Deepwatcrway conven-
ton at New Orleans October 80. and
/ to the importance of the senators and
representatives from the arid and
somi-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 the arid region
be made useful both for irrigation and
navigation In the maintenance OF a
steadier stream flow.
He urges the creation of a water
way fund OF s50.000,00 annually and
shows that of this amount the head
waters OF the DayIgabe rivers In tho
arid region should receive about
sS.000.000 annually. which In addition
TO the reclamation fund will take care
OF unfinished as we'll as contemplat
cd irrigation products.
This movement oontemplates con-
ference of senators and representa-.
tives from about fifteen states west
OF the Missouri at the beginning of
the next session of congress, with
view TO making the arid region fac.
Tor In waterway development The
letter Is as follows
Reno. New, Oct. 81.
MY Dear Senator: The waterway
question will come up for action dur.
Ing the next session and venture TO
make few suggestions as to the
course to be pursued by the senators
from the arid and seml-arid states In
the interest of their region.
I'm the first place NC have from
these states nearly one third of the
entire senate and we have the power
II we act unitedly, TO so shape action
as 10 benefit the region We represent
whilst aiding in the great movement
for a scientific and businesslike solu.
tion OF the water transportation queS.
lion. which Is now so much discussed
In the Mississippi valley and on the
Atlantic coast.
I'm the second place we have been
trained by actual experience in trri-
CATION legislation 10 take hold OF the
business side OF the question which
involves such an expert and business
organization Of the waterway service
as will insure comprehensive plans,
wise selection OF projects that will
doyetail into each other as parts Of
comprehensive whole, the union and
coordination of the scientific ser
Vices OF the government related TO
water In such maner as to unite
their experience and knowledge in
some effective way, an ample fund
that Will insure continuous work; and
such cooperation of the nation with
states; corporations and individuals
as will insure the full exercise of all
their powers and the enforcement OF
all their respective rights in the de
Velopment Of our rivers and source
streams not only for navigation, but
for every incidental and auxiliary use
TO which civilization can put them.
such as the irrigation of arid lands.
the drainage OF swamp lands, the con-
servatioD of forests. the prevention Of
soil waste and the development OF
water power
we shaped the reclamation act on
these lines and think II is safe TO
say that It was the first piece of con-
structivc legislation In the history OF
the country that was free from the
evils of the spoilS system such as
has prevailed for years in legisla-
tion relating 10 rivers and harbots and
public buildings.
'Olu immediate interest," attaches
not only TO the rivers whose waters
ultimately flow into the gulf or the
Pacific ocean: but the region con
trolled by these waterways includes
two-thirds of the entire area of the
country. All the Pacific coast rivers
have their sources in the mountain
region OF the west, and the large
tributaries of the Mississippi. namely
the Missouri (including It's tributarieS)
the Platte, the Arkansas and the Red
have their sources In the Rocky Noun
tain region.
Irrigation of arid lands is one OF
the great uses to which these waters
of the Pacific coast and Rocky Noun |
tain region are applied, The reclaim
alton fund is moi sufficient to push /
The reclamation work with the speed |
that is desired. and 1t is important
that In the formation of the new wa
terways fund the storage OF water
upon this the irrigation of arid lands |
adjacent to the rivers In the arid and |
seml-arld regions. which are tribu. |
tary TO nayigable streams, should be |
entered upon as an essential part of |
the development OF these streams for |
purposes of navigation, an dthat the |
work upon these headquarters should |
be prosecuted contemporaneously |
with the work upon the navigable riv.
ers themselves.
Tn this way We could supplement
the present irrigation fund by share
in the contemplated waterways fund,
and could claim the part in the water.
way expenditure which fairly belongs
TO our region.
III We should organize the move
ment In big way with full power to
the President TO organize the inland
service on the lines of CO
ordination and cooperation above sug
Sested. and creating q fund of $50,
100000 annually for that purpose, 1t
might be apportioned for the time be.
Ing as follows:
"One-ffth for the Atlantic water
ways, including the coastal canals
necessary to connect the BAYS and
sounds
"Opetenth for the rivers and the
gulf and the inland coastal waterway
rom the Mississippi river along the
gull and across Florida to the AT.