Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-15

of the receipts from the forestry business
OF the government to institute reforestra-
ton at the Sources of certain navigable
streams, to be selected by the geological
/ survey, with a view to determining the
praoticabllity of thus Improving and pro-
tecting the streams ~5f federal purposes. 1
think a moderate expenditure for each
year for this purpose, for a period Of five
or ten years, would be Of the utmost bene-
Fit In the development OF our forestry sys-
tenn.
Waterway improvements.
1 come now to the Improvement of the
inland waterways. He would be blind, in
deed, who did not realize that the people
of the entire west, and especially those of
the Mississippi valley, have been aroused
to the need there is for the Improvement
of our inland waterways. The Mississippi
river, with the Missouri on the one hand
and the Ohio on the other, would seem to
offer a great natural means of interstate
transportation and traffic. How far, IL
properly improved, they would relieve the
railroads or supplement them in respect
to the bulkier and cheaper commodities, is
a matter of conjecture. No enterprise
ought to be undertaken the cost Of which
is not definitely ascertalned and the bene.
cit and advantage of which are not known
and assured by competent engineers and
other authority. When, however, a pro-
ject of a definite character for the Inn
provement OF waterways has been de.
veloped so that the plans have been
drawn, the cost definitely estimated, and
the traffic which win be accommodated
is reasonably probable. think It is the
duty of congress to undertake the project
rAa - Al w...f=gz, .wnF, L. H.
proper appropriation bill.
One of the projects which answers the
description have given is that Of intro
ducing dams into the Ohio river from
Pittsburg to Cairo, so as to maintain at all
seasons Of the year, by slack water, a
depth OF nine feet. Upwards of seven of
these dams have already been constructed
and six are under construction, while the
total required is fifty-four. The remaining
cost is known as $6s,OO0OOo.
Urgency Is apparent.
1t seems to ne that in the development
Of our inland waterways II would be wise
20 begin with this particular project and
carry It through as rapidly as may be. I
assume from reliable information that 1t
can be constructed economically in twelve
years.
III hdH bcNA Sdhu % ~ OhO AANNA -
true in a less complete way OF the improve
ment Of the upper Mississippi from st.
Paul to st. Louis to a constant depth OF
six feet, and of the Missouri from Kansas
City to st. Louis to a constant depth OF
six feet. and from 81. isouis to Cairo OF a
depth Of eight feet, These projscts have
been pronounced practical by competent
boards OF army engineers, their cost has
been estimates and there ls business which
will follow the Improvement.
1 recommend. therefore. that the present
congress In the river and harbor bill make
provision for continuing contracts to com-
plete these improvements.
AS these improvements are being made
and the traffic encouraged by them shows
itself OF sufficient Importance. the improve
ment OF the Mississippi beyond Cairo down
to the gulf, which Is now going on with
the maintenance OF a depth OF nine feet
everywhere. may be changed to another and
J greater depth II the necessity for IL shall