Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-08-09

neglected by congress. Such appro-
p%riations as have been made, prior
to the passage of the last river and
harbor bill, have been inadequate.
and largely of n dribbling, piece-meal
character, and not on q broad and
result-producing scale.
when the enormous extent of our
inland rivers Is considered, this neg
lect apepars the more fragrant.
These rivers should he made the
means of reliable navigation the year
round, thus forever solving the ques-
ton Of transportation. thereby les
SEEMING the burdens of the people, en-
HANGING the m contribute
ing more than all else to the pros
perity of the country.
AN this has been said so often and
in much stronger words that argu-
ment is unnecessary.
we have now Before us a better
and Il more encouraging outlook. The
bill presented by Colonel Alexander.
from the committee. on rivers ana
harbors, marked q new era in legis-
lation in behalf OF Waterways. For
the first time in the history of the
government proper Irecognition was
given a number ef Idle rivers of the
countryside greats tkhnnels of trade.
destinedsto Ia plaN hhel most important
part in the future development of
the country, A time limit was fixed
for the completion OF the improve
ment of the most important works.
and. of still greater Importance. il was
decided, so far AS Is possible to de-
eide, h q hereaft>G there shall he
an annual river and harbor bill.
The passage Of this bill, after
amendments by the senate-mostly
rendered necessary by reports Of en-
gineers that came in after the franz
ing of the house bill-aroused the in
terest Of the country and awakened
~unbounded enthusiasm.
The message of President Taft.
recommending waterway legislation,
sent to congress during the carly days
of the last regular session, met with
general approval, ana his views we're
later emphasized and vigorously ex-
pressed regarding a comprehensive
policy looking To the early completion
OF mcritortous projects. in the special
message accomplishing his signature
approving the bill.
"All that the president has said
regarding the completion of meritor-
lous projects applies emphatieally to
the ONO river. In saying this. no
iauit Is to be found with the action
OF the house committee. II gave us
az we asked in view of present con
dltions, familiar to all who are IN
formed regarding legislation in the
past affecting the Ohio.
1T is a fact undisputcd that the
ohio, in its unimproved condition.
carries more freight than any river
IN me country. that the Ohio and its
direct tributaries (these tributaries
dependent on the Ohio TO reach mar
kets) produce more tonnage than
any inland waterway system in the
Its neglect BY the government
IS one of the u%nsolvable problems of
age, In one aspect-that of the
interests Of the people at home and
,broad, affecting all branches and
ines of tr0dc-this neglect has hpen
practically criminal. one of lis ehief
tributaries, the Allegheny, has beer
lmost entirely cut Off at ana near
Is mouth ly the bridges that prevent
rilfiio, and the development of one
the richest valleys in the count
= arrested until these Instructions are
hanged so as 10 hermit free and un-
Instructed navigation. Bridges across
ono have been permitted that in
with transportation, and in al
east one case the edict of the courts
: not executed by reason of DELAY In
ne department OF Justice. To spcn
w extent has property been destroy
"a that, In "A public address. one of
he most Influential as well as learn ,
ii men of the valley. said that the .
'eh OF the ohio river Is paved with =
oal lost by reason OF the bridges IN y
eriering with navigation by steam- y
RS. d
The Ohio is % striking illustration .
] piece meal work. After "A strte- =
le covering years, q survey was or :
cred n made from Pittsburg 10 The .
1outh Of the Muskingum. more $
ears OF struggle. and u survey ,yas J.
made from The mouth of the Nuskfn. o.
To The mouth OF the Big Miami. D
III more years. and in the river ana a.
arbor act approved March 3. 1903 90
general examination OF the river e.
as ordered. with a view TO its canal %
iztion by locks and movable dams %
Goth 9 q . feet. the present and 4
respective commerce and whether {,
lch improvement should be made.
This examination was made by "a (,
GARD Of engineers OF the United d,
tates army. composed OF able mon "a
iniiii"r with river work. and an ex- +.
hustive report was made on the r5fh =
December. 1906. The recomman- p
zion Of the board was. that in Wow VI
the enormous Interests 60 be- beu.-
tied the ohio river rhould be- inn "
by means OF locks and mot- 7.
dams 60 provide q deuth OF . "'
ct from pitt-burg To- Cairo This on
port was referred 10 the hoard o. %
.igineers for rivers and harbors and n
Ielr report was even more comnre- "a
,nsive than that made hy the faf- -
er board. %pointins out that the pIan lni
VAS on a scale not hithart. -
tempted lu thls cepntry. Andsthe -