The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1910-01-15


the food Of the people"
lie says the department OF agri-
culture Is doing a fine work in edu-
eating the people TO these facts. and
that state action In addition las for
instance, in the drainage OF swamp
lands) is essential to the best treat
mcnt OF the soils in the manner
above indicated.
He advocates a gigantic irrigation
scheme. saying. "there are millions
of acres. OF sconpletely arid land in
the public domain which. by the es-
! tabliehment OF reservoirs for the
storing OF water and the irrigation
lof the lands may be made much
more fruitful and productive than
the best lands In a climate where
the moisture comes from the clouds. -
Want Bond Issue.
II recommend" he SAYS, that au-
thority be given to issue. not exceed
ling $50 900 900 OF bonds from time
TO time. as the secretary of the in
terror shall find Il necessary. the
proceeds to be applied to the COM
,pletion Of the projects already begun
and their proper extension.
Il hope that, while the statute
shall provide that these bonds are
to be paid out OF the reclamation
fund II viii be drawn in such a way
as to secure interest at the lowest
rate and that the credit Of the United
States will be pledged for their re-
.demptiOn."
Mr.. Taft compliments Mr. Balm
ger. and says he has made most Of
the recommendation in the message,
and that he earnestly recommends
that all the suggestions which Mr.
Ballinger has made with respect to
these lands shall be embodied in
statutes. and especially that the with
drawals already made shall be vail
dated 50 far as necess airy, and that
doubt as to the authority OF the sec
Rotary OF the interior to withdraw
lands for the purpose OF submitting
recommendations as to the future
disposition Of them where new legis-
lation Is needed shall be made COM
plete and unquestioned.
Forest Reserves.
'The forest reserves of the United
States. some 1870 900, 600 acres in
extent, are under the control Of the
department OF agriculture. with au-
thority adequate to preserve them
and to extend their growth so far as
that may be practicable The import
ance of the maintenance OF our for
ests cannot be exaggerated.
Upwards Of 400 900 900 acres OF
forest land in this country are in
private ownership. but only per
cent. Of Il Is being treated scientific
ally and with a view TO the mainten-
ance of the forests.
The control to be exercised over
private owners in their treatment Of
the forests which they own is mat
ter for state and not national regu-
lation, because there is nothing In
the constitution that authorizes
the federal government to exercise
any control over forests within a
state unless the forests are owned
in a proprietary way by the federal
government
Inland Waterways.
81 come now to the improvement
OF the inland waterways. He would
be blind indeed, who did not realize
that the people OF the entire west,
and especially those Of the Missis-
sippi valley, have been aroused to
the need there is for the improve
ment 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 trans
portation and trafiic How far, II
properly improved. they would re-
II1... ~.