The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1910-01-21

their proper extension, and the bonds
running ten years or more to be taken
up by the proceeds of returns to the
reclamation fund, which returns. as
the years go on, will increase rapidly
in amount.
New Law Requisite.
Respecting the comparatively small
timbered areas on the public domain noe
included in national forests because OF
their isolation or their special value for
agricultural or mineral purposes, it is ap-
parent from the evils resulting by vr-
tue Of the imperfections Of existing laws
for the disposition of timber lands tina:
the acts of June 8, 1878. should be re-
pealed and law enacted for the dispo-
stlon of the timber at public sale, the
lands after the removal of the timber to
be subject to appropriation under the
agricultural or mineral land laws
What l have said is really an epitoms
of the recommendations of the secretary
of the interior in respect to the future
conservation of the public domain in his
present annual renort. He has given
close attention to the problem Of DISPOSE
ton of these lands under such conditions
as to invite the private capitol necessary
to their development on the one hand,
and the maintenance Of the restrictions
necessary to prevent monopoly and abuse
firm absolute OWNERSHIP on the other.
These recommendations are incorporated
in bills he has prepared. and they are at
the disposition of the congress. l ea nest
ly recommend that all the suggestions
which he has made with re poet to these
lands shall be embodied in statutes and,
especially, that the Withdrawals already
made shall be validated so far as neces
sary and that doubt as to the authority
Of the secretary Of the interior to with
dr.. lands for the purpose Of submitting
recommendations as to future disposition
of them where new legislation is needed
shall be made complete and unQuestioned
Disposition of Forest Reserves.
The forest reserves of the United
States, some 1870, OOO,O00 lcres in extent are
! under the control of the department OF
agriculture with authority adequate to
preserve them and to extend their growth
so far as thaG may be practicable. TIL.
| Importance of the maintenance Of our
forests carnot De exaggerated. The posi-
bility Of scientific Treatment Of forests
so that they shall be made to yield a
| large return in timber without really re-
| ducing the supply has been demonstrated
| in other countries. and we should work
| toward the standard set - them as far
| as their methods are applicable to our
| conditions.
Improvement Of River.
| come now to the improvement Of the
inland waterways. He would be blind
indeed, who did not realize that the pee-
pie of the far west, and especially those
of the Mississippi valley, have been
| aroused to the ed there Is for the i'm
| prOvement of our inland waterways
| The Mississippi river, with the Missouri
| on the one hand and the Ohio on the
other, wo Id seem to offer great nat
| ural means of interstate transportation
and traffic. How far. if properly improved
| they would relieve the railroads or sup
| plement 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 def
initely ascertained and the benefit ant
| advantage Of which are not known ant
assured by competent engineers and othel
| authority. When, however, a project o.
a definite character for the improvement
of a waterway has been developed 81
that the plans have been drawn, the cos
definitely estimated, and the trafh'
which will be accommodated Is reason
ably probable l think 1t Is the duty o
congress to undertake the project ant
make provision therefor In the proper ap
preparation bill.
One Of the projects which answers tn
description l have given is that of intro
ducing dams into the Ohio river from
Pittsburg to Cairo, So as to maintain a
all seasons of the year, by slack water
depth of nine feet. Upward Of seve
of these dams have already been con
structed and six are under construction
while the total required Is 80. The re
naming cost Is known to be $63.V0OUo.
It seems to me that in tie development
OF our inland waterways 1t would b
wise to begin with this particular projet
and carry it through as rapidly as ma
be. I assume from reliable informatio
that 1t can be constructed economical
in ten years. ! recommend, Therefore
that the public lands, in river and hal
Dor bills, make provision for contlnuln
contracts to complete this improvement
and l shall recommend in the future,
it be necessary, that bonds be issued
carry it through.
What has been said of the Ohio rive
Is true In a less complete way Of the In
| DrOV6fIl6NL VI tlc upper hioSiooiPPA IL vi
st, Paul to St. Louis to constant dept
of six feet, and of the Missouri. fro
Kansas City to st. Louis to constal
:. depth of six feet and from st. Louis
', Cairo of depth Of eight feet. Thee
projects have been pronounced practic
by competent boards of army engineer
: : their cost has been estimated and the
is business which will follow the In
provement.
AS these improvements are being mad
and the traffic encouraged by them shoJ
itself of sufficient Importance, the II
proyement of the Mississippi beyol
. Cairo down to the gulf, which Is nc
going on with the maintenan a. OF dep
. of nine feet everywhere, may be chang
i. to another and greater depth If the nece
= sity for 1t shall appear to arise out OF t
. traffic which can be delivered on the riv
at Cairo.
Cheap Rail Rate Necessary.
. am Informed that the investigate
" by the waterways commission in Euro
q shows that the existence of waterw
by no means assures traffic unless the
is traffic adapted to water carriage
cheap rates at one end or the other
- the stream 1t also appears in Euro
- that the depth of the streams is rare
:. more than six feet, and never more tn
= nine. But it is certain that enormo
quantities of merchandise are transport
:" ovar the rivers and canals In Germa