Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-01-15

the practicability Of thus improving
ind protecting the streams for federal
purposes. think u moderate cNpen-
diture for each year for this purpose,
for Il period Of fiNa or ton Years would
be OF the utmost benefit IN the devel-
opment OF our forestry system.
II come now to Improvement OF In
land Waterways. lie was blind. IN
deed. who did not realize that the PEG,
pie Of the interior west and especially
those OF the Mississippi valley, have
been aroused 10 the need OF the Inn
Iprovement OF our inland waterways.
The Mississippi river, with the Mis-
souri, o. the one hand ana the ONO
on the other, would seem to offer q
great natural means OF Interstate
transportation and traffic. How far,
II properly improved, they would re-
lieVe the railroads or supplement them
in respect or IN regard 10 the hulkier
and cheaper commodities is a matter
OF conjecture, No enterprise ought 20
be undertaken, the cost OF which is
not. definitely ascertained and the
benefit and advantage OF which are
mot known and assured hy competent
engineers ana other authority. When.
however. "a project Of d definite char
.acter for i'm provcment Of a waterway
been developed so that plans have
heen drawn. cost definitely estimated.
anu l1AiitA. OAAlAlA Wa R'NtfAfAtAtNNlRANf
81 reasonably probable, ] think IL is
the duty OF congress to undertake the
project aud make provision therefor
in the proper appropriation bill.
"One project, witch unswers the de-
|scriptfnu [ have given Is thar OF i'm
Producing dams into the ohio river
from pittshurg To cairo. 50 10 main
tain all seasons Of the year, by slack
water, Il depth Of nine feet. Upward
.nf seven OF these dams have already
been constructed and six are under
construction, while the total required
IL fifty-fiVe. The remaining cost Is
known 10 he Ss3,oo0.00
III seeins to me- that in the develop
ment OF our inland waterways u would
he wise 10 begin with this particular
project and carry II through MS rapid
" ~ may be. | assume from reliable
information that Il can be constructed
economically in twelve years,
what has heen said Of the Ohio
river is true in a less complete way of
che improve mont OF the upper Mlssis-
sfppi fran st. Paul to st. Louis to Il
constant depth Of six feet and or the
Missouri from Kansas city TO 81.
Louis to a constant depth Of six feet
ana from ST, Louis 10 cairo OF q depth
OF eight feet. These projects have
been pronounced practical BY compe-
tent boards Of army engineers, their
cost estimated ana there is business
hich VIII follow the improvement.
II recommend therefore that the
present congress in the river and har-
hor bill make provision for continu-
ing contracts to complete these I'M
A. these improvements are being
and traffic encouraged by them
shows itself Of sufficient Importance
the Improvement 81 the Mississippi
beyond cairo down to the gulf which
Is now going on With the mainten-
ance OF a depth OF nine feet every
may be changed to another and
greater depth If the necessity for Il
shall appear to arise out of the trat-
Tie, which can be delivered on the
river at cairo.
II am well informed that the in
by the waterways commits
dion In Europe show hat the exist
Of a waterway by means assures
traffic unless there ~ traffic adapted
.u water carriage at cheap rates at
End or the other of the stream.
& also appears In Europe that the
of the non-tidal streams is rare
" more than six feet. and never more
han ten. But 1t is certain that cnor-
quantities Of merchandise are
over rivers and canals In
Germany and France and England,
il is also certain that the exist
nee of-Such methods Of traffic ma
affects the rates which rail-
charge and II IL the best regu-
alton OF those rates that we have, not
e excepting governmental reguin-
through the Interstate commerce
commission. For this reason l hope
hat this congress viii take such steps
hat il may be called the Inauguration
Il the new system Of inland water
"For reasons which il is not neces-
airy here to state, congress has seen
Il 60 order an Investigation into tho
lterior department ana the forest
arNice OF the agricultural department.
he results OF thnt investigation are
OF needed 10 determine the value OF
nj the necessity for the new lcgisla-
which ! have recommended In
'spect 60 the public lands and in re-
TO reclamation. / earnestly urge
the measures recommended be
mp ana disposed of promptly.
lat without a waiting the investign-
that has been determined upon.
tSigncd )"WlLbTAM ~. TAFT.
rhe White House, January IA, l9t0.'