The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-09-06

Lakes to the Gulf deep waterway. Yet
they are deeply interested in it's
prompt completion, as well as in the
deepening and regulation of the
Mississippi to the mouth of the Mis-
souri, to the Gulf. The project for
a great trunk waterway, an arm Of
the sea, extending from the Gulf of
Mexico to the Great Lakes, should
not be abandoned. The Lakes to the
Gulf deep waterway, and the devel-
opment of the rivers which flow into
it, should be pushed to completion
vigorously and without delay. But
We must recognize at the outset that
there are certain conditions without
which the people cannot hope to de-
prive from it the benefits they have
right to expect.
In nearly every river city from ST
Paul to the Gulf the waterfront is
controlled by the railway. Nearly
every artificial waterway in the
United States, either directly or in
directly, is under the same control
II goes without saying that unless
the people prevent it in advance, the
railways will attempt to take control
of our waterways as fast as they are
improved or completed; nor would l
blame them if we, the people, are
supine in the matter. We must see
| to it that adequate terminals are
provided in every city and town on
every improved waterway, terminals
open under reasonable conditions to
the use of every citizen, and rigidly
protected against monopoly; and We
must compel the railways to cooper
ate with the waterways continuously,
effectively, and under reasonable
conditions. Unless we dc so the
railway lines will refuse to deliver
freight to the boat lines, either open
~ or by imposing prohibitory condi-
tions, and the waterways once i'm
proved will do comparatively little
for the benefit of the people who
pay the bill.
Adequate terminals properly
controlled and open through lines by
rail and boat are two absolutely es-
sential conditions to the usefulness
of inland waterway development /
believe furthermore that the rail-
weys should be prohibited from
downing, controlling, or carrying any
interest in the boat lines on our
rivers, unless under the strictest
regulation and control of the inter-
state commerce commission, so that
the shippers interests may be fully
protected.
| The National Forests.
THE people of the United States
| believe in the complete and rounded
development of inland waterways for
all the useful purposes they can be
made to serve. They believe also in
forest protection and forest extern
sion. The fight for our national for
ests in the west has been won. After
a campaign in which the women of
Minnesota did work which should
secure to them the perpetual graft
| tude of their state, Minnesota, won
| her national forest, and will keep it;
| but the fight to create the southern
| Appalachian and White Mountain
forests in the east is not yet over.
The bill has passed the house, and
will come before the senate for a vote
next February. The people of the
United States, regardless of party or
section, should stand solidly behind
it, and see that their representatives
do likewise
IF any proof were needed that
forest protection is national duty.
the recent destruction of forests in
the west by fire would supply it.
Even with the aid of the army added
to that of the forest service, the loss
has been severe. Without either it
would have been vastly greater.
State and Federal Control.
But while we of the United States
are anxious, as believe we are able,
| to be of assistance to others, there
are problems of our own which we
must not overlook. One of the most
important conservation questions Of
the moment relates to the control of
water power monopoly in the public
interest. There is apparent to the
| judicious observer a distinct tenden-
cy on the part of our opponents to
cloud the issue by raising the ques-
| ton of state as against federal juris-
diction. We are ready to meet that
issue If it is forced upon us. But
there is no hope for the plain people
in such conflicts of Jurisdictions. The
| essential question is not one of hair
splitting legal technicalities. 1t is
simply this: Who can best regulate
the special interests for the public
good? Most of the predatory cor
porations are interstate or have inter-
state affiliations. Therefore they
are largely out of reach of effective
state control, and fall of necessity
within the federal Jurisdiction. One
of tho nrimp objects Of those among