Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-01-21

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 and
advantage of which are not known and
assured by competent engineers and other
authority. When. however. a project Of
a definite character for the improvement
of a waterway has been developed SO
that the plans have been drawn. the cost
definitely estimated. and the traffic
which Will be accommodated is reason
ably probable ] think 1t Is the duty OF
congress to undertake the project and
make provision therefor in the proper ap-
preparation bill.
One of the projects which answers the
description have given is that OF intro
ducing dams into the Ohio river from
Pittsburg to Cairo. as to maintain at
all seasons of the year. by slack water.
depth of nine feet. Upward OF seven
of these dams Eave already been con-
structed aud six are under construction.
while the total required is 30. The re-
manning cost is known to be S63.oOo.ooo.
1t seems to ME that in the development
of our inland waterways II would be
wise to begin with this particular project
and carry II through as rapidly rs may
be. ] assume from reliable Information
that 1t can be constructed economically
in ten years ! recommend. therefore.
that the public lands. in river and har-
contracts to complete this improvement.
and l shall recommend in the future. if
II he necessary. that bonds be issued to
carry 1t through.
What has been said OF the Ohio river
is true In IA less complete way OF the i'm
provement of the upper Mississippi from
St. Paul to St Louis to a constant depth
OF six feet. and or the Missouri. from
Kansas City to St. Louis to constant
depth of six feet and from ST. Louis TO
ruFr nf n nf
projects have been pronounced practical
by competent boards of army engineers.
their cost has been estimated and there
| Is business which will follow the I'M
provement.
As these improvements are being made.
and the traffic encouraged by them shows
itself of sufficient Importance. the I'M
provement of the Mississippi beyond
Cairo down to the gulf. which Is now
going on with the maintenance OF n depth
of nine feet everywhere. may be changed
to another and greater depth II the neces-
| sity for II shall appear to arise out of the
traffic which can be delivered on the river
at Cairo.
Cheap Rail Rate Necessary.
am informed that the Investigation
by the waterways commission In Europe
shows that the existence Of waterway
by no means assures traffic unless there
Is traffic adapted to water carriage at
cheap rates at one end or the other of
that the depth OF the streams II rarely
more than six feet. and never more than
nine. But II Is certain that enormous
quantities of merchandise are transported
over the rivers and canals in Germany
and France and England. and II In also
certain that the existence OF such meth
DDS of traffic materially Affects the rates
| which the railroads charge. and II Is tho
best regulator OF those rates that wo
have. not even excepting the govern
mental regulation through the Interstate
commerce commission. For this reason.
I hope that this congress will take such
steps that II may be called the inhugu-
| rator Of the new system of inland water
ways. For reasons which II Is not nee
essary here TO state. congress hns seen
| ht to order an investigation into the in
| terior department and the forest service
| Of the agricultural department. The re-
| suits of that investigation are not needed
| to determine the value of. and the nc
| ccssity for. the new legislation which
have recommended In respect to the pub
| lie lands and In respect to reclamation. !
| earnestly urge that the measures be TAX
| -n up and disposed OF promptly without
| awaiting the Investigation which has been
| determined upon.
WILLIAM n. TAFT.