The Detroit times., 1910-01-15

shall be made TO Yield n large return |
supply has oeen demonstrated In other |
countries. and we should work toward
the standard set by them as far as
their methods are applicable to our
conditions,
Control IL Up to states.
Upwards OF 400. 100000 acres or for
est land In this country are la private
ownership. but only 3 per cent OF II Is
being treated scientifically and with
The part played by the forests In the
equalization of the supply or water
on watersheds Is a matter OF discussion
be derived by the public from the ex-
tension OF forest lands on watersheds
and the promotion OF the growth OF
and that once had great fiourishing
forests, goes without saying. The con-.
troll to be exercised over private owners
they own 10 a matter for state and not
national regulation, because there is
nothing In the constitution that auth-
orizes the federal government TO exer-
cise any control over forests within a
state, unless the forests are owned In
a proprietary way by the federal gov
ernment.
1t has been proposed, and a bill for
the purpose passed the lower house In
the last congress, that the nutiohai
sppropriassf tss reesipts
from the forestry business OF the gov
ernment To institute reforestation AZ
the sources OF certain nsviSaSi,e aoiaS,e
cal survey with view TO determining
the pracucability OF thus impi OWING
and protecting the streams Tor teaelai
purposes. I think a moderate expendi-
ture for each year for this purpose;
for period OF five or ten years would
be of the utmost benefit in the develop
ment of our forestry system. :.
come now to the imRrovemeihnt 0s
the inland waterways. He wouid oe
blind. inded. who did not realize that
pecially those OF the Mississippi valley,
have been aroused to the need there
is for the Improvement or our inIans
waterways. The Mississippi river with
the Missouri on the one hand and the
Ohio on the other, would seem TO oner
a great natural means OF interstate
properly improved. they would relieve
the railroads or supplement them IN
respect. to the buikier and cheaper
commodities. is matter of conjecture.
No enterprise ought to be undertaken
tho cost OF which Is not definitely as
certained and the benefit and advan-
sured by competent engineers and 9TH
er authority. When. however. pro-
ject OF definite character for the i'm
developed so that the plans have been
drawn the cost definitely estimated
and the traffic which will be accom-
nOnate0 Is redSOnaDly pTObaDie
II is the duty of congress to undertake
the project and make provision there
for In the proper appropriation bill.
one OF the pr1,eSs hsSe xiven Is that Of
Introducing dams In the Ohio river
from Pittsburg 10 Cairo so as to main
tain, at all seasons Of the year by
wards OF seven OF these dams have
already been constructed and s'x arc
under construction, while the total re-
all m a m m
known to be s6s. 900, 900.
II seems to me that In the develop
mcnt Of our inland waterways II woulc
he wise to begin with this particular
project and carry II through as rapid
lv as may be. I assume from reliable
information that 1t can be constructed
economically I'm IL years.
improvements of Waterways.
What has been said OF the Ohio river
Is true In less complete way OF the
improvements OF the upper Mississippi
from ST. Paul to st. Louis to constant
depth OF SIX feet and OF the Missouri
stant depth OF eight feet These pro-
jects have been pronounced practical
bv competent boards OF army engi,
neers. their cost has been estimated
and there is business which Will fol-
low the Improvement.
recommend. therefore. that the
Dor bill. make provision for contin-
uing contracts TO complete these I'M
provements.
AS these improvements are being
made. and the traffic encouraged by
then. shows itself of sufficient import
ance. the Improvement Of the Mississlp-
whss ssySna Waro rone aown on with the ma gd
tenance OF depth OF nine feet every
where. may be changed TO another and
greater depth IL the necessity for 1t
shall appear to arise out OF the traf-
hc which can be delivered on the river
at Cairo.
hy the waterways commission in Eu-
rope shows that the existence OF wa
tcrwav by no mears assures traffic un-
less there Is traffic adapted to water
the other of the stream. II also ap-
pears In Europe that the depth OF the
n.on-tidal streams Is rarely more than
six feet, and never more than ten. But
II Is certain that enormous quantities
OF merchandise are transported over
the rivers and canals In Germany and
France and England. and it Is also GER
tain that the existence or such methods
of traffic materially affects the rates
which the railroads charge, and IL is
the best regulator OF those rates that
we have. not even excepting the gov
ernmental regulation through the in
terstate commerce commission. For
this reason. 7 hope that this congress
will take such steps that II may be
called the iraugurator or the new sys-
TEN OF inland waterways
For reasons which II is not neccs-
sary here to state, congress has seen
At TO order an investigation into the In
terror department and the forest SER
vice OF the agricultural department
The results OF that investigation are
not needed TO determine the value of.
and the necessity for. the new legisla-
tion which I have recommended I'm re-
spect to the public lands and I'm respect
TO reclamation. ! earnestly urge that
the measures recommended be taken
up and disposed OF promptly. without
awaiting the investigation which has
been determined upon.
VIM. TT. TAFT.
The White House. Jan. IA. 1910.