The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1910-01-20

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up by the proceeds of returns to th'
reclamation fund, which returns, a.
the years go Oh. will increase rapidly
| in amount.
New Law Requisite.
Respecting the comparatively small
timbered areas on the public domain not
included in national forests because OF
their isolation or their special value for
agricultural mineral purposes, it is ap-
| parent from the evils resulting by vir-
tue of the imperfections of existing laws
for the disposition of timber lands that
the acts of June 8. 1878. should be re-
pealed and a law enacted for the dispo-
stion 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 epitome
of the recommendations of the secretary
of the interior in respect to the future
conservation of the public domain in his
present annual report He has given
close attention to the problem of DISPOSE
ton of these lands under such conditions
as to invite the private capital necessary
to their development on the one hand,
and the maintenance Of the restrictions
necessary to prevent monopoly and abuse
from absolute ownership on the other
These recommendations are Incorporated
in bills he has prepared, and they are at
the disposition OF the congress. l earnest
ly recommend that all the suggestions
which he has made with respect to these
lands shall be embodied in statutes and,
especially that the Withdrawals already
made shall be validated far as neces-
sary and that doubt as to the authority
of the secretary of the interior to with
draw 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 COO, 900 acres in extent, are
under the control of the department of
agriculture, with authority adequate to
preserve them and to extend their growth
far as that may be practicable. The
Importance of the maintenance of our
forests cannot be exaggerated. The possi-
bility OF a 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 by them as far
as their methods are applicable to our
conditions.
Improvement of River.
l come now to the Improvement of the
inland waterways He would be blind
indeed. who did not realize that the peo-
of the Mississippi valley, have been
aroused TO the need there Is for the inn
provement of our inland waterways.
The Mississippi river, with the Missouri
on the hand and the Ohio on the /
other. would seem to offer a great nat
ural means of interstate transportation
and traffic. How far if properly improved I
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
the cost of which is not def
initely ascertained and the benefit and
advantage of which not known and
assured by competent engineers and other
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
estimated and the traffic
which will be accommodated is reason
ably probable I think it is the duty of
congress to undertake the project and
make provision therefor in the proper ap-
bill.
One of the projects which answers the
description l have given is that of intro /
iucng dams into the Ohio river from
to Cairo. so as to maintain at
Ill seasons of the year. by slack water,
depth of nine feet Upward of seven {
If these dams have already been con- 8
'tructed and six are under construction.
while the total required is 50. The re- |
naming cost is known to be S63, 900 900. |
1t seems to me that in tie development
# our inland waterways it would be =
wise to begin with this particular project S
md carry it through as rapidly may +.
'e | assume from reliable information
hat it can be constructed economically
n ten years. recommend, therefore,
hat the public lands, in river and har-
or bills, make provision for continuing +
to complete this Improvement, o
nd l shall recommend in the future, If
be necessary, that bonds be issued to d
AIRY it through. l.
What has been said of the Ohio river =
true in a less complete way of the i'm L
rovement of the upper Mississippi from b
t. Paul to st. Louis to a constant depth q
( six feet, and of the Missouri from
,ansas City to St. Louis to a constant :
epth of six feet and from st. Louis to
afro of a depth of eight feet. These
rejects have been pronounced practical
y competent boards of army engineers.
heir cost has been estimated and there 4
business which will follow the i'm
AS these improvements are being made.
nd the traffic encouraged by them shows
self of sufficient Importance the i'm
rovement of the Mississippi beyond
afro down to the gulf, which is now
ping on with the maintenance of a depth az
nine feet everywhere, may be changed
another and greater depth if the neces- d.
ty for 1t shall appear to arise out of the n
affic which can be delivered on the river
Cairo w
Cheap Rail Rate Necessary.
I am informed that the investigation IL
the waterways commission in Europe n,
lows that the existence of a waterway
no means assures traffic unless there III
traffic adapted to water carriage at az
eap rates at one end or the other of
e stream. 1t also appears in Europe III
at the depth of the streams is rarely Sc
ore than six feet, and never more than
ne. But 1t is certain that enormous de
antilles of merchandise are transported I'll
er the rivers and canals in Germany oe
d France and England, and it is also "
rtain that the existence of such meth ey
s Of traffic materially affects the rates CT
lich the railroads Charge and ii is the ~
st regulator of those rates that we
We, not even excepting the govern re
entail regulation through the interstate
mmerce commission. For this reason, ce
hope that this congress will take such 8
,ps that 1t may be called the inaugu- .
tor of the new system of inland water on
lys. For reasons which 1t is not nee Id
'ary here to state, congress has seen o
to order an investigation into the in ~
ior department and the forest service pO
the agricultural department. The re- ,y .