The Washington times., 1910-01-14
ROOSEVELT POLICY
INDORSEO By TAFT

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 VIII be accommodated Il rssson-
ably probable I think il Is the duty
Of Congress 10 undertake ths project
and make provision therefor in the
proper appropriation aHL
One Of the projects which aDsu-sre che
description l have given is that of in
tFOducinS dams into the Ohio river from
Plttsburg TO Cairo. so as 10 maintain
81 All seasons OF the year, by sick
water, depth OF nine feet. I-rsksrd
Of seven Of these dams have aireadz-
been constructed and six are 11uder -on-
SUruction, while the total required is
hfty-four The remaining cost Is
known TO be 49, 600.
II seems 70 ne that in TIE 5eva1o--
uent OF our inland WATERWAYS IL vy-oTIfd
be wise 10 begin with this particular
project and carry IL through as rapidly
as may be I assume from reliable In
formation that IL can be constructe5
economically IN twelve years.
What has been said Of the Ohio river
Is true in q less complete way Of the
Improvement Of the upper Mississippi
from St Paul 10 St Louis. 10 2 con
slant depth Of SIX feet. and OF the Mis-
souri,, from Kansas City TO St Louis
% a constant depth Of six feet, and
from St Louis 10 Cairo TO 4 depth OF
eight feet These projects have been
pronounced practical BY competent
boards OF army engineers, their cost
ness which viii follow the Improvement
1 recommend. therefore, that the pres
ent Congress, in the river and harb0r
bill. make provision for continuing con
tracts 70 complete these improvements
As these improvements are being
made, and the traffic encouraged bv
them shows itself Of sufficient import
ance, the Improvement OF the Missis-
e-r my =
which IS now going on with the main
Ienance OF depth Of nine feet every
where may be changed 20 another and
greater depth II the necessity for Il shall
appear 10 arise out OF the traffic which
can be delivered on the river al Cairo
am Informed that the investigation
the stream II also appears IN Europe
shows that the existence Of a WaterTaE
! by no means assures traffic unless there
Is traffic adapted 10 water carriage a.
cheap rates at one end or the other Of
+. the stream L also appears in Europe
that The depth OF the uUn-rfdal stree ms
IS rarely more than six feet an5
never more than ten feet But Il e
certain that enormous quantities OF
merchandise are transported over the
rivers and canals IN Germany and
France and England. and Il IS also
certain that the existence OF such meth
oos OF traffic materially Affects the
I rates which the railroads charge. and
II Is the best regulator Of these rates
that We have, not even excepting
the governmental regulation through
the Interstate Commerce Commission
For this reason, 7 hope that this Con
gress viii take such steps that II ma
% called the Inauguration OF the new
system Of inland waterways
For reasons which Il Is not necessary
here to state, Congress has seen - %
order an investigation into the Interior
Department and the Forest Service Of
the Agricultural Department The re-
suits Of that investigation are not need
ed 70 determine the value Of. and the
necessity for. the new legislation which
7 have recommended in respect TO the
public lands and n respect 10 reclau7-
ton 7 earnestly urge that the u7ea s.
ures recommended be taken Up and dis
posed OF promptly. without awaiting the
investigation which has been determine
upon VA. H TAFT
The White House,
January u, $40