The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1910-09-06
SPECIAL INTERESTS
tcontInned EFom paEe .

Confined RON page ~
~e->-e->--~-~->-~S
controlled by the railways. Nearly
every artAicia1 waterway in the Unit
ed states, either directly or Indirectly,
Is under the same control. It gees
without saying that (unless the peo-
pie prevent 1t in advance), the rail-
ways will attempt to take control OF
our waterways as fast as they are im-
proved and completed; nor would /
blame them IL we, the people, are SUI
pine in the matter. We must see to
1t that adequate terminals are pro-
vided in every city and town on every
improved waterway, terminals open
under reasonable conditions to the use
or every citizen, and rigEdly protected
against monopoly; and we must COM
pei the railways to cooperate with
the waterways continuously. effective-
ly. and under reasonable conditions.
Unless we do so the railway lines
Will refuse to deliver freight to the
boat lines. either openly or by inn
posing prohibftory conditions. and the
waterways once improved will do com
paratively little for the benefit of the
people who pay the bill.
Adequate terminals properly con-
troI!ed and open through lines by rail
and boat are two absolutely essential
conditions to the usefulness of inland
waterway development. believe
furthermore that the railways should
be prohTbited from owning, controls
ing or carrying any interest in the
boat lines on our rivers. unless under
the strictest regulation and control
of the Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion, so that the shippers interests
may be fully protected.
Drainage
Where the states are unwilling or
unable to undertake 1t the drainage
OF swamp and overflow lands by the
federal government is wise and nee
essary measure. Much of it must be
done by the nation in any case, as an
Integral part OF inland waterway de-
veIopment. It affords most prom
isinE field for cooperation between
the states and the nation.
The National Forests.
The people of the United States be-
lleve in the complete and rounded de-
veIopment of inland wa terwayS for all
the useful purposes they can be made
to serve They believe also in forest
protection and forest extension. The
fight for our national forests In the
West has been won. After a cam
paign in which the women of Mime
sofa did work which should secure to
them the perpetual gratitude of their
state, Minnesota won her nattonaA
forest and will keep it; but the fight
to create the Southern Appalachian and
White Mountain forests ia the East is
not yet over. The bill has passed the
House, and will come before the Sem
ate for vote next February. The
people OF the United states, regardless
of party or section. should stand SOL
idly behind it, and see that their rep
resentatiVes do likewise.
II any proof were needed that for
est protection is national duty, the
recent destruction Of the forests in the
West by fire would supply 1t. Even
with. the aid OF the army added to
that OF the Forest Service the loss has
been severe. Without either 1t would
have been vastly greater.
Bu: the forest service docs more
than protect the national forests
against fire. It makes them practical
~ and increasingly useful as we'll
During the last year for which have
the fgrVas the national forests were
used by &c. 600 cattlemen with their
herds, 5000 sheepmen with thetE
floclis. 5000 timbcrmen with theil
crews, and $4,000 miners. More than
1000 persons used them for other
spectaI industries. Nearly $4,000 set
tiers had the free use of wood. The
total resident population OF the ma
tional forests Is about quarter of 9
million. which is larger than the pop
u1atIon OF certain states. More thar
100. 900 icres or TErBculturai land
have been patented or listed for pat
, ent within the forests, and the. reports
Of the forest officers show that more
than 100000 people year use the
Forests for recreation, canFpingr hunt
ing, fishing, and similar purposes. Al
this is done, OF course, without In
hurry to the timber. which has a value
OF at least a thousand million dollars
Moreover. tho national forests pro-
tecr the warer supply OF a ttIUTttrlc
oItfaa q ri7 ff,y51I1Ss al1Oift. 500 IRRIGATION