Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-01-24
NATIONAL WATERWAY |
CONTINUED from Page ~

mended that the power be given
when the rate cutting is for the pur-
pose of destroying water competition.
The lack of reliable statistics on
water transportation and condition
of government reports termed cha
otic, are condemned, and it is rec
commended that a uniform system of
collecting statistics be enforced.
The construction of a canal is not
encouraged because of the expense
of acquiring land and the immense
cost of construction and the commits
sion recommends that natural water
why's be used wherever available.
The commission condemns the con-
struction of any projects not author
lied by the army engineers and de-
fends the army corps as the best
available force for the work.
"The commission would recon-
mend" says the report, that here
after the general policy be adopted
of providing for the early completion
of any and all projects, which are
undertaken, and that only such num-
Der of projects should be COM
menced as will be appropriated for
and completed within reasonable
time.
The continuing contract system,
which is declared to have been aban-
doned by the house rivers and har-
| bors committee this year, is recon-
mended highly by the commission.
When private interests are served
| by the improvement of streams
| through the reclamation of adjacent
| lands, and where the improvements
are wholly intra-state ii is recon-
| mended that the state and privatt in
| terests served pay part of the eX-
pense of the work.
To this end the commission wants
a uniform rule established for the
division of the cost of such work.
THE commission is unwilling to
| recommend the policy of government
construction of docks and wharves, "
says the report, and adds:
IF improvements should be con-
sidered desirable where the number
of water front owners is small, it is
advisable that a condition be careful
! ly imposed to the effect that wharfage
J facilities shall be made available TO
the public generally, and that
charges for the same shall be submit
! ted to the secretary Of war for his ap-
proval.
THE commission strongly recon-
| menus the greatest care III the COu-
| servatiOn of water power for the use
of the people," says the report, and
it takes the ground that federal su-
pervision oBr water power is evil
IDENTIFY legal in most cases. Where
land adjacent to streams, even entire
ly within state, is owned by the
federal government, il is declared
that the government has the right to
impose conditions for the use of
water power sites. The govern
ment has no right to interfere with
'water power rights where the land
an dater is non-nayigable streams
is owned by private persons or states,
says the report, except insofar as Is
necessary to protect navigation in all
streams. The question of water pow
er developed from navigable streams,
which was brought up in the famous
James river dam veto message OF
President Roosevelt, is gone ino at
length and IL Is declared that there
is ample constitutional authority for
the sale of the water power developed
on navisable streams, the toll TO 90
into the river improvement funds
There is authority, also, says the re-
port, TO regulate the charge for pow
er furnished from these streams.