The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-01-14

plolll Ullls
One Of the projects which an
swers the description | have given
is that of introducing dams in the
Ohio river from Pittsburg to Cairo.
SO as to maintain at all seasons of
the year, by slack water, depth
OF nine feet. Upwards OF seven OF
these dams has already been con
structed and six are under con
struction. while the total required
is fifty. The remaining cost is
known to he $63,00O,OOO
1t seems to me that in the de.
velopment of our inland waterways
il would be wise TO begin with this
particular project and carry it
through as rapidly as may be. ! as
sumo from reliable information, that
il can be constructed economically
in ten years. | recommend. there
fore, that the present congress, in
the river and harbor bill, make pro
vision for continuing contracts to
complete this improvement. and ]
shall recommend in the future, II
it be necessary, that bonds be is
sued to carry it through.
What has been said of the Ohio
river Is true in less complete way
o fthe improvement of the upper
Mississippi from st. Paul to ST.
Louis, to constant depth of six
feet. and from st. Louis to Cairo
of depth OF eight feet. These pro
iects have been pronounced pra'-
tical by competent boards of army
engineers, their cost has been es'
timated and there is business which
will follow the improvement.
As these improvements are be-
ing made. and the traffic encour
aged by them shows itself of suf-
ficient importance, the Improvement
of the Mississippi beyond Cairo
down to the gulf. which Is now go
ing on with the maintenance of
depth of nine feet where II may
be changed to another and greater
| depth II the necessity for II shall
| appear to arist out Of the traffic
which can be delivered on the river
at Cairo
am informed that the investi'
cation by the waterways commission
in Europe show that the exist
ence of waterway by no means
assures traffic unless there Is traf-
| fic adapted to water carriage al
cheap rates at one end or the other
| OF the stream. IL also appears in
Europe that the depth of the streams
is rarely more than six feet, and
never more than nine. But II is
certain that enormous quantities ov
merchandise are transported over
the rivers and canals In Germany
aud France and England, and II is
also certain that the existence of
such methods OF traffic materially
affcts the rate which the rail
roads charge and it is the best reg
ulator of those rates that We have
not even excepting the government
Al regulation through the interstate
commerce commission. For this re1s
on, | hope that this congress viii
take such steps that il may be
called the Inauguration of the new
system of inland waterways.
For reason which it is not neces
sary here to state. congress has
seen fit 10 order an investigation
into the interior department ant
, the forest service of the agricultu
, raj department The results Of tina
Investigation are not needed to de
tormine the value Of. and the ne
T. casslty for the new legislation whict
{ have recommended In respect L
| the public lands and in respect L
reclamation. | earnestly urge tha
| the measures recommended be TAX
/. en- up and disposed of promptly
| without awaiting the investigation
) which has been determined upon.
e WILLIAM II. TAFT.
, The White House, Jan. II, 1910.