The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-11-01
ENGINEERS CONSIDER IMPROVEMENT OF
 THE MISSISSIPPI
Special to the Farmer.)


 washington, Nov. 1.-The Board of for Rivers and Harbors, now consisting of COlonels William T. Rossell and Solomon w. Roessier, Lieutenant Colonel William c. Lang fit and Majors Herbert Deakyne ana William J. Barden,are again in Wash ington after an official visit as board to the interior. Last week at they gave an interesting hearing on the improvement of the of the Mississippi river, the main feature of which was the discussion of the construction of a reservoir. Immediately upon their re- turn a hearing was had on the im- provement of the Coosa river, an im- portant tributary of the Alabama riV- CT in Alabama, in which participated three members of Congress from that state. representatives; George W-Tay- Tor. a member of the Rivers and liar bors committee; S. H. Dent and John L. Burnett, and Gordon Lee, of Geor- gia.
 In both the Minnesota and Alabama hearings, along with the improvement of navigation, was discussed the mel dental utilization of the waterpower resources of the rivers. There was no expression from the board in either event. the statements and arguments being heard without commentary from the members of the board that in any way indicated the opinion as to the principles asserted To De IT. yolyed in the waterpower question. If is now plain from the frequency with which this, question arises ana the fnsistence with which 1t is pressed to a decision that Congress Is bound to be harrassed with 1t until a SOlu- ton is reached which will be saus1ac- tory to the localities concerned ana a. the same time preserve the essen!ial busfness of the government in caring annIv for navigation Although the question in it's several phases of nav featfon improvement, waterpoWer use, raparian rights, and the most import ant and. yexing issue of all, the line of demarkation between Federal and state jurisdiction, have been very con. siderably discussed in both houses ol Congress, it was evident rom tne character of the debates and their in conclusive tone, that no guloing Hsns has been shed upon the difficulties
 With the question shrouded in such ,,ists of uncertainty the Board of En- erineers for Rivers and Harbors and fine Engineer Corps of the Army must be at loss to know what posltion !e fake. in other words. they must wait upon Congress to settle the issue Dy inc adoption of a definite policy.
 There is no doubt that this water mower problem will be h subject o1 exceptionally interesting discussion al the meeting of the National R1ver' and Harbors Congress, which begin: its sessions in this city in the grand assembly, room of the new Willard ho tel. Wednesday, December 6, at l o'clock d. m. Chief of Engineers Gen eral William H. Bixgy, will, it is ex nected. give attention to the subJec in his promised address for the Occa sion.
 The waterway improvement organ ization. which begins it's week of Worl l just two days after the assembhn ! of the Federal Congress, has aireao l influenced the government authorize | in both the executive and leg1siativ l branches to adopt a definite pollc | with respect to making appropriation annual and the carrying to compie tion Of all deserving projects as III | taeraI essentials of a national systel
 of navigation. The questions to l considered at the convention will |
 more than usually interesting becaus I thev will be more definite and pract | col than has heretofore been the cal
 in inc discussion of generallties (
 policy.
 Notably significant will be the col
 sideration which will be given to sut
 Important details as the vital wall . of terminal facilities, now well realf
 cd to be fully as important as navig
 hle channels This question and tn
 of the waterpower proposition W constitute perhaps the most interes ing to be discussed at the coming co
 vention of the Rivers and Harbo Congress
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