Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-07-28
ENGINEERS REPORT
ON ARKANSAS RIVERS.
Brings Protests to Washington From
Representative Macon.

Washington, July 24.-(Special Cor
respOndence of The Republican,
Representative Robert Bruce Macon
of Arkansas, who recently introduced
delegation of his constituents to the
board of engineers for rivers and
harbors who came here to ask for a
reconsideration of the report on the
survey OF the st. Francis and Ian
he has earned a reputation as a SEN
tinel on the watch tower against eX-
travagance in government expendi-
lures. may be regarded as a liberal
in respect of Jealous care for inter
nal improvements. He thoroughly en-
dorses the policy of the National Riv-
ers and Harbors congress for a broad
and comprehensive system of river
and harbOr Improvement as foresight
ed economy and especially commends
adherence to the policy of annual APP
preparations to maintain a nation
wide system of improvement as i'm
peratively necessary to prevent waste
of public moneys in the deterioration
of public works so often incident to
Intermittent appropriations, the prev
alence of which was one of the main
provocations for the organization OF
the National Rivers and Harbors con-
gress.
Yes, sir" said Mr.. Macon, 81 have
always been an ardent friend of in
ternal improvements; and | am fully
persuaded that in the Improvement
of our navigable waters tie obviously
wise course is the policy of a single
comprehensive system of appropria-
tions. Take the appropriations han
died by the Mississippi river commits
sion, for instance They are applied
where they are most needed in preser-
walton of the channel of the Father
of Waters That kind of policy would
be best for the permanent care of the
national system of waterway i'm
prOvement"
The delegation which appeared with
Mr.. Macon before the board of en-
gineers came to make complaint
against a local engineers report on
the survey OF the St Francis and
L'Anguille rivers, in Arkansas. au-
thoriZed by the act of 1910. with a
view to securing year-rOund naviga-
ton. They claimed that the report
of Captain Clarke s. Smith, engineer
in charge, showed To their knowledge
his information upon which ne based
his conclusions with regard to the
commerce of the two rivers was Sc
riously inadequate, and to prove it
they brought along with them nu
merous affidavits OF individuals. bust
ness firrns and transportation GONNA
MES. Captain Smiths "meager in
formation" they aver. was obtained
by letters that were not from the
best informed people. The data with
which the Arkansas delegation was
equipped showed that the commerce
OF the St. Francis and L'Anguille riv-
ers amounted to three times as much
as that of the Arkansas river, upon
which the government has spent over
s., 100000. a commerce greater than
on the White river, in Arkansas, the
Ouachita in Arkansas and Louisiana
and the Green river. in Kentucky,
upon which larger sums had been ex-
pended, while but a little over $780,
900 had been given to the st. Francis
and L'Anguille The commerce on
the two rivers, II is forcibly indicated,
would be immensely increased by
making the rivers navigable the year
St Francis to the mouth
If the L'Auguille to Mariana.
The st. Francis basin. through
which the rivers flow. is described,
and supported by expert testimony. |
as possessed of a fertility of soil and
a wealth, at the same time. of timber
resources, unsurpassed in the United
States. Much of the land is subject
10 overflow or holds waters that could
be easily drained by lateral bitches
into the rivers This land. when |
drained. as it has been by local en-
terpri9e, unassistcd by the state. has
pre- we'd, as Mr.. Macon states, the ideal
farming spot in this country. That
already drained is now held for as
much as $50 an acre, which before |
il was freed Of it's waters. could be
bought for s. to so an acre. And
this drained land produces AN aver |
age of a bale and a half of cotton |
to the acre and is capable of from |
so to Is bushels Of corn to the acre
There is at least 100000 acres OF |
this land. For lack Of transporta- |
ton, there are pent up in these over
flowed lands many millions of feet of
logs that must decay or be lost un-
less secured to market through the
Improvement.
Speaking OF the relation OF this
project to a national system of water
way improvement. Mr.. Macon said:
ut concerns every community on the
reaches in significance even TO the
Pittsburg coal region and metal dis
trict. The improvement desired OF
the St. Francis and L'Anguille rivers.
regard as an ideal object lesson Of
the far-reaching good that may be
by a broad and COM
orehensive syst an of improving navi-
cation nationally"