Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1912-12-13

quickly effected on the one hand, and,
on the other, that the burden on the
general taxpayers of the country will
be very much reduced. Private In
terests seeking permits to build water
power dams in navigable streams
usually urge that they thus improve
navigation, and that if they do not
impair navigation they should be al
lowed to take for themselves the en-
| tire profits of the water-power de-
velopment. Whatever they may do
by way Of relieving the government
OF the expense of improving naviga-
| ton should be given due considera-
ton, but it must be apparent that
there may be profit beyond rea-
sonably liberal return upon the pri-
vate investment which is potential
asset of the government in carrying
out comprehensive policy of water
| way development. 1t Is no objection
to the retention and use of such an
asset by the government that COM
sprehensive waterway policy will In
clude the protection and development
of the other public uses of water.
which cannot and should not be ig-
nored in making and executing plans
for the protection and development OF
| navigation 1t Is also equally clear
| that inasmuch as the water power
thus created is or may be an incident
| Of general scheme Of waterway i'm
provement within the constitutional
| Jurisdiction of the federal govern
ment, the regulation of such water
| power lies also within that jurisdic-
| ton. In my opinion constructive
statesmanship requires that legisla-
ton should be enacted which win per
init the development of navigation In
| these great rivers to 60 hand in hand
with the utilization of this by-product
| of water power, created In the course
| of the same improvement, and that
| the general dam act should be 30
amended as to make this possible.
deem 1t highly important that the ma
ton should adopt consistent and
harmonious treatment Of these water
power projects. which will preserve
| for this purpose their value to the
| government, whose right it is to grant
| the permit. Any other policy Is equiv
alent to throwing away q most val
liable national asset
The Panama Canal.
| During the past year the work of
! construction upon the canal has pro-
crossed most satisfactorily. About
| 81 per cent Of the excavation work has
been completed, and more than SO per
cent of the concrete for all the locks
Is in place In view of the great in
terest which has been manifested as
| to some slides In the Culebra Cut,
| am glad to say that the report of Col.
| Goethals should allay any apprehen-
| sion on this point. 1t Is gratifying to
note that none of the slides which oc-
| Cured during this year would hare IN
| terfered with the passage of the Slips
| had the canal, in fact, been In opera
| ton, and when the slope pressures
will have been finally adjusted and
| the growth of vegetation will minimize
| erosion in the banks of the cut. the
slide. problem win be practically
solved and an ample stability assured
for the Culebra Cut.
Although the official date Of the
! opening has been set for January /,
1915, the canal will, In fact, from
present indications, be opened for
shipping during the latter half Of 1913.
| No fixed date can as yet be set, but
| shipping interests will be advised as
| soon as assurances can be given that
1 vessels can pass through without IN
| necessary delay.
! Recognizing the administrative prob
lem in the management Of the canal,
congress in the act of August "a, 1912,
| has made admirable provisions for
executive responsibility in the control
| of the canal and the government OF
the Canal Zone. TIE problem OF most
efficient organization Is receiving care
full consideration, so that scheme OF
organization and control best adapted
| to the conditions of the canal may be
formulated and put in operation as ex-
peditiously as possible Acting under
the authority conferred on me by con-
gress. I have, by executive proclamar
ton, promulgated the following SEIZED
ule Of tolls for ships passing through
the canal, based upon the thorough
report of Emory r. Johnson, special
commissioner on traffic and tolls:
| l. On merchant vessels carrying
passengers or cargo, $1.20 per net yes
sci ton-each 100 cubic feet-of actual
capacity.
4. On vessels La ballast without
passengers or cargo. 40 per cent less
than the rate of tolls for vessels with
passengers or cargo.
| 8. Upon naval vessels. other than
| transports, GOLFERS. hospital ships, and
supply ships, 30 cents per displace-
ment ton.
/ 4. Upon army and navy transports,
| GOLFERS, hospital ships. and supply
ships, $1.20 per net ton. the vessels
to be measured by the same rules as