Mexico Missouri message., 1912-12-12

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 II 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-
lion. but 1t must be apparent that
there may be profit beyond a rea-
sonably liberal return upon the pri-
| vate investment which Ia a 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 n com
| prehensive waterway policy will in.
clude the protection aud development
| of the other public uses OF water.
which cannot and should not be ig-
nored in making and executing plans
navigation. II is also equally clear
that inasmuch as the water power
| thus created Is or may be an incident
| Of a general scheme OF waterway i'm
| proyement 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
craftsmanship requires that legisla-
ton should be enacted which will per
NIT the development of navigation in
| these great rivers to so 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 so
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 a 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 % 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, l
am glad to say that the report OF Col.
Goethals should allay any apprehen-
sion on this point. It ia gratifying to
note that none OF the slides which oc-
Cured during this year would have In
terfered with the passage OF the ships
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 will be practically
solved and an ample stability assured
for the Culebra Cut.
Although the official date OF the
opening has been set for January l.,
1915, the canal will, in fact. from
|
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
vessels can pass through without I'M
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. The problem Of most
efficient organization Is receiving care
full consideration, so that a 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. have, by executive proclama
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, s1.20 per net yes
sci ton-each 100 cubic feet--ot actua
capacity.
2. On vessels in ballast withou
passengers or cargo. 40 per cent les'
than the rate OF tolls for vessels witt
: passengers or ergo.
: 3. Upon naval vessels, other thar
: transports, colliers, hospital ships, anC
supply ships. so cents pR> dlspiace
ment ton,
, 4. Upon army and navy transports
} golfers, hospital ships, and supply
| ships, $3.50 per net ton, the vessels
to be measured by the same rules al
are employed in determining the ne
, tonnage of merchant vessels.
Rules for the determination OF tn,
tonnage upon which toll charges arr
based are now in cou-ss II prepare
ton and will be promulgated IN du'
season.
, Panama oS>HL Treaty.
I The proclamation ([Nich | have is