The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1912-12-12

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 II they do not
impair navigation they should be al
lowed 70 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-
lion, but It must be apparent that
there may be a profit beyond a rea'
sOnably liberal return upon the pri-
yate investment which IL a potential
asset OF the government in carrying
out comprehensive policy OF water
way development, II is no objection
to the retention and use OF such an
asset by the government that com
prehensive waterway policy will In.
clude tho protection and development
OF tho 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 II Is also equally clear
that inasmuch as the water power
thus created IL or may be an incident
OF n 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'
tion In my opinion constructive
statesmRnship requires that legisla'
ton should be enacted which will per
NIT tho development OF navigation In
those great rivers to so hand in hand
with the utilization OF this by.product
uf water power created In the course
Of the same improvement, and that
tho general dam act should be so
amended as TO make this possible. |
deem II highly important that the ma.
ton should adopt a 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
tho permit. Any other policy ia equiv
alcnt to throwing away a most val.
uable national asset.
Tho Panama Canal.
During tho past year tho 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 ns
to some slides In the Culcbra Cut, |
am glad to say that the report OF Col.
Goethals should nllay any apprehen.
sion on this point It is gratifying TO
note that mono OF tho slidns which &C
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 prcssureB
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 Cuiebra Cut
Although tho official date OF the
opening has been sea 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 IA
soon as assurances can be given that
vessels can pass through without un.
necessary delay.
Recognizing the administrative prob
lem In the management Of the canal.
congress in the act Of August "a. l9l2,
has made admirable provisions for
executive responsibility In the control
Of tho canal and the government OF
tho Canal Zone. The problem OF most
efficient organization Ia receiving care
full consideration, so that q 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'
tlon, promulgated tho following sched'
ule OF tolls for ships passing through
the canal. based upon the thorough
report 81 Emory r. Johnson, special
commissioner on traillc and tolls:
l. On merchant vessels carrying
passengers or cargo, Sl.20 per net YES.
sci ton--each 100 cubic feet-of actual
capacity,
2. On vessels In ballast without
passengers or cargo, 40 per cent less
than the rate OF tolls for vessels with
passengers or cargo
3. Upon naval vessels, other than
transports, golfers, hospital ships, and
supply ships, 30 cents per dIsplace
ment ton.
1. Upon army and navy transports
golfers, hospital ships. and supply
ships. 1920 per net ton. the vessels
TO be measured by the same rules a.
are employed in determining tho moi
tonnage Of merchant vessels.
Rules for the determination Of the
tonnage upon which toll charges are
based are now in course OF prepare
ton and will be promulgated In due