The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-07-19
COLONEL FOR
DEEP WATERWAY
Favor Construction of Lakes
to-the-Gulf Scheme
in Letter.

Ia ahes-to-tne-Sulr deep waterway and
the use Of the Panama canal machin-
cry in guarding the Mississippi river
against floods are favored by Colonel
Theodore Roosevelt in a letter from
him made public today
Luverne w. Noyes. one of the
Roosevelt supporters in Illinois. in
giving out Colonel Roosevelt's letter,
said it was in reply to question
whether Illinois should expend 500
100000 for building it's part of the
deep waterway. The letter follows:
My Dear Mr.. Noyes: l fully agree
with you that there is no need for the
people of Illinois to pay 100000, 900,
or any part Of 1t, in an individual at
the lakes to the gulf. That is task
for the nation, since the nation alone
can properly do 1t. 1t is an inter-
state matter.
The whole problem Of the control
OF the hood waters of the Mississippi
and it's tributaries and a deep water
way from the lakes to the gulf is one
which the United States should at once
undertake and complete with the
same vigor and wisdom shown in the
construction of the Panama canal.
The difficulties of that task baffled the
world for centuries. But when the
American people definitely decided to
undertake it., the difficulties were
brushed aside and the work proceeded
IN manner to demonstrate for all
time the wonderful efficiency and
economy which tha right kind Of gov
eminent can show in the handling of
great engineering and other tasks.
THE tremendous devastating floods
tendant loss of life, of homes and Of
property, have made it clear that no
more time should be lost in undertake
ing the control of the flood waters of
the Mississippi and its tributaries. and
the connection of the great lakes and
the tributaries of the Mississippi with
the gulf. by means of a great COM
merce-carrying channel.
The construction of the Panama
of national policy which seemed i'm
peratiVe. In the same way the i'm
mediate control of the flood waters
that go down the Mississippi and the
construction of the great water high
way is demanded by controlling rea-
sons. Important as is the CONNER
cial reason for the undertaking, it is
not the most important. The greatest
service that it will confer upon man.
kind and the people of this country is
conservation. 1t will conserve the
which Is now used by this mighty tor
rent as destroyer in going to the sea
and which if stored as power could be
utilized and made benediction
Throughout the year instead of re-
naming an annual menace, a potent
destroyer of the homes and the hopes
and the industry of very large por-
tion of the United States 1t would
conserve and reclaim millions upon
mt of Nf h@ .:,l.
most fertile soil in the country Fan
amount that would support an en-
pire in itself
The people occupying the vast do
main between the crest of the Rocky
mountains and the Alleghenies have a
direct and vital interest in seeing this
work begun and pressed to speedy
completion. AS financial enterprise
the Panama canal will not for a con-
siderable number of years give good
returns to the capital invested. but the
conservation of natural resources
which will come from the control of
should in the immediate future re-
turn many times over the value of
every dollar invested.
The accomplishment of this task
should render this country great ser
vice a great social as we'll as a great
economic service Historic causes di-
vided our people on sectional lines,
north and south. and this finally cul-
minated in splitting them into two po-
litical parties which have struggled
under their respective banners for half
century after the real contest had
been completed and passed into his
tory and after the causes that made
the division had disappeared forever.
Under the pretext of fighting over
again the old battles under these ban
ners, privilege and sortlid interest
have become firmly intrenched in each
party. so that both parties now con-
tain utterly incongruous elements re-
dictionary and progressive: and in each
party the bosses and their allies have
complete control of the party macFin-
cry. Only by new party. in which
all, north as we'll as south, join on
equal terms. can the needed social and
industrial tasks demanded by our peo-
pie be successfully undertaken. One
Of the greatest of these tasks is the
development Of the Mississippi.
THE machinery to do the physical
work in this regeneration and control
Of the Father of Waters has been re-
Gently designed. is the best that ever
has been made or used. and is now
oiled up and bright from use on the
lowed to get rusty. The engineering
and construction organization (the
best that ever existed) which is build
ing the Panama canal will soon be
looking for a job and could be called
upon to undertake this less expensive
and even more useful problem
why should not the south be fore
most in this great movement? 1t
needs it more than the north and
should rise and claim its own.
Faithfully yours.
Theodore Roosevelt