Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-04-29

Gratis, disagree radically as to the gov
ernmental methods to be employed in
controlling foods and in regulating
navigable streams for commercial pur-
poses. Each man is a thinker on the
subject and each one is convinced that
he is right. They have had sharp en-
counters before this and all men In
terested in the subject know that
when the final legislative fight comes,
1t will be a worthy one. Senator
Newlands already has set forth his
plan for food prevention and the de-
velopment of the inland waterways in
a bill which is now in congress.
Senator Ransdell also has his plan
and a large following of believers.
including. it is said, some of the army
engineers who have given the subject
study. 1t is understood that Senator
RansdelIs plan represents the view
of the people of the lower Mississippi
sections and in part those of other
sections. He holds that there is only
one way at present to conquer floods
and that is to build levees and dikes
so that streams cannot overflow.
LeVees Versus Reservoirs.
This plan of Senator Ransdell 10
put into effect will mean that large
sums of money must be spent imme-
diately on levees. Congress has grant
ed a considerable sum already, but
nothing can be done even with plenty
of money at hand, for little while
at least, to make 1t certain that the
floods of last spring win not be re-
peated If the rain conditions shall be
duplicated.
The Newlands measure is a broad
bill. 1t provides for a government
appropriation OF S50,OO0,O00 each year
for a period of ten years. making a
total of $500,0OO,000 1t includes a
plan for reforestation which is a
good one. but it will take a good
many years to grow woods and to
prevent floods by means of natural
conditions of the country Mr. New.
lands plan provides for flood proven
ton and protection by means of huge
reservoirs for water storage purposes
and by the protection Of water sheds
from denudation and erosion. the lat.
ter plan involving reforestation.
Col C. Med. Townsend of the
United States engineer corps is chair
man Of the Mississippi river commits
sion. He is opposed to Mr.. New.
lands plan. which. however, has re-
ceiyed the Endorsement of those con-
servationists who would have refor-
estation the mainstay of the work of
flood prevention. In writing on the
subject. particularly as it relates to
the Mississippi river Colonel Town.
send says:
while of the opinion that levees
afford the only practicable method Of
controlling the floods of the Missia,
sippi river, desire to state that
am strongly in favor of both reforeB-
tation and reservoir construction, but
limited to the purposes for which they
are adapted Just as l am In favor OF
reinforced concrete for small bridges,
though not considering it applicable to
one spanning the Lower Mississippi
river"
siebert May Get Alaska Job.
Lieut.. Col. William l. Sibert. mem
Der of the lsthmIan Canal commits
sion and builder OF tho Gatun locks,
dam and spillwey, has just been
ordered to Washington to report
for duty. his great work on the
lsthmus having been completed. Army
men. and civilians, too, for that mat
ter, are wondering II Colonel Sibert
is to oe ordered to Alaska. there to
undertake the job of constructing the
railroad which is to be built by the
government of the United States.
President Wilson and Secretary OF
War Garrison in way have the same
problem confronting them today that
confronted President Roosevelt and
Secretary of War Taft seven years
ago. Pressure is being brought to
bear TO have a civilian engineer ap.
pointed to the work in Alaska. just as
pressure was brought to bear on a
previous administration to have civil
ians appointed to the work in Panama
Chance for Fame or Failure.
The Panama canal virtually having
been built by array engineers, and
built SO successfully. It would seem
that the natural inclination would be
to give the next big Job into the hands
of the soldiers. The man who is al
pointed as chief engineer OF this gov
eminent work in Alaska will have an
opportunity to make great name for
himself, or. as is possible. he may not
be able to achieve the great name.
failure coming from no fault of his
own.
II congress delays in parceling out
the s35,o00,000 appropriated for the
Alaska work, dribbling the supplies
out at long intervals, the road con-
struction win lag and the head man on
the work probably wifi be blamed for
something which Is no fault of his
If the lawmakers show that they want
the thing done and vote the money
free-handediy, the proper man In the
proper place will complete the com
manding piece Of work and wifi get
fame second only to that which has
come to the engineers who construct
ed the great Isthmian waterway
spite their great food value. They are
grown in the dark earth and never see
the sun. They are likely to make one