Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-12-08

of agriculture some measure ought
to be perfected which would be gem
orally satisfactory.
Due to the emergency arising from
a heavy tropical storm in southern
Florida, 1 authorized the secretary Of
agriculture to use certain funds in
anticipation of legislation to enable
the farmers in that region to plant
their crops The department will pre-
sent bill ratifying the loans which
were made for this purpose.
Federal legislation has been
adopted authorizing the cooperation
of the government and states and
private owners in the protection OF
forest lands from fire. This preven-
tive measure is of such great i'm
portance that I have recommended
for it an increased appropriation.
Another preventive measure Of
great economic and sanitary impor-
tance is the eradication of tubercu-
losis in cattle. Active work is now
in progress in one-fourth of the
counties of the United States to
secure this result. over 120000OO
cattle have been under treatment,
and the average degree of infection
has fallen from 40 per cent to 2S
per cent. The federal government
is making substantial expenditures
for this purpose.
Serious damage is threatened to
the corn crop by the European corn
borer. Since 1917 it has spreao
from eastern New England west
ward into Indiana and now covers
100, 900 square miles. 1t is. one Of
the most formidable prests because
it spreads rapidly and rs exceeding
ly difficult of control. 1t has as
sumed a menace that is of national
magnitude and warrants the federal
government in extending its CO.
operation to the state and local
agencies which are attempting to
prevent it's further spread and Sc
cure it's eradication.
The whole question of agriculture
needs most careful consideration. In
the past few years the government
has given this subject more atten-
tion than any other and has held
more consultations in relation to 1T
fhAn
the government is not ito be blamed
for failure to perform the lmpos-
sible, the agricultural regions are
entitled to know that they have It's
constant solicitude and sympathy
Many of the farmers are burdened
with debts and taxes which they
are unable to carry. We are ex''
Erending in this country many mil
lions of dollars each year to IN
crease farm production. We ought
now to put more emphasis on the
ouestion Of farm marketing. If
sound solution of a permanent ma
ture can be found for this prob
lem. the congress ought not to hesl-
tate to adopt it.
Development of Water Resources
Tn previous messages I have re-
ferred to the national Importance
of The proper development of our
water resources. The great projects
of extension of the Mississippi sys-
tenn. the protection and development
of the lower Colorado river, are
before congress, and I have pre-
viously commented upon them.
favor the necessary legislation to
expedite these projects. Engineer
ing studies are being made for
connecting the Great Lakes with
the north Atlantic, either through
an Al-Amer;can canal or by way Oh
the st. Lawrence river. THESE re-
norts will undoubtedly be before
the congress during it's present ses-
sion. 1t is unnecessary to owen
unon the great Importance of such
a waterway not only to our mlu-
continental basin but to the COM
merce and development of practical
lv the whole nation. Our river and
harbor Improvement should be con-
Etinued in accordance with the pres
ent policy. Expenditure of this
character is compatible with econ
omy; it is in the nature of capital
investment Work should proceed
on the basic trunk lines if this work
is to be a success. If the country
will be content to be moderate and
patient and permit improvements TO
be made where they will do the
greatest general good, rather than
| insisting on expeditures at this time
on secondary projects, our internal
waterways can be made success.
| If proposed legislation results in
gross manifestation of local jeal-
ousies and selfishness, this program
/ can not be carried out. Ultimately
we can take care of extensions, but
| our first efforts should be confined
to the main arteries.
Our inland commerce has been
put to great inconvenience and ex-
pense by the reason of the lower
| ing of the wafer level of the Great
Lakes. This is an international
problem on which competent engi-
neers are making reports. Out of
their study it is expected that a
feasible method will be developed
for raising the level to provide
relief for our commerce and supply
water for drainage. Whenever q
practical plan is presented it ought
to be speedily adopted.
Reclamation
1t is increasingly evident that the
federal government must in the fu-
ture take a leading part in the i'm
pounding of water for conservation
fOr f1o l.