58 



CONSERVATION 



required then let us have that amount, 

 and as we need it ; if more, let us have 

 more. If the interior of the country 

 is to have a network of navigable rivers 

 and canals, whereby to relieve the con- 

 gestion of rail traffic antl reduce the 

 cost of transportation, the result will be 

 worth all it costs. And the bonding of 

 such an enterprise is the proper way in 

 which to finance it. This plan of im- 

 provement, if it is worth the breath that 

 has been spent on it, must be perma- 

 nent. It must not be for to-day or to- 

 morrow, but for the centuries to come. 

 If this is true — and that it is true not 

 one thinking man will for a moment 

 deny — why should we of to-day bear 

 the whole cost? Why should not our 

 children, and our children's children, 

 and all the generations of men to come, 

 have their share in payment, as well 

 as their vastly greater share in benefits ? 

 Not one single logical, tenable argu- 

 ment can be advanced in support of the 

 negative. The proposition, while of 

 first magnitude, is essentially of the 

 simplest nature. It means just this: 

 Issue bonds for whatever sums may be 

 needed, and as they are needed ; then, 

 after due preparation, convert our at 

 present useless rivers and waterways 

 into a network of navigable streams, 

 reaching from the Allegheny Moun- 

 tains on the east to the Rockies on the 

 west, and from the Lakes of the north 

 to the Gulf of the south. Prepare 

 these waterways for the fullest use as 

 means of transportation for all our 

 heavy traffic, thus relieving the rail- 

 roads and lessening the drain on our 

 coal and iron deposits. And make the 

 work permanent. A mighty undertak- 

 ing, but one with every element of 

 simplicity, as is the case with most 

 ideas that are truly great. 



t;$i );« •« 



Not a Political Question 



T^HIS is not a political question. The 

 ■*■ conservation movement is the one 

 great question that is not in politics. 

 Both the great parties stand committed 

 to it in their latest platform declarations, 

 and, fortunatelv, there seems no indi- 



cation of the injection of politics into 

 any Congressional debates on the sub- 

 ject. In the words of President Roose- 

 velt, in that memorable address of his 

 at the Belasco Theater, "If an appro- 

 priation for internal improvements is 

 to be made a part of the political 'pork 

 barrel' — if every Congressional district 

 is to receive a share, regardless of 

 whether it has any streams to improve, 

 then it were better to stop before we 

 begin." But it is inconceivable that 

 such a view will be taken of the ques- 

 tion—that any man will be so blind to 

 the broad, actual needs of the Nation, 

 as to consider an appropriation for such 

 a purpose merely a more ample Rivers 

 and Harbors appropriation, to be di- 

 vided up according to the demands of 

 constituents and without regard to the 

 necessities and the fitness of the case. 

 It is simply a question of the greatest 

 good to the greatest number for the 

 longest time — there isn't a shred of 

 politics anywhere about it. 



&' &' «r' 



A Noble Legacy 



I UDGE TAFT, in his address at 

 <j the Belasco, joined with President 

 Roosevelt in advocating the issue 

 of bonds for permanent internal 

 improvement. He said that it would 

 be a good thing for the sons and 

 the grandsons of the present gen- 

 eration if we of to-day leave them a 

 legacy of debt — debt incurred in de- 

 veloping an adequate system of water- 

 ways and great, permanent internal 

 improvements, that will outlast the cen- 

 turies, and grow more valuable with the 

 passing of time. And Judge Taft spoke 

 truly. Suppose we do leave to the 

 generations to come this legacy of debt ; 

 and suppose that we also leave to them 

 at least the substantial begitmings of a 

 system of waterways that will be ade- 

 (juate to handle at vastly reduced 

 freight rates, all the heavy traffic of the 

 country ; will those generations not rise 

 up and bless the foresight of the men 

 who were able to plan and to carry out 

 the scheme? On the other hand, sup- 

 pose we continue to trifle with the mat- 



