682 



CONSERVATION 



That the Chippewa River is by na- 

 ture a navigable stream is evidenced by 

 the fact that from the earliest settle- 

 ment of the valley it was navigated by 

 many steamboats as far as Eau Claire ; 

 and, less frequently, to Chippewa Falls, 

 until its valuable use for such purpose 

 was suspended by the exclusive control 

 of logging and lumbering interests for 

 the driving and storage of logs. Hap- 

 pily for the public good, the driving of 

 logs has ceased below Chippewa Falls ; 

 and all interests may be subserved by 

 the employment, by the Government, 

 of effective means of improvement for 

 navigation, the facilitation of water- 

 power, and restraint of floods. 



What is true of the Chippewa is also 

 true of the Wisconsin and St. Croix 

 rivers in Wisconsin. With the improve- 

 ment of these rivers as proposed, the 

 Mississippi River will derive a benefit 

 which will insure a six-foot channel 

 from St. Paul to Dubuque, where it 

 will be supplemented by other methods 

 of improvement ; and the cost of all 

 methods for the entire navigable stretch 

 of these tributaries and the Mississippi 

 be reduced fully four-fifths by the sta- 

 bility of channels and the checking of 

 erosion from the banks. 



The magnitude and importance of 

 this great work cannot be overstated. 



When such uniform flow from the 

 Chippewa River shall have been se- 

 cured, a great benefit to the naviga- 

 tion of the Mississippi will be insured. 

 When supplemented by a like flowage 

 from the St. Croix and Wisconsin 

 rivers, a low-water channel of at least 

 six feet will be maintained in the Father 

 of Waters, and the cost of improve- 

 ments under present methods will be 

 reduced fully four-fifths. 



The incalculable benefits to naviga- 

 tion and water-powers and the restrain- 

 ing of floods are certain to be realized. 

 The duty of Congress to provide for 

 the earliest accomplishment of the great 

 work is clearly manifest. That the en- 

 gineer bureau is in full accord with the 

 system is shown by reports on file in 

 the War Department. 



When theories prove to be practi- 

 cable and valuable, action should not 

 be delayed. That the' management and 

 operation of the reservoir system by 

 the Government officials may not sat- 

 isfy all private interests involved may 

 be conceded ; but may we not more 

 safely trust the Government, which has 

 full authority in the premises, than to 

 }'ield control to private individuals or 

 corporations who are expected to serve 

 tiieir own interests regardless of the 

 public weal? 





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Yuma Dam Site, Colorado River, Right Abutment, California 



