viii THREE ACRES AND LIBERTY 



of government. The streams belong to the people; under 

 a proper system of development their resources would remain 

 an estate of all the people, and become available as needed. 



"River transportation is not usually antagonistic to rail- 

 way interests. Population and production are increasing 

 rapidly, with corresponding increase in the demands made 

 on transportation facilities. It may be reasonably expected 

 that the river will eventually carry a large part of the freight 

 that does not require prompt delivery, while the railway 

 will carry that requiring expedition. This is already fore- 

 seen by leading railway men; and its importance to the 

 farmer is such that he should encourage and aid, by every 

 means in his power, the large use of the rivers. The coun- 

 try will produce enough business to tax both streams and 

 railroads to their utmost. 



"In many regions the streams afford facilities for power, 

 which, since the inauguration of electrical transmission, is 

 available for local rail lines and offers the best solution of 

 local transportation problems. In many parts of the coun- 

 try local and interurban lines are providing transportation 

 to farm areas, thereby increasing facilities for moving crops 

 and adding to the profit and convenience of farm life. How- 

 ever, there seems to be a very general lack of appreciation 

 of the possibilities of this water-power resource as governing 

 transportation costs. 



"The streams may be also used as small water power on 

 thousands of farms. This is particularly true of small 

 streams. Much of the labor about the house and barn can 

 be performed by transmission of power from small water 

 wheels running on the farms themselves or in the neighbor- 

 hood. This power could be used for electric lighting and 

 for small manufacture. It is more important that small 



