Page:Report of the Oregon Conservation Commission to the Governor (1908 - 1914).djvu/20

12 in the moving of their products, and for relief from an i’itolcrable situation. It was thus seen that the waterway instead of being an antagonist of the railway was a necessary adjunct, and by relieving it of the burden of moving the heavier and lower class freights carrying low rates, it would actually levclop trade and business, and benent, rather than harm, the railway.

A few far-sighted railway men saw that a campaign against lie waterways would & as absurd from a railroad standpoint a-’ a campaign against good roadways. Each will serve certain purposes best, and the best tool from an economic sIanhIt, ‘jut is the one that should be used,

Further study, and particularly the results atle’idi’’g ntelligent irrigation, the steady decrease ri the supply of coal and the increased use of water for power purposes, showed we had not yet exhausted the benc6dal use of our waterwayc. but rather that we had failed to understand and appreciate the enormous latent possibilities for progress and development ti’ rough OLI rivers, mountain streams and minor water courses.

The foregoing ideas but briefly outlined have taken a powerful hold on the public generally. Having once grasped the çxssibihit es, it was seen that Il these beTueficial uses should be conserved and developed in close relation and Co-operation with each other and the work of the various departments having in charge the different subjects co—ordinated that with the improvement of the waterways for navigation, utilization of the water for power and irrigation, the problems of drainage, prevention of overows and damage from floods should all lw taken into account that the several states arid the nation should co-operate and act in harmony with a common purpose and for a common end.

In general we believe this can best be brought about through the creation of a separate federal department or commission having under its control all of the piihlic services coi’nected with waterways, and we further believe that the subject is of such vast importance, and is so intimately and vitlIy conncctcd with the social and commerdal life of the entire people that s’uc}’ department should be represented by a cabinet officer. Furthermore, experience and observation have proven cotic] ucivt’lv thai the svstcm of intermittent appropr{ations v{ih ,ttcncla’’t delay Co gTe