OCR Text |
Show to use of all on equal terms. It is also provided that, if the public interest would not seriously suffer by delay, the Secretary of the Army may withhold monies appropriated for further im- provement of existing projects unless there are adequate water terminals or assurances that they will be provided. After almost 100 years of Federal improve- ment of navigable waterways for commercial use by others, the United States began commercial operation of boats and facilities on certain inland waterways. In 1920, Congress declared its policy "to promote, encourage, and develop water transportation, service, and facilities in connec- tion with the commerce of the United States, and to foster and preserve in full vigor both rail and water transportation." To carry out this policy, it created the Inland Waterways Corporation in 1924 for ''carrying on the operations of the Gov- ernment-owned inland, canal, and coastwise waterways system to the point where the system can be transferred to private operation to the best advantage of the Government." Such transfer has not been accomplished, and the Corporation today operates boats and terminal facilities on the Mississippi, Warrior, Illinois, and Missouri Rivers. Improvement.-Since 1824, the Federal Gov- ernment has prosecuted works of improvement of navigable waters to aid water-borne transporta- tion. In the early decades of our history, a num- ber of improvements were undertaken by States and by private companies. But the responsibil- ities which have been assumed by the United States for the improvement of waterways was a logical and largely unavoidable consequence of our geography and system of government. Fed- eral interest has been accentuated through the years, and nearly all navigation improvement work is now prosecuted by the United States, over $3,400,000,000 having been expended on Fed- eral impro-vement and maintenance by June 30, 1949. From the beginning, such work has been al- most exclusively prosecuted by the Department of the Army under the direction of its Secretary and the supervision of the Chief of Engineers. Under like direction and supervision, the Mississippi River Commission prosecutes navigation and flood control improvements on the lower Missis- sippi and its tributaries. Similarly, the Califor- nia Debris Commission has certain jurisdiction in the drainage areas of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. It has the duty to regulate hy- draulic mining so as to protect navigable waters and to mature and adopt plans for improving navigability, deepening the channels and protect- ing the banks of rivers and affording relief from flood damage. In the preparation of projects, examinations and surveys are undertaken only upon express authorization by Congress. If preliminary ex- amination shows a proposed improvement not advisable, no further action may be taken unless directed by Congress; if favorable, the Secretary of the Army has discretion to cause a survey to be made and the cost and advisability reported to Congress. Under an important general author- ization in 1927-the basis for the "308 Re- ports"-surveys have been completed of almost 200 waterways for the purpose of developing gen- eral plans of improvement of navigation in com- bination with the development of water power, control of floods, and needs of irrigation. Numerous laws specify the data to be included in examination and survey reports. For example, such surveys must include stream flow measure- ments and other investigations of watersheds necessary for planning and proper consideration of all uses of the stream affecting navigation. Similarly, in addition to information regarding the present and prospective commercial impor- tance of a project and the probable effect on commerce, each report must contain data re- specting the existence of and need for private and public terminal and transfer facilities, the devel- opment and utilization of water power for indus- trial and commercial purposes, and other related subjects: provided that consideration be given only to their bearing upon the improvement of navigation, to the possibility and desirability of their coordination with navigation improvements to lessen the cost of such improvements, and to their relation to the development and regulation of commerce. Reports must also contain a state- ment of special or local benefits which will accrue 282 |