Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-11-25
nARBoR IMPROVEMENT.
THE SArANHAR CONTENTION

;nrrovemsnt Of the South Atlantic har-
hois, from Virginia, held meeting be-
fpr, going into the Convention TO discuss
,le interests involved. X. +. Blanken-
ship, Of Richmond. Va, was appointed
Chairman W. A. Madison, secretary.
The meeting adjourned immediately on
organization and went to the Conycn-
ton.
The first business before the Conven-
lion was 10 elect officers. and n. G.
Hammond, Of Atlanta, Ca, was chosen
PRESIDENT. presidents were ap-
pointed from each State, and were as
fellows: John W. Tails, Alabama (;
A. I. Mcintyre, Georgia n. w. Kerr
elmer. North Carolina +. w. McMas-
ter. South Carolina; James W. Morr;-
son. Tennessee Marshall Parks, Viz
GINA; George X. Fairbanks, Florida
Hon. William b. Smith, mayor Of
Philadelphia.
The next business before the Conven-
ton was to appoint one delegate from
each state at large and one from each
city 10 constitute a Committee on
RESOLUTIONS. c. Z. +. Burgwyn was
appointed from the State OF Virginia
and }. Aston Cabell from Richmond,
Nsyor Lamb from Norfolk, X. II. In
graham from Manchester, and G.. S.
Bernard from Petersburg.
delegates are present from West
Point, Petersburg, Richmond, Man
chester, Fredericksburg, Norfolk, and
N,wpcrt's News.
one OF the delegates from Philadel-
phia, in urging the importance Of river
and harbor improvement, paid a hand
some tribute to the James river and its
magnificent waterway.
At the meeting Of the Committee on
Resolutions the wording of the resolu-
tons were confined 10 the term har-
bors, and was about to pass as such
when Mr.. c. p. +. Burgywn, from
Richmond, arose, and in an able
sICech defined the technical mean
ing Of the terms, and declared
that the improvement Of harbor,
without the accompanying improvement
Of its approaches, was useless. lie
showed that the proposed working
would rule out Richmond and such
hsrbors Of the world as Glasgow, on
the Clyde, or Philadelphia, on the Del
aware, and that il was Of as much inn
portSnce to improve the approaches to
a harbor a. it was to improve the har-
Dor itself.
The question was discussed for nearly
two hours. but was finally settled in a
manner eminently satisfactory to all in
,erestS, and the James river received
IFS proper recognition.
Mayor Lamb, Of Norfolk, came to
the assistance of the Richmond delega-
ton in neat and graceful speech.
The delegates from Philadelphia have
been very public-spiIited in their ad-
dresses.
NIGHT SESSION.
The Convention on the improvement
Of the haIbors on the South Atlantic
coast reassembled at o'clock this eve
ming. Two representatives from each
State were appointed to constitute two
committees, one to draw suitable
memorials and carry the same to Wash
ington and advocate the Improvements
there the other to form an executive
committee for the transaction Of bust
ness. Mayor William Lamb. Of Nor
folk, was appointed on the Executive
Committee, and Wyndham r. Mere
dth, ESQ.,, of Richmond, on the Me-
mortal Committee. The Convention
then adjourned.
On Wednesday morning the delegates
will take an excursion down the Savan-
nah river on one Of the river steamers.
by Associated Press
SAVANNAH, Ga, November 2f.-
Two hundred delegates were present at
the Harbor Convention which met here
to-day. Seven States were repre-
sented-Georgis, Florida, Alabama,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Vir-
ginis, and Pennsylvania.
Charles Lawrence, president Of the
City Council Of Philadelphia F. W.
Dawson, of Charleston. and others adj
dressed the Convention.
The following resolutions were
adopted
Whereas the improvement of harbOrs
of national importance and the APP
breaches thereto has been and is im-
peratiyely demanded by the great
foreign aud domestic commerce passing
through them, and iudicious expendi-
ture for such an object is a wise invest
ment Of the public funds whereas it
has long since become the settled
policy and practice of the General
Government, looking to The general
welfare, to appropriate money to
the improvement of such harbors and
approaches thereto whereas, in c0nse-
quence Of the very inadequate appro-
pristions by Congress in past years, the
harbors Of our South Atlantic coast,
the natural gateways through which the
imports and exports of large section
of our vast country must necessarily
pass, have not been improved, deepen
ed, and otherwise adapted to that class
of vessels having capacity to carry the
large and increasing commerce of these
ports with economy, thereby imposing
a heavy and entirely unnecessary tax
upon both the producers and con-
sumers: therefore, be it
Resolued, That the development Of
these harbors and approaches thereto is
a subject entitled TO the highest consid-
Grafton of the Congress of the United
States, and that It is the manifest and
imperative duty Of the General Govern
ment TO take immediate steps to secure
safe end easy navigation Of these harborS
BY vessels Of such burthen as the large
and growing commerce Of the country
demands, thus reducing the cost OF
freight and insurance, promoting the
inland commerce Of the nation, securing
new avenues Of foreign trade, and
bringing general prosperity and in
creased wealth to the whole country.
Resolred, That the work Of improving
the harbors Of sandy coasts is admit
tedly one Of the most difficult problems
in hydraulic engineering; that il is Of