Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-11-19
THE RIVER CONGRESS.
Prospects for the Early Looking and
Damming the Cumberland.

Damming the Cumberland.
The River Convention at Nash
vile yesterday was a splendid sue
cess in every particular. There were
over 100 delegates present; the body
was composed Of some of the best
talent of the great Cumberland Valley
and the meeting was characterized
by earnestness and enthusiasm from
beginning to end
This was the second meeting of
the congress, and far outstripped the
first in attendance, interest and
spirit of confidence. Every man
seemed inspired with the belief that
we had reached point where some
thing must be done, and would, if
our people would get to work with
a determined purpose. of doing some
thing.
What we must regret is that the
whole Montgomery. county delega-
ton did not attend to catch the in
spiration of the meeting, that they
might impart the same spirit to all
of our people, and if they had known
half the good there is in our clever
young chairman of our delegation,
Col. Graceya Childsrs, and the good
humor and interest that character
lied the fine speeches on the Occas
ion, they would have gone.
One of the most encouraging fea
lures of the convention was the
presence of strong, earnest delega-
tions from Evansville, Ind, and
Cincinnati, Ohio, which insures the
co operation.oi those great States in
Congress in securing appropriations
for the great enterprise Of locking
and damming the Cum erIand, max
ing a great navigabe waterway 636
miles long.
Our district is indebted to Con-
gresham Washington and President
Bryan for getting these people so
thoroughly interested.
President Bryan opened the pro-
ceedings by reading an interesting
report of what had been accomplish.
ed, aud what was necessary to com
plere the work and the prospects of
getting the necessary help.
The total appropriation made for
locks and dams in the Cumberland
up to the present time is 1865, 600, not
enough, rs he was informed, to com
plete the two locks and dams now
under construction.
Mr.. Bryan claimed that Kentucky
and Tennessee had paid into the
United States Treasury the sum Of
$21S, 600, 600 since 1863, and were now
yearly contributing $l8, 100000, one.
third of which, or four months
receipts, would pay the entire cost Of
locking and damming the river from
source to mouth.
In conclusion, Mr. Bryan said it
was not too much to say that the
prospects for the early completion Of
the Improvements are most encour-
aging, and in a few years it will be
an accomplished fact if the assOcia-
ton and the people continue their
efforts to secure the needed appropri-
alton.
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Bryan's
he stated that the executive
had selected Hon. Il.
Story, of White county, to act as
Temporary Chairman. Mr.. Story
came forward and acknowledged the
honor in a brief but pointed speech.
Mayor Guild and Judge Caldwell
short welcome addresses,
the several committees were appoint
ed on credentials, permanent organi-
zatiOn and resolutions. While these
were out Hon. Joe r..
made rousing speech,
suggesting the Importance of the
work and what might be accom-
plished if the people along the river
would go earnestly to work and back
up their repre- sentatives. He was
going to the extreme of asking the
to issue two per cent.
bonds for $4,000, GOO to complete this
work in three years, if it could not
be done in any other way, and then
it would be permanent for all time
and save great waste of money.
The committee on organization re-
ported Congressman W. J. Stone, of
Kentucky, as perman, Mt chairman
and Paul w. Treanor secretary.
Mr.. Stone ON taking the chair de.
Iivered very happy address, full of
interest. Speeches were made dur
ing the evening by Congressman II.
G. Snodgrass, Judge j. a. Fite, of
DIR. j. NJ. Stafford, State
Geologist; Col. Hamilton, president
Of the River Association !; Mr.. j. f.
Williamson, a prominent lawyer of
Evansville; c. w. Cole, of Ciucin-
natl; Mayor Guthrie, of Gallttin
Col. A. $, Colyar, and last, but not
least, Benton McMillin, who came all