The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-25
GREAT LAKES TO OCEAN.
People of This Country and
Canada May Overcome
Obstacles of Nature.
CLOSER RELATION ADVOCATED.
Commercial Men of Two Nations
Argue the Great Advantages
to Be Derived.

CLEVELAND, ONO, Sept. 24.-The first
annual convention OF the International
Deep Waterways Association was opened
at o'clock this afternoon. General Ed
ward c. O'Brien of New York, president
of the New York Dock Commission, and
ex-Commissioner of Navigation of the
| United States, was selected chairman.
| Mayor r. E. McKisson, on behalf of the
city of Cleveland, delivered an address of
welcome. He spoke of the Importance of
| the deep waterway movement and of a
water connection between the lakes and
Atlantic seaboard. International Presi-
dent Oliver A. Howland responded to the
Mayors address in behalf of the associa-
tion. His remarks were brief, as he was
on the programme TO deliver his annual
address in the evening.
E. V. Smallev, president of the st. Paul
| Chamber of Commerce and publisher of
the Northwest Magazine, responded to
the Mayors address of welcome on behalf
of the American delegates. He said: II
remember when banquet was held in this
city to celebrate the beginning of work by
| the Government on your new harbor, and
when glowing speeches were made pre-
|
when vessels would load in Cleveland and
sail direct for Europe. That prediction
has not been realized as soon as it was
then hoped it would be, but it will some
day be realized, and the patient advocates
of the deep waterways movement count
constantly upon the help of Cleveland in
the work they are carrying on"
| Executive Secretary Flower said that he
l.,
Others many of whom had come for The
first time into the deep waterways move
ment. Up to the present time, he SAID, he
had been occupying the front seat in the
deep waterway campaign and had not
been crowded-there was plenty of room.
But the movement had now reached such
size and momentum that there was no
room at all on the front seat, with an
abundance of room on the back seat. He
would, therefore, retire to the rear for
rest and elbow-room and to enjoy seeing
| the strong onward movement which the
vast enterprise was taking on. He would
like to make formal report according to
programme, because in the vast interests
represented it was the greatest convention
! he had ever seen such one as would ap-
preciate a review of the situation.
II am in precisely the position of the
| sleek little darky who found himself in a
partly empty sugar-cask, the inside of
which was plastered to the depth of sew
eral inches with mixture of sugar and
molasses. Kneeling down he clasped his
hands and fervently exclaimed: oh,
Lord, give me thousand tongues that L
may do this subject justice If 1 had
thousand tongues, gifted as some OF those
who are before me, really think l could
do justice to this grand subject, fraught
with a greater beneficence to future gener-
ations than any other of this day within
my range of knowledge. But you viii
please allow this splendid gathering to
hear my report, and for myself my re-
ward and my glory shall be the enhanced
prosperity of my country and my people
| which will surely grow out of this move
ment."
| At the evening session of the association
| International President Sir Oliver A. How
land, NJ. P, delivered his annual address.
He commended the work OF Secretary
Flower, and continuing, said:
"If the people of the United States and
Canada can be induced to labor as COM
| rades in a conquest over the obstruction
Of nature never again will they be capable
of regarding each other as strangers. This
is convention of practical men for practi-
cal work. 1t is our desire to lay broad
foundations for the future good of our
fellow-men. We have three classes of OBJ
stacles to overcome. First, we must con-
vince the governments OF the practical
utility of our scheme and this is already
half accomplished. The second is the
| jealousy we may expect from the power
| full railroad world. Even this may be over
come, but still pressing upon us we will
| find international jealousy and distrust.
We should not deceive ourselves about
these facts"
LET US not relax the effort to bring
| these great nations to an agreement for
establishing the securities for peace and
| international justice upon what we be-
| lieve to be broad, rational and perpetual
| foundations"
| The regular programme was set aside,
the informal debates being passed until to-
morrow, to give the delegates time to study
the papers. Congressman Towns of Duluth
and Governor Burke of North Dakota con-
cluded the session by delivering short ad-
dresses fayoring canal from the great
| lakes to the sea.