The age-herald., 1901-10-17
Congress Will be Asked to Spend This Much in
 New Work
IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
Annual Meeting Is Held and Com mlttee of Seven Will Urge This Appropriatlon-Text of
 the Memorial.

 Tennessee River Improvement Associa- ton requests of Congress an appropria- tion of nearly a million and a half dollars for the improvement of the Tennessee River by the removal of Colbert Shoals, dredging out the channel, in the noun tain section and at various points along the line of the river.
 A committee of seven to be selected by the president will be sent to Washington to appear before the river and harbor committee, and urge the appropriation. The annual meeting of the association was attended by the largest number of delegates ever present at one of it's meet ings.
 The noon session was called to order by Maj A. W. Willis of Nashville, second vice president the president and the Eastern Tennessee delegation being de- layed by a late train. President R. E. Pettus of the Huntsville. Chamber of Commerce. delivered the address of well come and the response was made by J. R. Grove of Sheffield.
 President Sanders called the afternoon session to order, the attendance having been greatly increased by the arrival of late trains.
 Senator Pettus, Congressman Bank head, Richardson, Taylor and Clayton of Alabama, B. s. Candler of Mississippi, and John A. Moon of Tennessee were all present and each made an address pledging his support and Influence for the granting by Congress of the appropria- tion.
 Wants Single Appropriation. Congressman Bankhead, as a member of the rivers and harbors com mittee ad- vised the association to ask for a single appropriation to be expended at one place. Colbert Shoals. as this would do the river the greatest good. and Congress would be more likely to favorably con slider the request. The memorial for re- I questing an appropriation alone for Col bert Shoals was. opposed by Congressman Moon of Tennessee who said that If this was done the people of East Tennes- see would not favor the measure He advocated a memorial for Congress ask | ing for certain monies to be applied at various points along the river above and | below Chattanooga and at Colbert Shoals. | Colonel J. T. Rhea of Nashville asked for I an appropriation of ,000 below River | ton, and this was embodied in the memo | rial
 Colonel Fort of Chattanooga also op- posed asking for the improvement of the | stream at Colbert shoals alone protest | ing that while it would benefit Alabama, | Chattanooga and East Tennessee would | remain cut off except by shallow canal. | The executive committee was requested l to compile statistics to exhibit before | Congress and show what amount of traf- | fic would pass over the river if obstruc- | tions are removed and to expend money | If necessary in securing this informa- | tion
 motion offered by Colonel Fort, that | the change of plan suggested by Major l Ban Kinghman for the improvement of | the river above Chattanooga be recom- I mended was adopted by a rising vote. | The individual members of the associa- | tion pledged themselves to favor the ap- poinfment of Judge Moon of Chattanooga as member of the Congressional rivers and harbors committee. Judge Moon pledged himself to do everything possible if appointed to assist in the improve ment projects.
 New Officers Elected.
 The following officers were elected: Judge Thomas R. Roulhac of Sheffield, president; General J. T. Wilder of Knox vile, vice president Emmet O'Neal of Florence, second vice president; Major A. w. Wills of Nashville, third vice.
 
 nooga, secretary and treasurer. Newell Sanders and Z- c. Patton of | Chattanooga who have served since the | organization of the association as presi- | dent and secretary and treasurer, re- | spectively, declined to stand for re-elec- | ton. The delegates were entertained by | the city of Huntsville at banquet to- night.
 The full text of the memorial to be pre- | sented to Congress by delegation from the association is as follows:
 Text of Memorial. l The Tennessee River Improvement As l sociation composed of delegates chosen | from the States of Alabama. Georgia, | Kentucky, Mississippi. and Tennessee. at | this. their annual meeting in the city of | Huntsville Ala, deeply concerned in the use and improvement of the Tennessee | River. with which the business interests | of it's members and of those represented | by them are so closely connected, desires l to again present to the Congress of the | United States an appeal for aid In the | furtherance of its objects; therefore. be 1t
 Resolved, That the great length and im-
 portance of the Tennessee River as channel of conveyance and traEsporta- | ton, the extended area of territory for l which 1t Is an outlet, and the great and valuable developments in number and character which are now daily occurring | and will be affected thereby and which promise to continue in an increased ratio, all combine to render the improvement of this waterway just and proper subject for national attention and consideration. Resolved, That the immense mineral wealth of the sections of our country contiguous and tributary to this river. which will seek and require the cheapest means of transportation, the necessity Tor which is becoming more urgent. the number of costly plants for the manufac- ture of metals and textile fabrics already established on its banks. the mines ana quarries of coal and stone and the indus tries using their valuable lumber now in operation, together with the agricultural ly dependent upon this extended channel Of transportation' and whose require-