The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-17
TO IMPROVE TENNESSEE Nearly $l,5oF OO Asked for t'$ River. MEETING SS HUNTSVILLE Cong. <smen from Three States are Present. MT. Bankhead Favored Asking for a Lump Sum for Colbert Shoals Only, But This Was
 Opposed.

Huntsville, Oct. 16.-tSpecial.)-T Ten ressee River Improvement Association requests of Congress an appropriation of nearly million and a half dollars for the improvement of the Tennessee River by the removal of Colbert shoals, dredg- ing out the channel in the mountain sec ton and at various points along the line of the river. committee of seven to be | selected by the President of the Ass socia- ton will be sent to Washington to ap- | pear before tine River and Harbor Com
 mittee and urge the appropriation.
 The annual meeting of the Association | vas attended by the largest number of delegates ever present at one of its meet
 order by Major A. w. Willis of Nash
 vile. second vice-president the president | and the Eastern Tennessee delegation | being delayed by a late train. President R. F. Pettus of the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce delivered the address of welcome, and the response was made by J. R. Grove of Sheffield.
 President Sanders called the afternoon | session to order and tho attendance had | been greatly increased by the arrival of late trains. Senator Pettus. Congress-
 men Bankhead, Richardson, Taylor and | Clayton of Alabama, E. s. Cander of Mississippi and John A. Moon of Ten | neSsee were present, and each made an address. pledging his support and in-
 luence for the granting by Congress of | the appropriation. Congressman Bank | head, as c member Of the Rivers and l II ASS0cia-
 tion to ask for a single appropriation to | be expended at one place, Colbert Shoals | as this would do the river the greatest | good, and Congres would be more likely | to fayorably consider the request.
 | Opposed by MT. Moon.
 The memorial for requesting an appro-
 priation alone for Colbert Shoals was op-
 posed by Congressman Moon of Tennes-
 see who said that if this was done the | people of East Tennessee would not favor | the measure. He advocated a memorial | for Congress asking for certain moneys to
 be applied at various points elonG the
 river above and below Chattanooga and
 at Colbert Shoals.
 Colonel J. T. Rhea of Nashville asked
 for an appropriation of $25,OO below Riverton, and this was embodied In the
 memorial. Colonel Fort of Chattanooga
 also opposed asking for the improvem 4nt | of the stream at Colbert Shoals alone,
 protesting that while 1t would benefit
 Alabama, Chattanooga and East Tennes-
 see would remain cut off except by a | shallow canal
 | The Executive Committee was requested | to compile statistics to exhibit before | Congres and show what amount of traffic ! would pass over the river if Instructions
 are removed and to expend money If nec- essary in securing this information. A motion offered by Colonel Fort that the change of plan suggested by MaJor l Dan Kingman for the Improvement of
 the river ahove Chattanooga be lecom-
 mended was adopted
 By rising vote. the individual nem-
 bers of the Association pledged them> selves to favor the appointment If Judge | Moon of Chattanooga as a member of the | Congressional Rivers and Harbors Com | mittee Judge Moon pledged himself to
 do everything possible. if appointed, to
 assist in the improvement projects.
 The following officers were elected: | Judge Thomas R. Roulhac of Sheffield,
 president; General J. T. Wilder of Knox | vile. vice-president; Emmett ONeal of | Florence, second vice-presidena; J. A. l Wills of Nashville, third vice-president | John A. Patton of Chattanooga, secretary | and treasurer Newell Sanders ana z. G. Patton of Chattanooga, who nave served since the organization Of the Assoclftloh l a | respectfully declined to be reelected
 The Resolutions.
 The delegates were entertained by the
 city of Huntsville at banquet tonlght' | The full text of the memorial to be pre-
 sented to Congress by a delegation from
 the association Is as follows
 '.The Tennessee River Improvement As-
 socIat,or. composed of delegates chosen
 from the States of Alabama, Georgia,
 Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee at
 this. their annual meeting in the city or | Huntsville. Ala, deeply concerneu III the | use and improvement of the tennessee | River with which the business interests | of ita members and of those represented | by them are so closely connected desires
 to again present to the Congress of the | United States an appeal for aid in the | furtherance of it's objects; therefore be 1t | Resolved That the great length and | importance of the Tennessee River as a | channel of conveyance and transporta- | tion the extended area of territory for
 which it Is an outlet. and the great and | valuable developments in number and character which are now daily occurring 1 and will be affected thereby and which | promise to continue, in an increased ratio, l all combine to render the improvement | of this waterway a just and proper sub | feet for national attention and considera- | tion.
 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
 for 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 and l quarries of coal and stone and the indus
 tries using their valuable timber now in
 operation, together with the agricultural | and commercial interests along and large | ly dependent upon this extended channel
 of transportation, and whose require
 ments will be met and their successful
 management promoted by obtaining its
 use, all unite to vindicate and support
 the petition of our people for liberal ap- propriation from the Government, with | which to finish the work that has been inaugurated for opening this river, and give assurance of contributing not only
 to the convenience and welfare of our