The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-23

.neni hesitateo, m terms Of highest praise. to recommend a continuance of its improvement and as . subject eminentiy worthy of ConKressional consideration. Next in the line of succession, according
 to my best recollection. came Captain
 Captain Judson. Before the River and Harbors Committee in May. 1900, he tee- tified very clearly that a channel of four feet uniform depth in this river (which
 has been denounced by the Chairman of
 this Committee as inpracticable and as 1 a useless expenditure of the public 1 money) could easily be maintained when | once obtained" and that. in this respect, l it's chaneliSation was the best he had | ever seen on any river in this whole country. that 1t was "a very permanent river" and that below Rome 1t was free from the snags and logs that are gener- ally found in most Southern streams. He estimated that with an annual out lay of $.000.000 these contemplated im- prov2ments could be completed in six or seven years. and he strongly reeommend- ed the work to be done under contract four different points along the river, SO that there might be nothing diiatory about it." He demonstrated also that three barges attached to a steamboat, boat itself holding 300 tons, as a part of it's cargo, altogether aggregating 1,JO0 tons, readily obtalnable in the Coosa Valley, could easily be transported
 
 nel and be delivered at Mobile at q .15 per ton, as against 6, the price per ton charg- ed for this commodity at the Gulf ports for purposes of foreign export.
 his conclusion follows irresistibly. that If coal can be brought down from the Coosa Valley at A.75. 1t can be sold at | a figure that will increase the national | tember. 1900, Captain Flagler was sue ceeded by Captain Judson. who at that | time certainly concurred in the roseate l but emphatic views of his predecessor A few months later. in November, 1900, l when certain gentlemen. constituting the | Rivers and Harbors Committee of the 1 House, visited Georgia and Alabama for | the purpose of inspecting the Coosa Riv- CT. Captain Judson himself, while enjoy ing the Inequalities of the communities adjacent to the Coosa and interested in the completion of this great work upon which the Government had already placed its generous and mupif1cept hand. seated in a sumptuous apartment of the steamer -Leona, declared to them unhesi- tatingly that the Coosa was an unusually favorable stream for mprovement-more favorable, indeed. than even ''the Mis- sissippi. Red River, Arkansas, and other streams" (Applause.)
 The descriptive ad.ectives then and
 there employed by him were of an ex- travagant character. Not to put too fine point upon his language. he was highly eulogistic, to say the least of 1t, in his presentation of the splendid possibilities of this grand and noble riyer--the third mos most important stssa n. . as you havs & 5eel, auently. in July. 1901, he made an official report showing that 1t would be both wise and profitable for the Government to continue these Improvements. Now. 1t is not my purpose in the slightest de- gree to animadvert upon this amiable and worthy gentleman in anywise or manner whatever. For him, individually and ofii- cially. I entertain sentiments of warm
 personal esteem. He certainly can not ever complain of any Ill treatment, up- kindness, or discourtesy at the hand of any Southerner while residing temporar-
 fly in tho hospdtabie city of Montgomery, where he induiged the pleasures of bus mess and social Intercourse among our best and most cultured citizens.
 In view of his recent change Of heart. however, We can not restrain an ex- feeling akin to indignation. that in his recent report to the Chief Engineer Of the Army, he should, without rhyme or reason, have recommended an abandon ment of all further work on the Coosa River according to the plans and spec ifications originally adopted for that laudable purpose
 The biii reported by the Rivers and Harbors Committee of the last Congress carried an approximation of sl95,OOo for the Coosa River. We all know the tragic fate of that measure. It was talked to death by the retiring Senator from Mon- tana. The untimely demise of this meri- torious bill rendered it advisable to call
 Captain Judson- elsewhere-away rom his pleasant quarters of incidence and ease. Simultaneously with his change of domicile came a change of opinion. as shown by his report, heretofore alluded
 Captain Judson does not claim to have made any survey or thorough examina- ton of this river. and in his report ne is compelled to admit that his predeces- sors, without single exception, regard ed the Coosa as pre-eminently worthy of improvement along its entire route The army officers, who preceded him In the charge of this work. were all gentle men of learning and practical experience. Their recommendations are discarded Wltn- out a word of explanation. His military brethren courted the fate which attends science and genius. Alas! alas! to their opinions Is attached not even slender claim of responsibility. They have been seen and heard. but are now forgotten. They came like the shadows, only to depart.
 Their suggestions are as unreliable as ropes Cf sand. Captain Judson, realizing that his report would put him in an in consistent attitude. lamely attempts to
 justify himself by declaring that his change of opinion is due to "a close study and consideration given to the problem of the channelization of the Coosa." It is an old Welch proverb, I believe, which says: The teeth that bite hardest are those that are out of sight" Cap:ain Judson has gone away from the commu- nity where he was the recipient Of so many klndnesses and courtesies, and therefore feels less reluctance now than
 he might under ether circumstances to strike the death blow to this cherished enterprise.
 I think I can. without doing the slight est injustice to him, give good. if not sufficient reason for his change of mind and heart touching this proposition The
 great water power in the Tailapoosa River, above Tallassec. Ala, within the
 past few yeas has been utilized for eIectric-light purposes and in the opera ton of immense machinery. Unquesti"n- ably it has proven of normons value. Generally when you touch man ih- terest you touch a mans patriotism. Men are ambitious to serve themselves.
 It is a fact well known in Montgomery and elsewhere in the State that certain persons for purposes of their own self aVgrandizement, desirous of turning 10 nrotitable account the marvellous water power of the Coosa River for distance of 100 miles above Wetumpka, suf1cient to operate the grandeSt macmnery III ''l, world. and recognizing the difficulty ot attracting and controlling capital Tor tniS nurpose so long as the river remains n navieatle stream by legislative enact nent. have not heSitated on every occa- sion in season and out of season, 10 TS- commend a discontinuance Of all tnrtnff governmental improvement. adNanclhs inc argument that railroad carnage, py reason of it's rapid transit and dispatch has practically superseded Watsr ,. ti rI,, nortatjon, and. therefore. this great rlv, ar dug hy the hand of God Himselt. cou!o he nnt to more advantageous service m r',rninp inc wheels of machinery than In