The age-herald., 1902-03-04
Harrison Unwilling to Announce
 Whether He Will be a Candidate.

than childish. to argue that he is not qualified to deal intelligently and prop erly with all acts submitted to him by the Alabama Legislature
 
 An expert of the United States Army Corps of Engineers declared to the rivers and harbors committee of the House of Representatives yesterday that at least twenty million dollars would be required to complete the surveyed and perfected plans for the improvement of the Coosa river between Rome, Ga, and Wetump- ka. or virtually all the Coosa in Alabama.
 The Alabama member of the commit tee at once asked the engineer how he arrived at such vast sum, seeing that official estimates heretofore made but slightly exceeded six million dollars.
 The engineer replied readily that the published estimates were based upon surveys that were not thorough and were therefore misleading
 T assure you upon my own investiga- ton and my professional skill that it would require fully $20,0O0,000 to make the Coosa navigabIe down to and includ- ing Wetumpka," the engineer repeated emphatically, and he further advised the entire abandonment of the Coosa improve ment
 It is known that the Republican mem bers of the committee share this engi- neer's view of the Coosa as clearly dem- onstrated by voting down every proposi- ton for the rivers improvement and re- fusing to appropriate so much as dollar for the work; allowing only $40,O0O for the Coosa, and that to be expended solely on maintenance of work already done.
 Yet 1t is doubtful If as strong infiu- ences were ever before brought to bear to secure an appropriation for any river or harbor improvement in Alabama as have worked for the Coosa in the present Congress. Not only were Colonel Bank heads earnest efforts as a member of tho committee most earnestly backed by Con- gressman Wiley, Burnett, Bowie and Thompson, but strong appeals were made by various com mercial bodies and many eminent individual citizens of Alabama, especially high officers of state. But. as pointed out in this correspondence in January, if every citizen of Alabama had petitioned the Republican majority in fa- vor of the Coosa nothing could have been secured. The majority would accept no compromise and seriously consider no proposition, several members of the ma- jority having personally seen the Cooss and studied it's conditions in detailed re- ports.
 When all these facts are considered, and 1t is borne in mind that for thirty years New York has been unable to get ss,000.0D9 for the Harlem river, which flows in part through that city, a metrop- oils having double the population of all Alabama, 1t will be seen that those of us who most earnestly desire the com plete improvement of the Coosa, might as well cease to strive and hope for it. There are deplorable indications that fur- ther improvement will be abandoned.
 The publishers of Mary Johnston's new romance, Audrey" advertise a first edi- tion of 125,000 copies, and the critics are in the main generous, though they point out that the central figure in the story. the girl called by tale-readers in general the heroine for no apparent reason, has been produced many times before. Dr. Hannis Taylor of Mobile was praising Audrey very cordially yesterday His opinion being of value because of his eminence in the world of letters he was asked if he had personally read the book. He confessed that he had not but that he had obtained his views from friends more capable perhaps than himself to form just estimate.
 But I did read Miss Johnston's pre- vious book and I am of opinion that she is the most capable novelist the South has had in thirty years"
 Miss Johnston, who will reach her thir- ty-second birthday next August, is still resting in a hospital In Baltimore, it Is said; and 1t is further said that she works constantly and persistently. and will soon have still another book ready for the press.
 There are numerous Alabama girls at school in Baltimore. One of them Is Miss Taylor, eldest daughter of Congressman G. W. Taylor of Demopolis, and several are from Birmingham it appears.
 LUCIEN JULIEN WALKER