The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-15
Improvement Of the Ohio and other
Rivers and Development Of the
states Resources Favored.
MUCH INTEREST AROUSED
ABOUT 500 DELEGATES ~ ATTEND
ANCE AT EVANSVILLE.
Congressman Hemenway Aruong the
speakers-Over $1,000 Raised ON
Call for Donations.
special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
EVANSVILLE Ind. Oct. l4.-The ninth
annual convention Of the Ohio Valley I'M
provement Association met here this morn
ing There are about 500 delegates present
from all the towns along the Ohio river
from Pittsburg 10 Cairo. welcoming adj
dresses were made by Governor Durbin.
Mayor Covert and NJ. l.. Johnson OF the
business association. President Vance re-
sponded. Governor Durbin's address in full
follows:
Gentlemen of the convention: I feel II
altogether proper that L should stand here
this morning and on behalf OF the State OF
Indiana not only bid you welcome to the
generous hospitality OF the second city or
the Hoosier commonwealth. but offer you
assurance or the interest OF our people IN
the cause you representative commercial
development of the MIDDLE West through
the Improvement OF the most important
system OF waterways In the entire world.
IL was born within sight of the Ohio at
a time when its ports and its shipyards
were prosperous with river traffic, when
the smoke from the vessels traverSing its
waters formed a continuous cloud line
marking It's course from the MOnongahela
10 the Mississippi Ii Is therefore not
strange that find myself IN full sympathy
with a movement having for its purpose
the restoration of this great natural high
way OF commerce to Its former Importance
as factor In the industrial upbuilding OF
ALL PROSPER ALIKE.
1T the course OF national development
we have happily passed the stage OF
provincialism and sectionalsm. This eoun-
try is no longer simply a loose confedera-
tfon OF COMMUNITIES devoted to the promo
ton OF local interests and recognizing no
common bond of commercial as well as in
dustrial union. We have become a homo
geneous people. Here in the Ohio valley
we rejoice much in the prosperity OF
Seattle or Boston as we do in that of Gin
cinnsti or Louisville and realize that all
our communities. all our people. forward or
backward. up or down. are together-that
whatever helps the seaboard is of advan-
tage 10 the interior and whatever contrib
uteS 10 the growth in greatness OF these
midc0ntinental valleys tends TO assure the
commercial future OF every American city
fronting the Atlantic or the Pacific And
as the complexity of civilization in
ereases, as the means of transportation and
intercommunicatiOn are improved and null
fIplied, as the scope OF industrial opera
tons wldens without regard TO State or
sectional lines. all the barriers that once
stood between our people and complete
sense OF common nationality are being
swept away forever, and for this. as Ameri-
oar eonntr r1e a fn 9
Iuture greatness let Us be profoundly
thankful.
out OF this broadening sense of common
interests has arisen a more patriotic atti-
tGde toward governmental plans for inter
nal Improvement, local or sectional in the
advantages Immediately conferred. but des-
tined ultimately to accomplish purposes and
confer benefits national in their scope. The
deepening of harbor. the irrigation OF a
desert. the Improvement OF a navigable
stream, the digging Of a canal between the
oceans-all such projects, impossible of ex-
ecutiOn by individuals, commend them
selves to any government wise enough and
a ah cf of he
worlds progress. and inevitably contribute
to the future welfare and happiness of our
increasing population.
"No project for internal Improvement
presents aspects more truly national than
does the movement for the development of
the great system OF waterways of which
the Ohio and its tributaries form a part
The navigable course OF the Ohio alone
reaches more than a thousand miles in
length: It's tributaries viii in time be ac-
cessible by steamboats, over a total dis
lance OF more than two thousand miles
Who can overestimate the impetus that
would be given to the industrial develop
ment of the middle West by the opening.
twelve months I'm the year, OF a free and
unimpeded right OF way for commerce ex-
tending for $500 miles through the heart of
country greater In natural resources than
any other section OF territory similar in
size that could be found elsewhere on the
map OF the world-a vast area with a set
tied civilization, and yet only crossing the
Threshold of the tremendous possibilities of
development existenet in this richest valley
WATERWAYS NECESSARY.
The development of this country through
out the first century of its history was
largely extensional in character. Great
currents OF population swept from the sea-
board across the Alleghenies. over the fer
tile lands OF the central West, out upon
the prairies and beyond the Rockies. until
they mingled with counter currents rolling
"a h.
50 far from being crowded for elbow room
IN our vast domain that we read with in
credulity OF the project recently under
taken by little Holland for the reclamation
from the ocean OF a few thousand acres of
land at q cost TO the government of millions
epon millions OF dollars We are very far
from the necessity of such an enterprise
and yet our distance from such a condi-
ton OF things accentuates the fact that the
mere occupation OF territory such as we.
comparatively speaking, have lust accom-
pltshed Is only the beginning OF develop
msnt-a development destined heneeforth
IN fits nature. Within the States touched
by the Ohio this development has gone
forward with leaps and bounds during the
past half dozen years. In Indiana, as i'm
other States. the eyes of our people are
being opened to possibilities hitherto un-
imagined. In the development OF natural
resources we have perhaps accomplished
more IN Indiana during the past fifteen
years than during the entire history of
been opened. mines sunk. sources of water
power utilized, fountains OF gas and oil
and mineral waters opened up, a dozen
minor resources exploited with rapidftv
unparalleled. and along with this activity
has naturally come the establishment OF
new Industries. the construction OF electric
railways and the inauguration of kindred
enterprises all demonstrating an awaken
ing 70 opportunities hitherto unrealized and
Portending great Industrial future for the
ktate.
..In the furtherance of the process of in
dustrfal development nothing is more i'm
portant than the Increase and Improvement
Of means OF transportation, particularly
that cheap form of transportation, incapable
OF being monopolized. offered by our navi-
gable streams. Southern Indiana. In the
kush OF new and active industrial life. is
especially interested IN the great project
you gentlemen have met TO further. and
even the Inhabitants OF the upper Wabash
country. two hundred miles TO the northeast
ward. look forward TO the time when the
cabin lights of the stern-wheeler shall min
gle with the candle lights which. accordfne
20 the poet, are in the habit OF cleaning
amoEg the sycamores that line the historic
stream OF Hooslerdom-
Again. therefore, 1 welcome you, and ex-
press the hope that as the result OF your
deliberations here the rehabilitation OF the
Ohio may be effected. the prosperity of this
valley promoted. and the commercial In
fsrests OF all our common country be adj
vanced- thank you.
BUSINESS OF THE CONVENTION.
This afternoon the nominating committee
reported In favor OF the old officers of the
association. Several addresses were made
Captain John +. bravo. OF Pittsburg. con