The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-21
Delegates Return from Outer Bar Convention at Mobile
8. M. ALLEN PRESIDENT
Will be Made National Project and Congress Will be Memorallzed to Deepen the Outer Bar
 of the Bay.

Frank Lathrop, Burt Jacobs, Henry Chamberlin and Dr. Wyatt Hehin, who were delegates to the Outer Bar Deep Water convention. recently held at Mobile, returned home last night with much enthusiasm over the project. MT. Allen was elected president of the conven- tion. and the delegates from Birming- ham say that all those present took a deep interest in the plan and went away determined to eventually give Mobile the most magnificent harbor in the United States. It will also give the Birmingham district an outlet that has been long de- sired
 When in Mobile the delegates were roy ally entertained. The government fur nished them a cutter to go over the bay. and they finally landed at Alabama Port, where the organization was perfected. MT. Allen was elected president and MT. Sage of Mobile was elected secretary.
 Speeches were made by Congressman Bankhead and Congressman Hefiin, both promising to give the project their hearty support. A memorial Is being prepared in Mobile which will be presented to congress by a committee of ten delegates from the state at large, to be named by President Allen. and three representa- tives from each commercial body of the state.
 Must be National. The following editorial in the Mobile Register of November 19 gives a very clear idea of the project:
 In conversation with a Mobiian a short while ago naval officer of high position in Washington spoke of the probable ben eft to the navy that is to be derived from the deepening of the outer bar of Mobile bay. He was informed that the recent im- provement gave a depth of twenty-seven feet across the bar. He asked what width was given this channel. When told that it was 200 feet at the bottom, he said with much deliberation: Well it is possible, you know, to head a battleship to a chan nel of that width and, in daylight, and clear weather, to shoot 1t through like a bullet out of a gun, but that is the most I am willing to say for It." The ad- rniral mentioned the difficulties of entry into gulf ports, and how vessels must beat about in rough weather, not daring to make the crossing. He was then told that 1t Is proposed to make the outer bar channel here 30 feet deep and 1000 feet wide.
 That will be alright, thenl he ex- claimed. with your tide of eighteen inches you will have near thirty-seven feet depth; and that width would permit of three vessels entering abreast if neces- sary, and vessels could enter without regard to the weather, by day or by night. It would be an excellent thing for the navy" The speaker added that with a straight channel of that width and depth the whole world would seek Mobile as the port of call of the gulf; and sailing vessels would be able to come in under favorable wind navigat- ing the channel almost as easily as they did the open sea. He could predict any number of advantages to the port from | the deepening of the bar. but was in- terested chiefly in the benefit to be de- rived by the navy, as there is no safe port on the gulf in which the largest vessels in the navy can take refuge at all times and under any condition of wind and tide.
 Strong Argument.
 This we regard as naturally very strong argument in favor of the work to be done. It is an argument that trans cends the state line; 1t makes the project a national one, even If the general com mercial interests of the country that are to be benefited should not alone make it so.
 We wish 1t to be recognized as nation al. If it is regarded as a merely local affair or even as a part of the improve
 
 states, it must take it's chances of ap- propriation along with the bay channel of Mobile and the rivers of Alabama. Already there is so huge a demand for harbor and river improvement from Ala bama that the congressman from this state seriously question their ability to satisfy it. Congressman Banlkhead, who spoke on this subject Thursday, recog- nized that he and other congressman from Alabama have a very grave problem to face In the division of the appropria- tion so as to take care of the Alabama, the Tombigbee, the Warrior, the Tennes- see, and also the ever-recurrent Coosa. There is a limit to the total appropriation of the rivers and harbors committee, and that limit is generally reduced by con gress. Necessarily, there is limit, there fore, to the apportionment to Alabama. We would not willing take one cent from the sums coming to the bay channel im- provement or to the rivers; yet 1t Is manifest that unless the outer bar, or out let for Alabama's commerce be opened to accommodate vessels of the largest class the full return from the improve ment of the bay channel and rivers can not be expected. It will be like having | many fine broad avenues running to | gate that is too small to let through more than half of the traffic the avenues can carry.
 Absolute Necessity.
 Therefore, commercially, there is ab- solute need of the improvement of the | outer bar. This is as relates to the l state. But there is more to it. Mobile l should be the outport for. the whole northern and western country, and it is
 becoming so in spite of the fact that we
 have had but twenty-four feet on the outer bar and recently have obtained twenty-seven feet; but 1t will develop into the leading southern port the moment We get the thirty-five feet depth of wa ter. Commercially, this is a national work, even as from the administrative | point of view it is national.
 Therefore, we want 1t treated in the national spirit, without relation to this or that sum intended for Alabama rivers. 1 me amount of money needed is absurdly small Tn contrast with the greatnesy of the results to be obtained. We do not see now any one can hesitate to endorse the project. It means more to the whole 1 country than 1t does to Alahama ana more to Alabama than it does to Mo- bile; yet it means immense benefits to Mobile, too. If we unite in our demand we can get this thing attended to bv tbe 1 congress that is now about to assemble. | Take Colonel Bankhead's word for if | We must have persistent, we'll organ nized and clearly directed effort" and to ] quote the congressman again. when l this work shall have been accomplished. and the bar shall have been deepened. | snd the news goes out to all the world, | that will be the proudest day in the commercial history of Mobile.
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