The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-15

Mr. Howte revteNSQ tha3 ecants work done by f11et 19overu1nent on the Ala bama hlvsr, ard said that there was no willkuf spite on the part cf Con grsss asainst the river. but. on the other hand. It's condition vas q result of the nekiect of the people !. He assured the convention of the hearty support of. the people of North Alabarna in the enterprise, and of his own support in Congress Heswas gen. erousiy Applauded.
 {. At 1:30 o'clock the convention re- cessed for dinner. 1 when the body reassembied. Gov erhor Cunninsham announced that on account of the recent illness Of Col A A. Wiley. he desired to deliver his address early in the afternoon In order to. return home The regular order was, therefore, suspended. and Colonel Wiley was Introduced to speak { on ssThe Alabama River, Its Past aud Fu- ture." sa Reeepticn of Colenel Wiley.
 The second District Congressmsri n wss given. q heartfelt reception. It
 was his first public appearance since. his recent severe attack of fever and his 'constituents were peculiarly sind
 Colonel wiley said that for the past three or four weeks. he had been con-
 fined to his bed with an attack of ma
 larial fever. He had not had tins nor strength to prepare paper nor had he really, strength to attend the convention, but so interested was he In the subject, that he could not refrain from lending his voice in It's behalf.
 He spoke of the tradition of the in- dian tribe after marching miles to- ward the setting sun: they yfcams t tue banks of the noble stream near Mont gomery. and. attracted by its fertile soil and bafsny climate, exclaimed Ala bama; here we rest"
 :. Since that time. he, said, Here we rest" has been the motto of the state. yFhe sentence. however, he declared, was q misnomeF. Alabama is rest less State. Her men and women are activs. energetic. restiess. and alive to affairs of the present date and time :. Montgomery is historic soil. Throush- out the cty and county there are mon uu,ents both natural and artificial to the virtue and vaior of it's eitizepship. The past generations have dore much for the commonwealth of Alabama and the present and future generations are going to do more The present gener- ation stands for progress and the con- vention now in. session shows this. This meeting was not called by the Commercial and Industrial Association of Montgomery merely to advance . local scheme. It was called for the good of every city on the banks of the Alabama River and the great State of Alabama.
 In days gone by magnificent steam CTS piled the Alabama River, carrying great cargoes and large passenger lists Nature interfered. The tiiiing of the soil on the uplards. the estab- lishment of factories and the general work of progress drove the sand to- ward the river banks and caused the sand bars that today. hinder navigation. The iron horse has - superseded the floating palace.
 Recommended bS Engineer. | Captain Wiley said that Captain Cay ananRh, the United States Engineer in charge of the Montgomery station. had recommended to the Chief of Engineers that s5oo.0oo be appropriated to dredge the bars, take out the roots, and deepen the channel in a manner that would make the river navigable throughout the yeaf. This work done. the work of deepening the Coosa River could be accomplished for one1half or one-third less than the original cost contena- plated and a continuous waterway would be established from Rome. Ga. to Mobile. s;'t' 't
 Colonel Wiley spoke briefly of the Increased. prosperity that would come to Alabama through this waterway when the Panama Canal Is opened. :.
 He said he had always been friend to the ceosa River hIs first speech in Congress being made In it's behalf, but Congress had determined to never spend another dollar on the Coosa River un- til the Alabama River was deepened. The Rivers and Harbors Committee meets In Washington on November 2S and when the. proper time comes. he