The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-15
WORKING HARD FUR THE ALABAMA RIVER River Convention Assembe8 in
 Montgomery MANY SPEECHES ARE MADE. Congressman Bankhead Considers the Alabama River improvements as
 One of the Best Properties
 In the United States.
MANY SPEECHES ARE MADE

point present. Over 200 were on hand for the opening features of the programme. 1 In his address of welcome City Attorney Ray Rushton said Alabama was part of the river and wanted to remain so, a part of the democratic party and was going to continue to be such. He was l generously applauded.
 Rabbi A J. Messing offered the in- vocation.
 The response to the address of well come was delivered by Mayor V B. Ad- kins of Selma, in the absence of Mayor T. S. Caldwell of Camden, who could not attend. Mr. Adkins said he was not prepared to make speech, further than to say that he realized the great im- portance to Alabama the improvement of this great river. He was fully in ac- cord with every movement looking to the giving of a deeper waterway all the year around.
 President A. G. Forbes of the Com mercial and Industrial association pre- sented Acting Governor Cunningham ns d man too well known to need introduce tion to the people of the state.
 Governor Cunningham and Secretary L. L. Gilbert were made permanent officers on motion of Maj W. W. Screws of Montgomery.
 The following vice presidents were named: Montgomery J. P. Kohn; Selma. w. R. Peacock; Mobile. D. R. Burgess; Wetumpka, Cabot Lull; Camden, T. s. Caldwell
 Vandlver's Papers.
 MT. W. F. vandiver of Montgomery was presented to speak of The Neces- sity for Alabama River Appropriations" MT. Vandiver is at the head of W. F. Vandiver X Co.,, wholesale grocers, and one of the heaviest shippers in the south. He said that for years Alabama had been sleeping on its rights and not real ized the great importance to the com merce of the state of the Alabama river. Last year Alabama raised over a million bales of cotton. Of this Mobile received 16S,817 bales; Montgomery, 169, ,024; Selma, S742O Wetumpka, 10,0OO This makes 435, 221 of the million bales handled in four cities. Because of the present condition of the Alabama river, the saving Is about 50 cents a bale in freight on cotton. or something like $20O000. Grouping a number of classes MT. Vandiver showed a saving of $40O000 a year in freights with the river as it is now.
 Bowie on Neglect.
 Speaking of the neglect of the Alabama river in past congressional appropria- tons, Congressman s. J. Bowie of the Fourth district said that the neglect had been marked. He reviewed what had been done in the past, and said the people would have to keep their representatives in congress to get the money appropri- ated. He believed the money could be se- cured if proper effort was put forth, and the citizens of this part of the state might 1.f 1., I4.r1 l.. Xl1 northern section. One point greatly in- terested, Selma, Is in MT. Bcwies district. These members of the United States en- glneering board for the rivers and har- bors were introduced by the chairman. Lieut.. Col. D. w. Lockwood, Washington; Maj s. w. Roessler, Washington: Capt. c. w. Kutz, Washington, with Capt. J. B. Cavanaugh of the Montgomery office of the United States Engineers. These gentlemen are here hearing argument in interest of the rivers of the stare Among those who appeared before the board were F. IT. Lathrop of Riverside. w. P Lay of Gadsden and Congressman J. l.. Bur nett of the Seventh district all speaking for the Coosa.
 Referred to President.
 Alderman John P Kohn of Montgomery introduced resolution looking to the presenting of the actions or the conven- tion to President Roosevelt personally.
 Capt John Quill of Mobile, a pioneer steamboat man, addressed the convention.
 A. Hohenberg of Wetumpka spoke of the question of freight rates on the Ala bama.
 The visitors were invited to make them- selves at home in the Elks club.
 Though slated for the fourth address of the afternoon, Congressman A. A Wiley was called on first, because of hay. ing been i'll and it being necessary for him to get back home. His subject was "The Alabama River; It's Past, Present and Future" He called attention to 2 speech made in congress in which ht urged appropriations for the Coosa anc Alabama rivers.
 Congressman John H. Bankhead of tht Sixth district, ranking member of thu house rivers and harbors committee spoke on 'The Appropriation; How tC Secure It.
 A l.. Mcleod of Selma, who was {, speak on Development of the Cottor Trade on the Alabama" could not b, present. His excuse was made by W. R Peacock of Selma.
 Bankhead Tells the Way.
 Congressman Bankhead said if we can not elect President we can clean ou rivers. His subject he regarded as z novel one. He believed he could tel how to secure money for the Alabama This Is the first meeting. yet held fl Alabama for the purpose of formulating a plan to secure betterments of the river The government engineer says the Ala bama can be given a six-foot channe with s5O0000. The Alabama river witt this cost prospect is the best proposition of it's kind in the United States Thi; was, to his mind, perfectly marvellous He thought the people along it's bankl had been very negligent and had slep on their rights. He said a committe' should be appointed to get together sta tistics and all information about tn, trade of the river and have that commit tee attend at a meeting of the house riv CTS and harbors committee in Washing ton. He thought there would be no trou ble to get an Alabama river delegation before the house committee. He urged that no committee be sent to Washington which would talk of politics. The com mittee wants a man who will know wha it wants to say, say it and quit.
 MT. Erwin Craighead, editor of the Mo bile Register, and MT. F. G. Bromberg both of Mobile, discussed Mobiles In terest in the Alabama" showing how much it was necessary to improve tn, traffic of the river and benefit Mobile. After the papers there was a genera discussion of the questions presented. After the speeches a committee wa, named to present the river question to tn, committee on rivers and harbors of con gress This committee will go to Washing ton about the last of November. Capital Notes.