The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-11
SMALL SUM
 FOR ALABAMA River Project is Regarded
 Adversely. REPORT OF THE ENGINEER Cavanaugh Thinks $1,0Oo,- 900 Necessary for work. Lieutenant Colonel Adams of the Opin- Ion that Locks and Dams Will Be
 Required for Six Feet of
REPORT OF THE ENGINEER

Washington, Jan. lO.-topeoIa.' congressmen Bankhead and Wiley since the beginning of the present ses- sion of Congress, have made repeated efforts to obtain from the War De- partment the report of the Board of Engineers on the Alabama River pro- feet, but not until yesterday was this report signed and transmitted to the Committee on Rivers and Harbors.
 This Board reviews the report or Captain Cavanaugh and manifests an aversion at this time towards spend ing the amount of money, which they hold to be necessary to deepen the channel so as to secure uniform depth of six feet of water rom "e- tumpka to the Mobile River.
 Captain Cavanaugh made two re- ports. In his first report, he ex- pressed the opinion that an annual ap propriation of S100,000, for perioo oi five years, would be sufficient 10 se- cure the necessary depth Of water. ip his second report, he stated that 1ro!p subsequent measurement made ne mus he was in error as to his orlglnai es- inmates and that an appropriation or s650 00O to deepen the channel of the river and $40,000 per annum thereafter for maintenance, in round hgures- about S1,0OO,000, wilT have to made to attain this end.
 His superior officer and chief engf- neer Lieutenant Colonel Adams fiatly expressed the opinion that the worb could not be done for $1 1,Oo0,OOO, ano that locks and dams would be neces- sary to any improvement that may pc attempted in the stream, and report ed adversely upon the project at this time.
 The Board of Engineers in the War Department elaborately review the sit- nation, report adversely the scheme and recommend only small appro- priation, $25,000 per annum, Tor the next two years. for purposes or main tenance merely
 This last report was a great sur prise and, disappointment to the Ala hama delegation, and particularly to Representatives Bankhead, Wiley ano Taylor. who have been laboring in sea- aos1 ana@5u. ol season to secure the necessary appropriation to make per maneat improvement of the Alabama River.
 In view of these circumstances, IL IS very doubtful whether any appropria- ton at all will be made to deepen tQe channel of the river at this session or Congress. Of course, 1t Is expected that a small sum for simple mainte- nance will be voted. -
 It now devolves upon Senator Pettus and Morgan, if a general river and har- Dor appropriation bill reaches the Senate, to move an amendment, ana let the joint conference committeee deter mine what, if any, sum of money shall be expended in the improvement or Alabama's most important river.
 Colonel Wiley said today:
 "It is absurd to hold in effect that this great water way is not worthy or governmental aid, but the trouble has been that the people living adjacent to the stream and most vitaliy interested in this mighty medium of commercial intercourse slept too long over tneir rights. They have made good ini- tial start, which Is sure. ultimately, to lead to beneficial and lasting results.
 Senator Pettus has exhibited in this matter unusual concern even for man of his large earnestness and there is no douht that he will fight for the Ala bama River as long as he is in the Senate,