The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-15

The following correspondence will prove of great interest to the people of Alabama and especially those anxious to secure an increase of transportation facilities for that wide scope of terrf- tory tributary to the Alabama River. This is only a portion of the letters written by Mir. Vandiver, but enough to show how hard he is pressing the question home to those who at last are to decide the matter. The Alabama river is entitled to an appropriation which in a measure comports with US importance and usefulness and tne prospect for one is fairly good now and growing better. Read the cores pondence and learn what Is going on
 Montgomery, Ala, Dec. 2s, lsOo. Theodore E. Burtoh,l Esq., Chairman
 Rivers and Harbors Committee,
 Washington, D. C.:
 My Dear Sir-I want to again thank you, as chairman of the Rivers and Harbors Committee, for the very kindly manner in which you heard me short while ago, when in Washington, in the interest of the Aiabama River. and thank you individually for the courte- ous treatment received at your hands.
 If at any time. you wish any infor- nation on the subject, which may be aDIe 10 klN6, LfOP0 yVu S0aAAAA@A ,nicate with me. I assure you it will be a great pleasure to aid you in any manner possible.
 The river is still in such condition that boats have been unable to reach Montgomery. We have not had boat up as far as Montgomery since last July. This has never been the case before. I hope you spent q pleasant Christmas, and the New Year will be . happy and prosperous one.
 Yours very truly,
 (Signed.) W. F. vandiver, Chairman.
 Committee on Rivers and Harbors. ' House of Representatives.
 Washington, Jan. 2, 1s05. W. F. vandiver. Esq, Montgomery.
 My Dear sir-Aceept my thanks for your very cordial letter of December 29th. I do not know what can be done for the Alabama, but I fear that at this time we shall be able to do but little.
 Very respectfully yours,
 (signed.) T. E. Burton.
 January s, 1905. MT. T. E. Burton. Chairman Rivers and
 Harbors Committee, House of Rep
 resentatives, Washington. D. C.:
 Dear Sir-You favor of the End duly at hand and carefully noted.
 desire to refer to that part of your letter in which you use the following words:
 ss but fear that at this time we shall be able to do but little"
 I believe that all governmental apS propriations are, or should be made upon a business basis. and. as stated In the memorial, recently submitted to your committee, the great difficulty with the Alabama River has been that the appropriations have been so small that they have done practically no good at all.
 If you will investigate, which no doubt you have done, you will find that for the past several years, there has not been money enough appropriated to operate the small plant which the government provided several years ago for work. on the Alabama River As a matter of fact dipper dredge built h 1902 has never been in commission and a tow boat which belongs to the Ala bama River has been loaned out to the Warrior River, owing to the fact that they could not be operated on the Ala bama River notwithstanding the ter rible condition of this river) on account of not having sufficient funds to do so.
 If I understand the situation, an ap- propriation made now must cover a period of operation of at least two years. I mean to say, that an appro- priation made now covers period of two years before another appropriation is made.
 The conditions as outlined in the memorial of the Alabama River Con- vention are facts, Mir. Burton, which cannot successfully be contradicted. This being true. 1t would seem a pity, to say the least of it, after these facts have been laid before Congress, that further neglect of this river should be allowed Then, the policy, 1t seems to me, should be to give us the continuing contract appropriation asked for, say $500,O00, with the understanding that only $100,OO0 of 1t is available each year and S40,000 for the building of facilities for maintaining the improve ments after having been once started. In this way, the money appropriated would not be lost but the policy of im- provement would be pursued and the improvements made, be maintained.
 With this policy adopted, at the end of the five years we will, at a com paratively small expense, have the Ala bama River in navigable condition the year round, thus giving to the people the facilities which they reasonably expect from our government.
 Now then, if 1t is impossible for you to secure the continuing contract ap- propriation for five years of $100,000 per annum and $40,000 per annum for maintenance, then 1t would certainly be the wisest thing that could possibly be done, and I admit, would give us a great deal of relief to have an appro- priatton of say not less than $200.00O to become available within the next two years, or $1Oo,O0o per annum. l mention this simply because of the re- mark in your letter. that you fear you can get but little for the Alabama River This would certainly be a very small sum, when you consider the great benefit to be derived by the people in getting the Alabama River in better condition and also taken in considera-