The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-15
MIR. VANDIVER URGES
 APPROPRIATION FOR RIVER
Interesting Correspondence With Chairman Burton of the Committee and Members of the
 Alabama Delegation.

1 tion with the fact that 1t will only require s5oo,ooo in all. or $30o.00o more 70 complete the present project of securing a six foot channel the year round. The work to be done under an appropriation of s200.00o as stated above, could be spent with the view Of securing the balance in the next rivers and harbors bill.
 Referring again to the tow boat which had been loaned to the Warrior River, by the Alabama River, desire to repeat that this was practically a new boat. built for work on the Ala bama River, but after 1t was built 1t could not be used, on account of the lack of sufficient appropriations to operate 1t. This demonstrates to you the fact that the appropriations in re- cent years have been so small, that we have received no permanent benefit whatever from them, hence my sugges- ton that. in securing an appropriation for the Alabama River If it becomes impossible to secure the s5o0,0oo as estimated by the engineers to be neces- sary to fully complete the work. give us. then, something looking towards securing permanent relief, which will prove to be wise investment by the government and of great benefit to the people.
 You will remember that I advised you, when I was before your commit tee, that we had not had a boat in Montgomery since last July, I desire to say on Friday. the 30th of Decem- Der. we had at our wharf the steamer City of Mobile" which is the first boat that has touched here since last July, and yet. all this while, there has been sufficient volume of water in the river for boats to have come here every day, had the sandbars been opened up. for due to lack of funds the operations Of the Engineering Department have been confined to snagging only
 When you take into consideration the fact that the traffic on the Alabama River already developed, when with the disadvantages that the people have to labor under, as far as transportation of their products are concerned, amounts to something in excess of $13,0o0, ,000 | per annum, 1t seems to me this should emphasize the importance of this river to that extent that the government with the facts before 1t, would take hold Of the matter vigorously. It seems to us that other enterprises | which only claim future development | and which have not an already develop ed tonnage as Che Alabama River has, | might wait, for the further develop ment of this much neglected stream, which can be so easily made available. with so little money.
 It is an unauestionable fact that the entire territory adjacent to the Ala bama River has to. pay enormously more railroad freight rates than we would have to pay if the Alabama River was in navigable condition the year round. The estimated economy of S4Sl.000 as shown in the. memorial I believe Is most conservative
 saw in the press dispatches a short while ago, an expression of your opin- ion In regard to building up our navy, at the expense of internal improve ments, and I agree with you fully that our internal Improvements should not be neglected for the rapid build ing of our navy. When you take into consideration the fact that we have not enough men to man our present navy. and the further fact that men cannot be educated in a year or two years to De successful naval officers, 1t seems 10 me that your position is eminently correct, that We would. in the present olll make less appropriations for our navy and have more consideration for our rivers and harbors. I would not have you misunderstood me, however am In full sympathy with this great government establishing a substantial navy, but in connection with 1t, 1 think 1t IS equally as important to be ready with our internal and coast improve ments.
 was particularly struck with the logical utterance made in one of your speeches before the House, as follows:
 We have pursued no plan of com PIomise' we have considered no plan of dividing Rfof tr..z
 states, or loealities or membership of this House. We have ondeavored to consider every project according to it's merits and have made that the sole criterion as to whether it should be included in this Oill, or not"
 Tnis Is very broad and statesman like position to take, and relying upon this, your viewpoint of such situations and feeling that others of the commit. tee and the House entertain the same sentiment, we are willing that the A4aoama Rivr rest on it's merits. when lt comes to receive consideration at the hands of your committee. All we ask IS that the project which We are en- deaVorlng to secure be placed on the same footing as other contemplated projects, and viewed from just such a standpoint as you have suggested and we shall have no fear as to the reslIts
 Fardon me for tresspassing on your time at such length, but our people are so In earnest about the present condition of the Alabama River that l cannot refrain from pleading their cause as I have done.
 l would appreciate 1t very much if you would show this letter to Colonel bankhead Of your committee, after won have finished with it.
 Inanklng you for your past kind nesses. and hoping that you win do all within your power to relieve ne I am, Yours verv ,-,',- us'
 N0iSneo'' w. F. Xandiver,
 co..,.. Chairman.
 committee on Rivers and Harbors
 House of Representatives.
 Washington, D. C., Jan'y Tth, 1905.
 w: F. Vandiver, Esq. Montgomery. Ala
 My Dear Sir-Your letter of the Kiln relative to the improvement of fine Ala. bama River, is at hand. You can hardly understand the situation with