The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-08-16

| Saturday and will be of unusual in
terest to the trans Mississippi region
| of the United States. The Pacific
| trade will be the chief topic of the
| congress. Owing to the impending
change in the geographical possibil-
tiles of the United States in conse-
| quence of the construction of the
| Panama canal this subject Is consid-
cred of the greatest Importance and
| will be discussed thoroughly. The
| question of demanding the establish
ment Of a department of mines and
mining, with it's head a member of
| the presidents cabinet, will also be
discussed. Other subjects which will
come up are the improvement of
rivers and harbors, the establishing
| of union of interests between Pa
| cific coast ports and the Gulf of
| Mexico, the merchant marine, the con-
sular service, statehood for terri
! tories, preservation of forests, CO.
operation in laws governing water
ways, encouragement Of western
| manufactures, expositions and their
influence upon the development of the
country, technical schools and ex-
perimental suggestions for the west,
| American scenery and it's influence
upon travel, Alaska, livestock inter-
est of the trans Mississippi region,
| the necessity of dfferentials favor
| ing Pacific coast ports in the building
| Of naval vessels, parcels post, good
roads, irrigation and reclamation of
lands, and any questions german to
| the object of the Trans Mississippi
Commercial congress.
All of these discussions will be
| confined to subjects of general inter-
est and nothing of a political nature
will be presented.
The sessions of the convention arc
| being held in the Auditorium building
on the exposition grounds, which has
been beautifully and appropriately
decorated for the occasion.
Bishop Cranston delivered the in
vocation. which was followed by read
| ing of the official call by Rufus p.
| Jennings of San Francisco, chairman
| of the executive committee Then
came the formal address of Theodore
B Wilcox of Portland, president OF
the congress, who called the attention
| of the delegates to the Importance
| of the work to be performed and
| gave a general outline of the pro-
gram, which will be followed during
the four days that the congress will
| be in session.
His address, which was we'll receiv-
ed, was followed by addresses of well
come by the governors of Oregon,
| Washington and Senators Piles of
| Washington and Fulton of oregon,
| representing the Pacific northwest.
| There was an address of welcome by
Mayor Lane of Portland, who ex-
| tended the freedom of the city TO
| the delegates and assured them that
the fullest hospitality would be ex-
tended to all. Responses were made
| by governors of the states of Cali
fornia, Colorado, Louisiana, Nebraska
/ and Alaska.
Then came a general handshaking
among the delegates, appointment of
committees, after which the conven-
ton adjourned until tomorrow.
When the convention meets tomor-
row there will be several notable ad-
dresses. President Theodore b. Will
| cox will speak first on "Oriental
Trade" This will be followed by an
address by Hon. F. B. Thurston of
New York, president of the United
| States Export association, who will
deliver an address on 1.-The Future
| Markets in the Orient" Governor
Blanchard of Louisiana will talk on
1.-THE Importance of Rivers and Har-
bors." "The Department of Com
merce and Labor" will be discussed
by Hon. John W. Noble, former sec
rotary of the interior, and Hon. Victor
| A. Metcalf of California, secretary
of the department of commerce and
labor Secretary Shaw will talk OF
the Panama Canal" and Hon. j. q.
| Richards of Boise, Idaho, president
of the American Mining congress,
will speak on Mines and Mining.
George II. Maxwell of Chicago, chair
man of the National Irrigation assoc
citation. will open the discussion on
/ Good Roads"
1t is said that Duluth, Des Moines,
Kansas City, New Orleans and Salt
Lake CITY will make bids for the
congress of 1906. A spirited contest
between the representatives of the
Respective states is expected.
|