The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-16
IMPROVED WATERWAYS
 HELPS INDUSTRIAL. ALABAMA
with NavigabIe Streams Traversins the state and Mobile Harbor. Given its Proper PIace--People wnI Rsap InealcuIable Benesits--rrysry Cons munity should work Fer It.
nv ". F. vANprvnn.

Tn rasnonse to your request that, as Chairman of the Alabama River Im- movement Committed write some thing concerning the waterways of Alabama, in so far as they pertain to the industrial life of our State. It gives me pleasure to comply with this request, and I win endeavor to review. in a brief manner the situation as 1t appears to me.
 The object of your special edition. as ! understand 1t. is to lay specific stress and emphasis upon the commercial and industrial development of Alabama. I know nothing of which would more quickly and more surely amplify and augment the many resources of our State than the effective opening and maintenance of our waterways. It has been conceded that no other State in the Union. in proportion to its area. affords such magnificent opportunities for coast and internal Improvements than does Alabama. She is particular ly blessed by Nature with available waterways, and we, as citizens will be dereiict in our duty to the State if we do not seriously consider the question of improving our rivers In order to make them bring the best results.
 For many years Alabama has suf- fered materially because of the very small appropriations made by Congress for our rivers and harbors. This seem ing lack of consideration, however, has been more directly attributable to the inadequarcy of interest on the part of our people. Other sections of the coun- try and other states, which have not as great claims upon the Government as has Alabama, for improvement and maintenance of water-ways, are re- ceiving large proportions of Bovern- mental appropriations for internal im- provements, primarily because there has been more or less effort and unit ed action on the part of the people of those sections and those States with the view of securing such appropria- tions. They have come to a realization of the commercial necessities for so doing, and are now receiving the bene- fit in return for their work.
 Competition in Transportation.
 The question of rates for transporta- ton of persons and property has been one of national concern for several years. Much has been said and done by both State and National Legislative bodies looking to reforms, and while Interstate and State Commissions are all right, so far as they go, at ths same time no influence can be brought
 
 corporations, like the influence of active competition, and the greatest measure of benefit would result to lhe commonwealth and the most effec- tive degree of rate regulation secured, were the available streams of the United States made navigable, in order to compete for the transportation Of export and import, as we'll as inter and lntrastate traffic.
 The Government has entire control of our rivers and harbors and 1t Is It's duty to improve them; 1t is the duty of the public, however, to see lhat this is promptly and porperly done. Practically no results will De obtained along this line without cone centrated and intelligent action on the part of the public. While of course we have good, live, energetic and active representatives in Congress, they have many things outside of rivers and harbors that engage great deal or lheir time and attention, and they need me support and assistance of their constituents in securing. proper con- alteration for ports and waterways. investigation of facts and statistics lhow. that wherever the people of a community have come together by united effort, and have gone to Con- u.ress with the idea of assisting their Congressmen to secure appropriations for the improvement of rivers and harbors. those localities have gotten practically what they have asked for. No one need assume that any Con- Rressman is opposed to receiving as- sistance at the. hands of his consti- tuents. nor do they ever feel that 1t Is Interfering in the least if they in- 7iyidually or collectively tender their services on any particular project.
 COngressmen Want Help.
 I have heard a great number of Re- oresentatives complain of the lack of interest on the part of their people in helping them to accomplish results. One has only to go to Washington. and some in contact with the hard-working Congressmen to find they are nit simply 'reposing on flowery beds of ease" They work They are on the go all the time and are glad of any assist ance they can get at the hands of their fellow citizens. We need not be dis couraged along this line, but should do all we can to help them. While they do not always get all they ask for or work for, with the proper assistance they can get a reasonable amount and. all of them say they can do much bet ter when backed up by their home people. They are proud to feel that Lne1T dSSOcAdlGC III COAA3AOS0 1NO Nhe@e they are being helped by the people from their several districts.
 In addition to work on certain spec fife projects, Alabama as a State should become intimately identified with every movement which has for It's aim and object the work of increas- ing the general appropriations by Congress for internal improvements Not a great while ago there was or- ganized National Rivers and Harbors Congress, at the last annual meeting of which were assembled representa- lives from every portion of the United States. The object of that organization was to acquaint the public with all the facts regarding and pertaining to the necessities for increased appropria- tions by the Government for such im- provements. They have pursued their work yell, and great good has already been accomplished. Each successive meeting shows an additional amount of Interest being manifested, and addi- tional States and localities taking active interest in the work
 Proposed Water ROute,
 There is a movement now on foot for the opening up of a short water route from Mobile to New Orleans, via Grants Pass. If this can be accom- pllshed. it will give Alabama a short water connection with the Mississippi River and it's tributaries and rates of