The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-11-30

able report.
Mr.. III. r. Jackson. IF Charleston, ex-
pressed himself briefly rs being hearth
~ in favor Of the inland waterway and
said the <hree commercial bodies Of
Charleston which he represented would
heartily cooperate in any movement
which would accomplish the desired
end.
Mr.. c. II. Forrest. OF the Merchants
and Manufacturers Association. Balti-
more, next addressed the meeting. He
referred to the early history Of the
movement which was started three
years ago and said Mr.. Small first dis
cussed with him what IN inland water
way would mean 10 the states along
the south Atlantic coast. At first the
speaker said he did not appreciate the
Importance OF the project but after Civ
ing the matter, considerable thought
and study he had become thoroughly
convinced Of the wonderful advantages
10 be derived from such a waterway.
Mr., Forrest then went into a history
Of the movement, speaking of the first
survey and later another survey which
placed the cost at a figure which seem
ed practicable. In order to accom-
plish the end desired. he declared il
would have TO be by presenting a uni
ted front. You do not only want to
get representatives from the sea-
coast cities and districts TO favor the
movement. he said. but representatives
from the entire south.
Mr.. Forrest spoke of the vast wealth
OF mine, forest and field and ventured
the opinion that when the reservoirs of
wealth are opened TO a far greater cap
acity than the present time. the rail-
roads leading to the sea port towns will
be taxed beyond their capacity 10
handle the products. at the present
time the speaker declared the railroads
have far more business than they are
BILE 70 transport in the proper man
ner. Mr.. Forrest said more and more
would the railroads depend upon get
ting bulky freight TO waterways instead
Of making long hauls. He pictured
the towns along the Atlantic coast in
the future. teeming with prosperity
and every port of any consequence
whatever having an enormous coast
wise trade.
$500 a.
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Forests
address the body adjourned until 5
O'Clock n the afternoon session was
held in the Knights Of Pythias hall ON
the third floor of the Murchison Ma
tiOnal Bank building.
One of the most instructive talks
made was by Mr.. ]. A. Fox, of Arkan-
sas, who is a member Of the executive
committee Of the National Rivers and
Harbors congress. He is thoroughly
posted on transportation matters and
his talk was listened to with much in
terest. He said although it might seen
that he had come from a long ways off
to attend this meeting, the people of his
state We're interested IN the improve
ment of the waterways of the country
and any movement along this line they
felt an interest in. He mentioned sew
eral important meetings he had at
tended during the past six months
where the object vas to get appropria-
tions made for improving certain water
routes. The people, he declared. were
getting aroused to the Importance of
the matter and they hoped to arouse
such a sentiment that congress will
make a considerable increase in the ap-
preparation for rivers and harbOs.
The speaker cited the great lakes as
an example Of what water Transporter
ton will do. as compared to the rail-
roads. The increase in transportation
On the great lakes he said had been
something enormous there he gave
data showing what the increase had
hqan from firpa f0 tironA No wha-, -,
earth, Mr.. Fox said, was transportation
as cheap as ON the great lakes where ON
heavy freight such as iron and coal,
the rate is only $500 of a mill per
mile. On the Mississippi river it is one
mill to the ton while on the average
railroad it is seven mills. Show me
Il railroad that parallels a waterway,
the speaker said, and l will show you
a railroad that does an enormous bus
mess and pays large dividends. He
said the railroads We're glad to have
the waterways improved for it provided
a means Of bringing in the raw mate-
rial SO that the various industries
could be established and the railroad
would reap the benefit. He spoke of
the projects in other sections Of the
country all Of which he declared We
meritorious and said the inland water
way was equally m~eritorious.
In 4 recent speech delivered before
an organization in the west where the
object was similar to the meeting yes
terday, Mr.. Fox stated that he heard
President James j.. Hill. of the North
ern Pacific railroad and one OF trc
leading railroad and steamship men in
America, make the statement that ii
would take S., 200, 900, 900 to put the
railroads in this country in the proper
shape to take are of all the business
Of the country. Even with suck a
colossal sum in hand the object could
not be accomplished in years to ou
he said, for as it is all the car works
and railroad shops all owe the country
have more work than they can do. Dir.
Hill expressed himself as heartily in
favor of water routes which would be
a means OF relieving the railroads. He
made the statement. SO Mr.. Fox said,
that during the past ten years the ca
pacitv Of the railroads has been in