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

Countries-TWelve Dele
gates Appointed to the National
Rivers and Harbors Congress Which
Convcncs in Washington on De-
.cember 6th-Proposed Waterway it
is Estimated Would Cost $500, 600.
A mOs important meeting was held
in this city YESTERDAY of the Inland
Waterway Association and delegates
were in attendance from five states.
This movement means more to the
south Atlantic states than many realize
and in fact it will mean a great deal
to the states far inland. There is an
other feature which makes it a matter
of national Importance, for if an ap-
preparation is made for this purpose
it will to an extent create a movement
thing that the country as a whole
knows but little of at the present time.
This fact can be realized when it is
known that the average amount ex-
pended annually on rivers and harbOrs
for the past ten years will not exceed
$19, SOC, 600. For the army and nav the
annual appropriation is more than $780,
GOO. 900 each and for pensions 1874, 000,-
900. The people of the country as a
whole knew but little of the advantages
10 be derived from WAFER transpoTta-
ton, and it will only be by a few prac-
teal demonstrations that they will be
made to see it's Importance. Gathered
here yesterday were men from the
state of Arkansas and all around the
coast to Maryland and all expressed
themselves as being heartily in favor
of the waterway. And these men were
not individuals who happened to be
here, but were representatives of the
commercial bodies in the cities from
whence they came. Such d spirit of
unity and in a body composed of men
from so manE states SHOWS the inland
waterway project n that has passed
the stage of being q ;Ocal affair and
is a movement Of f~ar-reaching impor-
lance. Congress is ever ready to re-
spond to the public pulse and such a
meeting cannot help but have consid-
cradle influence for it shows a growing
interest in water transportation.
CALLED TO ORDER AT II O'CLOCK.
The first meeting of the Inland
Waterway Association was held in the
city of Columbia in december, 1904,
and this is the first meeting since that
time. President James H. Chadbourn
called the meeting to order and in do
ing so stated the object of the meeting.
The roll call of states then followed,
after which the reading Of the minutes
of the previous meeting were read by
Secretary z. B. Clark, of Columbia,
and approved.
An address Of welcome was made
by Mayor Alfred NJ. Waddell, who in
the course Of his remarks referred 20
the fact that when he was a member
Of cOngess some thirty years ago he en-
deavored to o interest IN the
waterway proposition but owing to in
difference on the one hand and OPP
position On the ohter U2s never able
to do anything. He spok2 # Congress-
man Small in the most C~-Ip ~iInenjary
terms and referred to h e0"rgy and
persistent work.
CaptainJames D. Men !, PRESIDENT
OF the Fayetteville CHARLIE Of COM
merce, responded to The address OF
welcome and his remark were most
appropriate. He, too, paid a glowing
tribute to the able congressman VIII
has worked so faithfully during the
past few years TO make the inland
waterway a reality.
ADDRESS OF CONGRESSMAN
SMALL.
One of the most interesting an in
structive talks ever made in the city
of Wilmington on the subject of water
transportation, was the address made.
by Congressman John II. Small. who
is known as the father Of the move
ment for an inland waterway from
Norfolk to Beaufort.
He said:
Cheap transportation is a necessary
factor in the industrial and commercial
is the 'tepest metf =. OF movement.
Therefore, it behooves n country
which would develop it's and
extend its trade, to develop it's water
ways both natural and artificial. lbs
proposition is now universally recog-
nized, but many countries have at
times failed TO give it practical effect.
In the early history of u own coun-
try, in the stat.as of the cast, which
at that time contained the bulk 1T he
population, our fathers reooS2izei the
Importance Of opening up interior
waterways and many of the states
~'n8~o5 +Heir credit for the construc-
ton of canals. *H
As rapid as has been the ex-