The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-02
WATERWAYS OF ALABAMA
 DISCUSSED BY MIR. VANDIVER

Alabama in appropriations for rivers and harbors in the past: we would bt ungrateful to say less. We have been receiving at the hands of Congress consideration, due largely to the mag in both the House of Representative and in the Senate. However. we far, In som instances. these amounts have been, and will continue to be of little avail. unless a continued and more lib- eral policy is pursued in the future Hitherto the appropriations have bee' insufficient to maintain the availability Large amounts of money have been expended in the upper portions Of the state, where improvements to some cl the lower streams have been deferred
 A great deal of work has been done in this State. in an endeavor to secure larger appropriations for our. rivers and harbors. and careful analysis or ments having this work in charge de- velops the fact that something more than S150.000 more was expended by the government during the last. fiscal that time. We account for this in crease because of the vigilant work done by Alabama in that direction.
 Along with that representative com mittee. which went from Mobile, for the. purpose of Inducing Congress to make an appropriation for deepening the water on the outer bar, there went a Committee from the principal points along the Alabama river. That Com mittee was persistent. and in the face of recommendations to Congress by the Engineering Department of only $25,- 900 for the Alabama river. they finally secured, by the good offices of the Com mittee on Rivers and Harbors of the House of Representatives. and the and especially the Hon. Edmund w. pettrs and Hon. Jno. H: Bankhead, an appropriation of s100.o0o. We mention this simply to show what results con centrated effort may accomplish. The s100,000 referred to is being expended. but will hardly more than equip a working plant for continuing opera tions
 There is a bill now pending, appro- priating one-half million dollars for work on the Alabama river. This project needs the help and influence or every portion of the State. Any pro- for the improvement of the ports and waterways of Alabama. which has in view the benefit of the whole or any part of the State. should have the help or every tSat citizen tha onv we by that section immediately adjacent to tho port or stream under consider ation. It has a tendency to develop and adisasn SsRs Ws 1e should a work in accord in the building up of our magnificeut State. No State nor community can exist without it's citi- zens trusting one another; without their working unitedlv for its welfare. each one carrying his share of the bur der. and each one doing his ousy,
 Great stress Is being brought to bear on Congress for an enlarged navy. It is important, no doubt, to establish great navy. but 1t is equally important that the development of our rivers and an effort to too rapidly appropriate money for the devslopment of the navy beyond its present state of efficiency. On the other hand. we owe to ourselves waterways. This. in conjunction with the development of the navy is abso- lutely necessary. in order to make the navy what this Ersut government in tends 1t to be; a protection to porSJ and large navigabie streams.
 Results to be accomplish ed by inter- nal improvements are more important and valuable ar this time than the inn navy. Reduction n cost # transpor- tation of merchandise by coastwise steamers and up through our rivers and lakes with a view of reducing the will 20 much fuFther in regulating freight rates and lbolishIng discrimi nations ,han regulation by Congress or the enactment of laws by the States or through their respective Railroad Commissions vital and in,pcrtent as they are.
 As we see 1t. the most patcnt of our objects is the welfare If our common wealth, which IS sooner or later to be among the first of all tAe Union in commercial influence and material wealth, and wnica IS nov second to nore in patriotic pride and loyal citi- zenshiD.
 Your Committes ,ommends to this Association tho earnest consideration of this matter as the most impoi tant development that can possibly be se- cured for Alabama: the improvement of It's port and waterways. and urges con- centrate1 action with a view of advo- which will bena1t the State in so many different ways. and his can only be done by becoming thoroughly 'amilia: ourselves. and posting 'ur representa- lives In Congress upon svsry phase of the question and soliciting their CO., operation.
 What we want Is a large annual ap- propriation by Congress For our water generl interest in this movement. will aid in bringing ahN"' tho desired re- suits, and we trust the Alabama Com mercial and Industrial Association win take official action on this subject.
 Respectfully submit 9d
 w. F. Vandiver, Chairman Committee on Rivers and
 Harbors Alabama Commercial and
 Industrial Association.
 The Association adopted the follow ing resolutions:
 Whereas. This Association. in annual convention assembled, having for its aim and purpose the general welfare of the State of Alaban1. and
 Whereas, In our opinion there is no more important. no~ CT ronomical m 'th cd of aiding the continued progress and prosperity of this State than by the improvement of our port and wa terways. and