New-York tribune., 1906-12-08
BETTER WATERW AVS.
President Promises hid to RiUers
and HarbOrs Congress.
IFrom The Tribune Bureau

Washington, Dec. 7.-President Roosevelt this
afternoon promised 10 aid the delegates to the
National Rivers and Harbors Congress in secur-
ing an extension OF the waterway transporta-
ton facilities. Just how the administration will
lend Its assistance will not be determined until
after the President has taken up the matter with
the leaders of Congress. but in a speech to the
delegates at the White House this afternoon he
expressed his hearty approval of the objects OF
the convention. and spoke on the urgent need Of
an extension Of present systems Of water COM
municatiOn in order to keep transportation rates
on land within proper bounds
After the President delivered his speech, ex-
Governor David r. Francis of Missouri. who was
at the head of the recent st. Louis Exposition
enterprise. presented him with a medal. The
token is a duplicate of one that Mr. Francis de-
Hvered to various Old World rulers for the in
terest they showed in the fair.
President Roosevelts address to the delegates
was as follows:
Gentlemen: It is a very real pleasure to greet
distinguished a body of men who have come
10 this great city, the capital of the nation, in
connection with d measure of the utmost con-
sequence to the nation whole. / have come
to feel a growing sense of the Importance of
establishing far reaching and coherent plan
for the general Improvement of the waterways
of the country. l was first led to consideration
of that plan by considering another plan for
the of water not in connection with water
at the head OF the river to produce the harvests
that later in part should be carried on the
rivers lower dOWn-that is in connection with
the irrigation policy in which / so strongly be-
lieve vital to the welfare of the Rocky Noun
tain and adjacent states.
Just l feel that the national government
should concern itself with utilization of the
water of rivers in their sources where the coUn-
try is drv so l feel the national government
should concern itself with the proper control
and utilization of the water lower down in the
river, where they fitted TO be the great arte-
ries of communication. l have had it brought
strikingIy To my attention only recently how
much suffer at present because of the made
quate transportation facilities of the railways
for moving the great crops of this country. We
need and must have further facilities for trans
of the most effective methods of affecting rail-
way rates is TO provide for proper method OF
water transportation.
1t would not be possible for TO enter into
any discussion of the details of your plan until
I have spoken with of the leaders of the
two houses of Congress. l shall consult with
them at once, and trust that something definite
and effective can be done along the lines that
you mention. You understand. gentlemen. l
could not offhand commit myself TO the details
of any policy without taking into consideration
what the feeling of the coordinate branch
would be, and 1 must be guided largely by their
views. l am sure that you Will find there the
genuine. patriotic purpose to do what is best
for the interest of common country
The unanimous adoption of the resolution urg-
ing Congress to appropriate annually not less
than $4,000 600 for the improvement of rivers.
harbors and waterways. beginning with the
present session, and the appointment or a COM
mittee of eighteen delegates. headed by Mr..
Francis, to present the sentiments OF the con-
vention 10 the President and TO Congress. con-
cluded the business proceedings OF the body to- |
day