Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-28
MONEY FOR WATERWAY
Annual Appropriation of $780,
100000 Wanted.
TO AID HOME COMMERCE
Coming Meeting of Rivers and Har-
bors Congress.
WILL CONVENE DECEMBER 6
Secretary Ellison Of the Executive
Committee Tells of Widespread
Interest in the Matter.
WILL CONVENE DECEMBER 6

Hera.ding the coming convention of the
national rivers and harbors congress in
this city December o and Z, j. f. Ellison,
secretary of the executive committee of the
congress, arrived this morning from Gin
cinnati. Mr.. Ellison is at the Arlington and
Is 5ubflant over the outlook for the great
est convention of its kind ever held in this
country. The convention will be he'd in the
assembly hall at the Arlington, and it is
expected that nearly 1900 delegates will
be present representing states, cities, COM
mercial and agricultural organizations
throughout the entire United States.
While the program of the convention has
not yet been absolutely fixed the meeting
will be opened by President Harvey D.
Goulder Thursday afternoon of next week.
when his annual address will be made
The convention then will be turned over to
representative Joseph E. Ransdell of
tive committee. Mr.. Ransdell will submit
the annual report of his committee and his
address will be followed by speeches of
delegates from different sections of the
country. An evening meeting will be held
Thursday, when prominent members of
both houses of Congress will speak. Fri
day will be given over to the election of
officers and other business, and the rest
OF the time will be devoted to a discussion
Of the general subject.
Improvement Of Waterways.
'oThe question Of waterways improve
ment has attained the dignity of a ma
tional ISSUE" Mr.. Ellison said today. LAS
mas been shown by government figures
and pointed out by such men as James j.
Hill, the volume of commerce in this coun-
try has far outstripped the upbulding of
our means of transportation. This condi-
ton of affairs has resulted in congestion
or traffic, car famines and altogether I'M
satisfactory business conditions while. in
addition, 1t has red to such transportation
abuses in favor of large Slippers that the
railroad rate law of the last session of
Congress was forced upon the country.
For nearly fifty years the federal gov
eminent has lent its powerful aid to the
upbuilding of the railroad lines of the coun-
try. through direct subsidies and by means
of grants of valuable land. The national
rivers and harbors congress is asking the
government now, in the interest, not only
of better transportation conditions, but also
to provide a more healthful economic con-
dition for an annual appropriation of $780,,
COOOO0 for the Improvement of waterways.
This sum will provide a rival means of
transportation that will check freight rate
abuses and lend powerful impetus to all
forms of commerce"
Widespread Interest Shown.
Mr.. Ellison pointed to the fact that
mayors Of such cities as Indianapolis
which has no direct water communication,
would be present, as an example of how
widespread is the sentiment in favor Of
waterways improvements
During the last few months Representa-
tive Ransdell has travelled extensively
from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts, and
has addressed numerous meetings and con-
ventions. In every instance he found this
question was receiving the closest study,
and as a result many national conventions
adopted resolutions urging the appropria-
ton by Congress Of funds sufficient to I'M
dertake a general scheme of development
work. Notable among these conventions
were the transmssissippi commercial con-
gress and the National Farmers Grange.