Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-11-17
.BROADENS SCOPE
St. Louis Waterways Convention
Decides to Favor General
River improvement.
ESPECIALLY LAKES TO GULF
Rock Island Delegation Home-Aei.
tate Representation at Wash
ington Meeting.

ST Louis, Nov. 17.-Governor Deneen
was the principal speaker at the ban
| quet last night at the Hotel Jefferson
which closed the first convention of the
lLakes-to-the-Gulf Deep Waterways as
Isociation. He sketched the immense
commercial possibilities and the great
development of industrial and agricul
jural fields certain to follow the open
ing of the proposed waterway, which,
with the completion of the Panama ca
nal he said. would open the markets
of the world, through cheap transporta-
tion, to the vast territory tributary 10
the new route. He laid particular stress
on the great benefits that will accrue to
Chicago and Illinois. and promised the
HEARTY cooperation of the state and city
jim the undertaking.
| Completes Work.
| The convention yesterday completed
the work of permanent organization
and prepared itself for carrying out
the objects for which it was formed
which are stated to be: ITO promote
the building of deep waterways by urg-
| ing appropriations from the national
and state governments by showing the
necessity of these projects. To estab-
lish a permanent headquarters. To
urge upon all national, state and coll
gresSional conventions. irrespective OF
, party, the necessity of deep waterways
| To establish permanent bureau of
publicity
| Officers Are Elected.
The following officers were elected to
serve two years:
| President - w. J. Cavanaugh, st.
| Louis.
Vice Presidents - David r. Forgan.
| Chicago; NJ. J. Sanders, New Orleans;
| s. NJ Nicely, Memphis; J. L. Hebron,
Mississippi; Green Quarrels. Arkansas.
Secretary-W. f. Saunders. st. Louis.
Treasurer-George III. Monroe, Joliet,
I'm.
t-at-Arms-Thomas r. Hunt
er, Chacigo.
At the banquet last night covers
were laid for 1000, and the speakers,
besides Governor Deneen, included the
governors of four other states and the
congressman who have taken a prom
inent part in the organization of the
association.
Organization Perfected.
The report of the committee on per
manent organization, which was pre-
scented to the convention by its chair
man. H. B. Halves of st. Louis, was
unanimously adopted without debate.
Ii provides that the name of the asso-
citation shall be the Lakes to the Gulf
Deep Water Ways Association and
limits the membership to residents of
the lake and gulf states and all states
in the Mississippi Valley. Governors
are to appoint one delegate from each
congressional district. each river inn
provement and commercial association
is given one delegate, with one addi-
ton for each 100 memers. Mayors of
cities also will appoint delegates, the
number ranging from one for each city
between 1000 and $500 population up
to 80 delegates for cities of $50, 900 pop
ulation or more.
A governing committee is provided
for. TO consist of the officers and one
member from each congressional dis
trict. with an executive committee of
l / members. to be selected by the pres
ident of the board of governors.
The association is to hold biennial
meetings and elect officers every two
years.
No Limit on Canal Flow.
Resolutions were passed protesting
against any treaty made blythe United
States with Canada by which the
amount of water to be taken from Lake
Michigan for the use of the Chicago
drainage canal shall be limited, and
an address to the public was adopted
setting forth the objects of the organ
ization.
The address says that the principal
barrier between the lake and the Mis-
sissippi has been removed by the con-
struction of the Chicago drainage ca
nal and estimates the work remaining
to be done to complete the deep water
way to st. Louis will cost $31 ,000, 900.
Pending the Inauguration of the work.
it declares, the United States should
control the Illinois and Desplaines riv-
ers so as to prevent the erection of
dams or other Instructions to the wa
terways plan. In conclusion, the adj
derss says:
Believing present transportation ia
cilities of the United States to be in
adequate and wholly unsatisfactory. we
favor appropriations by congress in
sufficient amounts to create such addi-
tional transportation facilities as the
growing needs of the nation demand
and to the end that such appropriations
shall be secured this association rec
ommends to its representatives in con
gress diligent, assiduous and untiring
efforts to secure the necessary means
with which to develop a deep water
way"
Delegation Returns Home.
The Rock Island delegates to the
convention returned home this morn