The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-07
$50,000,000 A YEAR FOR
THE NATIONS WATERWAYS

Washington. ID. c., Dec. THAT the
commercial. agricultural manufacturing
and the consuming aud producing ele-
monts OF all sections OF the United States
have at last been aroused TO the necessity
Of demanding that "A larger proportion OF
the revenues OF the general government
be devoted to the improvement OF rivers
and harbors was evidenced by the large
and representative attendance yesterday
at the opening OF the third annual session
OF the National Rivers and Harbors con-
gress.
The appropriation by congress of al
least 100000 annually for the improve
ment OF the rivers and harbors OF the
country was the keynote OF the speeches
yesterday.
Speaker Cannon. I'm an address. warned
| the delegates not TO expect too much
! from congress. for" he said. too much
cannot be done at one time. Do the
most Important thing first, and concen-
trate upon II, and then take up tho next
most important thing"
Mr.. Burton said that the convention
should not ask for appropriations from
congress for any particular community.
put Tor the greater projects of the coun-
try lie thought less should be spent
on the navy and more for Improvement
OF tho rivers and hsrbors OF the coun-
try, mayor fitzgerald OF Boston was
among the speakers yesterday afternoon
1t its report. the committee on reor-
ganiZation recommended:
IL snail be the duty OF the board of
directors TO prosecute the work OF secur-
ing regular and increased annual ap-
preparations for internal waterway i'm
proVements OF the country withou, 70
gard TO particular localities or projects
ana TO aid in the molding OF public SEN
uinent IN favor OF such movement
lhe board is further charged with the
uuty or increasing membership I'm tho
congress OF trade, commercial and water
way associations, corpora ations. firms and
iu ''uI'iuuais aud to formulate and call
meetings OF the congress at such times
as may be deemed necessary"
numerically the gathering IS tho largos,
ever heid IN this country I'm the interest
VI waterway and harbor improvements
lts personnel also is such as To give great
Helsht 10 It's expressed opinions Hum
uiouS ol business men arc present as the
representatives Of commercial bodies
IlNtI Improvement associations. maritine
cAchanges. chambers of commerce ana
olher organized bodies I'm many narfs 90
tue country The Pacific coast has ale
piaSed an equal interest with the Missis-
Sippl valley commonwealths and tho
states bordering the gulf and th. Atlantic
pS sending large-sized delegations 10 the
conference W 'i'
me proceedings on behalf Of the ado
qlate improvement of the rivers and har-
poTs OF the United States will bc sustain-
III tu anu made all the more influential by
suo amounted universally of public opin-
ION IN the United States. among all class
cS ana conditions OF trade and commcrce
Ihdt Tor TOO long have the natural hign-
n,aSco maSS anu h gateways OF trade and COM
In other words, that with an annual OK
penulture OF s2SO,Dooo0 for war and it's
rev ae~arqsIor or $500 for every man, woman
ana enid IN the Country-as Congress
man Ransdell 50 forcefully put il before
the Mississippi congress i'm session
az Kansas City surely we can afford TO
40 better than % cents per capita for our
splendid commerce, which makes us the
greatest commercial nation IN the world
ana pours into our laps a trade balance
I'M IN our taVor OF So0,oo00oo annually" Con-
unuing his remarks, Congressman Rams |
dell said-and the picture Is perfect as TO
the conditions OF which he spoke:
inc cost OF moving freight over our
wretched earth roads is fully y cents per
ton per mile, as compared with rs mills |
per ton per mile by rail, and less than | !
mlll by water. In France aud Germany |
the waterways arc so marvellously devc- |
oped that freight can be moved hy water |
without breaking bulk from practically |
every part Of France and Germany to |
every other part. at rates less than one |
s,Hvh S as hlgh as those by rail Let us
IL ls TO enforce the emulation OF the |
wise example OF France and Germany !
OF all European countries in fact-that the |
national rivers and harbors congress was !
organized.
The organization and the sessions Of the |
national rivers and harbors congress |
mark the beginning Of the end OF neglect |
OF the natural gateways and highways OF |
trade and commerce and the beginning of |
policy on the part of the congress OF tho |
United states which will secure 10 the |
trade aud commerce OF tho whole couu- |
Try not only continuous navigation on the /
inland waterways. hut Improvement OF |
the harborS OF the sea coast and the great |
lakes to degree commensurate with the |
enormous import aud export traffic and |
the enormous and constantly increasing |
traffic on the great lakes from the head !
OF Lake superior 10 the foot OF Ontario.
To the words OF Congressman Ransdcll |
are TO be added the prophetic uttcranccs |
OF secretary Root 80 recently returned !
from South America, and so urgent i'm !
his advice to the American merchant and |
manufacturer TO strip for the race for
trade and commercial supremacy I'm South |
America, whore Germany is now at work |
with England and France and Italy with !
their agents In the field.
In his address before the commercial
clubs Of ST. Louis, Kansas City and Gin
Cinnati, Secretary Root not only pre-