The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-01-28
Rivers and HarbOrs b Receive
 Big Appropriation
HON. j. H. BANKHEAD TALKS
Gives Out Statement Reviewing Work for Alabama Waterways and Im- portanee of mprovement-Work
 of State Delegation.

of State Delegation.
 Washington. January 27.-tspec
 Representative Banlshead last night ma. the following statement with reference to the rivers and harbors bill:
 .rhe bill making appropriations for the improvement of rivers and harbors has been in course of preparation since tho first of December and will be reported to the house today. Tie preparation of | bill of this character necessarily involves Il great amount Of labor in an examina- ton of volumes of reports by the engl- neers who have in charge the making oe surveys and estimates and recommenda- tions as to the feasibility and value of any particular project. oftentimes lhe report Of these engineers is adverse To scheme which it's friends think de- nands the attention of the committee. Estimates by the chief of engineers and the board of review are often much lower than made by the local engineer in l charge. To overcome these adverse re- ports is q difficult matter The eon- i mlttee is always slow to disregard the recommendations of the engineers, as 1t is necessary that their reports be closely followed, otherwise many worthless and expensive projects would be undertaken. The present bill has been framed with | view to existing commerce and such fu- ture commerce and value as may be de- veloped by the improvement Large ap- propriations are often made with the lat ter object in view
 Alabama has shared literally in tho present bill and when it becomes a law, will have to her credit for the improve i mcnt of her rivers and the harbor at Mobile the magnificent sum of si.732, IDS, which includes uneXpended balances here- l tofore appropriated and now available. ] This amount Is about per cent of tn- tal of &0,00000o, approximately the amount carried In the bill When We consider that the proportion of the popliation of Alabama to the whole population is about per cent and that it's aggregate wealth is about three-fourths of one per cent of the total wealth of the country, we may have some idea of how well Alabama has fared in the pending bill,
 Long Sought Result.
 "The completion of the Warrior river | system Is practically provided for in tha bill-a result which Is friends have been seeking for number of years. This l system has been regarded by the commit- tee as very important, for two reasons, l first, the development of the extensive coal fields contiguous to it's banks, and. | seeond. to demonstrate the value and benefits to follow the canalization of riy- CTS. When this riVer is opened to tho l gulf, if it's value to commerce Is not l commensurate with the expense incurred it will be example of the useless ex- penditufe of money. However. it is re- garded by the committee that conditions on the Warrior are more fayodable than i on any other river in the United States. l The coal fields 10 be developed are nearer 1 the sea. Tidewater at Mobile Is ths nearest port of importance to the Pana. ma canal and if the improvement of this system does not largely contribute to i regulate and reduce freight rates from the Birmingham district 1t will be 8 great disappointment 10 it's friends
 "There will be $2,S120o0 for the compile. ton of this work from Mobile to a point about five miles above the upper end of Squaw shoals and while 1t is true thats an additional lock and dam will be red l quired near Locust and Mulberry Forks to back water into both streams, 1t Is l comparatively inexpensive and will ba provided for before the work below is completed Tine coal operators of thei l Birmingham district may begin tp make preparations for the shipment efl coal by water 10 the gulf. This can he done at a cost not exceeding 37I2 cents per ton.
 Not Local Work.
 l "The prosecution of this work has never 1 been regarded as a local one but as na- l tiona1 in Its character and effect and the result is being watched by the entira country. By the time the locks provided for in tho present bill Is completed have no doubt but that canal from the ] Warrior 10 Birmingham will be well uni der way The benefits that are to ac- erne To Alabama can not be estimated.
 'rhe importance to Alabama by tha completion of the Tennessee river in A1a- bama to Florence, which secures, includ-i ing sl00010 nnexpended, sflS000 can not be overlooked q
 "The canal at Colbert and Bee Tres. shoals Is provided for to completion which will secure a six=toot channel thei year round to Florence. The thrivngl towns of Florence. Sheffield and Tus- cumbia. at the head of this Improvement. including the entire Tennessee vaIlev.i l will realize at once the great benefits that will follow. II will bring them in l connection by water transportation with the Mississippi river and the great con<, merclal elites along It's banks and trlb-l utaries
 Mobile Harbor.
 "1he harbor at Mobile receives includ- ing unexpended balances s1ll922. of whicn 1 amount $50,00O, in the discretion of the l secretary of war. may be used in deep- ening the outer bar and s10,000 may be used In removing dead heads and other Instructions In the channel. This com- pletes the 23[oot channel at Mobile and enters upon the 27-foot channel project and it's completion Is only a question of | time and money. Mobile is the only port | in Alabama through which must go ths products of it's mines. farms and factories 10 the markets of the world. Therefore, l the entire state is deeply interested in l the speedy completion of it's harbor. i The Alabama river has for the pros- ecution of the work for four-foot chan l mel the year round from it's mouth to l Montgomery, including an unexpended 1 balance. the sum of $259,000 This pros 1 iect has been a most difficult one to present to the committee. The local en- gineer in charge recommended only slol.- 00O, which was approved by the chief of | engineers and the board of review. Ar | ter considerable discussion, considering 1 the importance of the river, the magni- tude and character of it's present and prospectfve commerce the committee de-