Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-08-14
Special Director of Rivers and
and HarborS Congress to
Make Address Tonight
AT ROCK ISLAND CLUB
Tells of Origin and Purposes of Organi-
cation he epresents-Making
Tour of the Country.

III tuc lIl-ClIlSS dIOuS1HS lHlSltSl anu
occurring the cooperation of the bust
uess men i'll favor of improved water
ways. Mr. Fox has just come from the
atlantic seaboard and the middle and
eastern sections, where he has visited
very city interested in waterway de-
yeiopment or harbor improvement.
He will speak at a gathering of the
business men of the city at the Rock
island Club at O'Clock this evening.
The subject is one which should appeal
strongly to both merchants and manu-
iacturers, and it is expected that quite
I large gathering will assemble to hear
what MIR. Fox will have to say regard
ing the economy of water tranSpOrta-
ton and how Rock Island can assist
IN promoting the movement now under
way for improved rivers.
For River Improvement.
Speaking of his organization and the
mission for which it was organizer
Mr. Fox said: The national rivers and
harbors congress is a civic organization
composed of the various river improve
ment associations throughout the cOun-
try and of the commercial orSanizl-
tons and industrial leagues i'll more
than 500 cities. 1t was formed two
years ago at the suggestion of Mr.. Bur
ton and other prominent members of
congress on the rivers and harbOrs COM
mittCe to establish more liberal pol
icy throughout the country in favor OF
river and harbor appropriations. The
reason for its formation was that the
general public is not aware of the eco
nomic value of well improved water
ways, and consequently during the last
century the national government has
not made adequate provision for sys-
tematically carrying on the work of i'm
provement on the great inland rivers
and for deepening the harbors on the
seabOard.
Appropriations Inadequate.
Appropriations have only been made
when the eXigcnCieS in each case made
them imperative, but no plan has been
carried on in a comprehensive manner.
Delegations would meet in congress to
set forth the demands of the upper Mis-
sissippi, or of the Ohio, or the Arkan-
sas, or the Cumberland, or the Mis-
souri,, and each delegation would sup
pose that the merits of its case would
| be sufficiently strong to cause congress
| to make appropriations for the needed
improvement. overlooking the merits OF
other projects. Consequently there was
| a continuous scramble TO secure some
part of the amount allotted for rivers
and harbors throughout the whole
country. This amount was never ap
propriated so as to commensurate tC
the needs. but usually amounted tC
such sums as could be afforded from
the other departments, and it has beer
the custom of congress to make suCf
appropriations once about every three
lyears. These amounts were so small
compared with the needs of the vari
GUS projects and were made in sucl
sporadic and irregular manner that fire
quentIy, before the results could be en-
joyed, its effect had been lost by delay
Influence Congress.
Realizing, therefore, that public sen
timent should first be aroused, and con
gress should first be backed up by tn
general public so that they would Civ
Ito the rivers and harbors COMMITTEE
larger amounts with which to satisf
the demands of the various delegation
to thn W.
ment of the waterways throughout tn
Icountry we have formed this organize
ton and are bringing every pressur
to bear and using every effort to hav
the business men throughout the couI
try understand the great value of tn
waterways and ask congress to estal
lish a new policy.
Cost Comes Back.
ct is estimated that about 100000
5 600 will be required to adequately an
efficiently canalize our rivers and dec
Be- en- our harbors, and if the general go
. eminent will set aside S50,000,000 eac
4 year during the next 10 years, for TIL
purpose, a comprehensive plan may b
undertaken and speedily carried GU
This sum, though seemingly larg
would amount to hardly per cent
the total expenditure of the nation, al
when you consider that out income
more than $1,000, 100000 annually, an
that more than $295, 100000 of this
derived from custom duties, made pc
sible by improved harbors, and tn
we are now spending on an average
$S0,000,000 year for the army, sos 90
600 year for the navy, and $4,000
GOO year for pensions, it thus seen
that we should be able to afford So
100000 year for worthy internal il
provement. Moreover, money thus c
pended will be paid back to the peop
in reduction of transportation tax
within three years after it is done. o
transportation tax last year was near
81, 00,000,000. and if water transport
ton were made sufficiently effective
save only one-tenth of this, it won
,amount to nearly $1,500,000 a year.
Work Along Upper River.
q am visiting all the cities along t