Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-12-07
Annual Appropriation of This
Sum Demanded of Congress
By Rivers and HarbOrS Con-
vention Resolutions,
PLATFORM ENDORSED
BY THlRTY-SlX STATES
Successful Commerce AbSOIu-
teIy Dependent on Economi-
cal Transportation Furnished
By Waterways Alone,

Washington. Dee. 6-An annual APP
preparation of at least $4,000. 600 for
the improvement and development of
the internal waterways OF America is
The gist of the recommendations of
the rivers and harbor congress, which
concluded its sessions here today. No
particular project was advocated by
the conventions, the recommendations
of the committee on resolutions
which were adopted unanimously be-
ing hat a national policy for the inn
provement of internal waterways be
adopted by the congress Of the
United States.
j. Hampton Moore, of Philadel-
phia, chairman of the committee on
resolutions, presented the platform
Of the association as the unanimous
sentiment OF thirty-siX states and he
said that the committee requested the
approval of the report In the hope
that II would receive special consider
alton of the congress. The report Of
the committee follows:
After a years consideration of he
aims and purposes of the national
rivers and narbors congress as eX-
pressed in resolutions adopted by that
body in 1906 the American people
nave given them emphatic endorse
ment by sending to this convention.
asst lDltu ~ tic IdAlhiidA alAAaAf ~
cember 3 and 6, 1907, nearly 1000
delegates from thirty-seven states n
territories representing the IN
cial and manufacturing, producing
and consulting interests Of the coun-
try and these delegates are unani-
mously of the belief;
'First-That profitable and success
full is absolutely dependent
opon economical transportation OF
commodities, n that the Importance
u transportation will Increase with
the growth of population and the de-
Velopment of the nations resources,
Secondhand the railroads of the
United states are now unable to han
die the business offered them and
much loss results from the congested
condition Of traffic; that according TO
high railroad authority the business
has increased over 100 per cent IN the
past ten years. while the facilities Tor
handling it by rail have been in
creased only about 20 per cent n as
the railroads cannot be expected IN
the near future to increase their facil-
tiles sufficiently to relieve the situa-
tion. other means Of transportation
should be provided at once.
"Third-That transportation OF
heavy commodities by water on all
rivers and inland waterways is much
cheaper and usually quicker than by
rail; that no country I'm the world mas
been so blessed by nature with water
courses as our own, and that II prop
erly improved and connected by ca
nails they would furnish "A convenient
means of shipping enormous volumes
of freight, thereby relieving the con-
gestion on the railroads and FURNISH
ing cheap and safe transportation for
The benefit Of producer and consumer.
"Fourth-That the time has come
when the policy Of the federal govern
ment toward waterways over which II
rightly has supreme control, mould DC
more liberal persistent n eontlnu-
Gus than heretofore; that, as a re-
sult Of Intermittent action merton
ious works Of Importance begun many
wears ago are still far from compile
ton: that appropriations for rivers
Waterways and harbors have been
made at intervals of three years IN
stead of annually; that Tor the past
ten years they have averaged only
about S22. 900, 600 a year or less than
3 per cent of the average annual eN-
Dcnditures OF the government ana
ibat enough money should be appro-
priated each year for at least the next
year properly to improve the various
rivers, waterways n harhofS on
plans which rave been and shan ne
surveyed and approved by the govern
ment engineers and authorized by the
congress Of the United states.
therefore. be It resolved by tho
National Rivers and Harbors Com
gress:
..First-That we earnestly urge the
doptio by the federal government OF
a wide. liberal and comprehensive
waterways policy that Will provide Tor
The nroper improvements, within IN"
next ten years. Of the rivers water
WAYS and harbors Of our country. the
improvement Of which Is Justlned ny
Dresen; and prospective Dement'S 10
commerce.
'Second-That without presuming
to prescribe the engineering ana the
financial details Of this great under
taking this cOngres irons uis"
upon the congress OF me OhllSu
states the importance Of the immedi-
ate adoption of a comprehensive pan
of waterway Improvement OF Ihe
carving on Of the work by an ade-
ouate number Of engineers ana OF
such liberal appropriations annuallg
as will insure the early comptetion OF
elfch projects a. may be undeftakeht
..Third-That We cordially endorse
the action OF President Roosevelt m
amounting a special inland water
WAYS commission. being confident that
ifs renort will prove a source OF at-
curate and valuable Information 70
the American people. We iuFlhti
recommend that ongre enact such
laws as will make h inland water
WAYS commission permanent. ana VIII
provide u with necessary authority
for is Investigations n recominen-
dations.
.Fourth-That this ongre cor
daily thanks President Roosevelt Tor
The support ne has given 10 Us puI-
moss. bv his speeches and By his
treatment o. the subject IN his recent
message to congress
.FfGb-That We ask onrres 20
view the river waterways and harbor
appropriations not as the appropria-
ffon ~ mnnev for the current eN-
penditures OF the government but as
an investment IN permanent improve