The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-11-26
LESS Water In Stocks and More
In Rivers
BECAME PRESIDENTS SLOGAN
General Demand for improvement Of
Waterways to be Voiced At Convention
Shippers Want to Reduce National
Freight Bills

WIS hukEcAtou u INV u"y' Wv W
member Of Congress who 10 strong
admlrer Of Mr.. Roosevelt that he would
be known In history as the water pre-
sidcpt because Of his efforts 70 drive
water out OF stocks and TO promote
water In transportation Certainly
wha. the President hopes TO do toward
inaugurating definite policy for the
utilization OF tho country's national re-
sources. particularly the waterways and
foncsts. Is Likely to be very much In dis
cusslon In the next few months, for II
Ia well understood here that this topic
Ii to figure prominently In The forthcom'
Ing message.
The President has indeed long been
In favor Of broad national policy In
respect to the waterways Of the country
and within the past year he has become
an enthusiast on the possibilities held
out BY their development Several In.
iiuences have combined to turn his at,
tention particularly in this direction.
Az an advocate Of the regulation Of rail-
way rates, II has been brought to his
notice that water competition Is most
effective because an automatic rate reg
ulator Much OF hia time and thought
has been given to the Panama Canal
project and hc has discerncd that the
value of the canal to the United States
will be greatly enhanced by the im-
provement OF seaboari harbors and In.
,ernal river highways TO accommodate
deeper draft vessels. Again, among
those who arc familiar with the presd-
dents ideas Il IL said that In view OF
the criticisms OF the work OF his ad.
ministration on the ground that Il has
been chiefly destructive, he 10 anxious
to Identify himself with an important
constructive policy before the expira'
tloa OF his term OF Office.
In selecting the policy Of utilizing
the nations water accessories and pre-
serving the water supply by means Of
forests, the President shows his usual
keen appreciation Of the demands OF
public sentiment. After period OF
comparative neglect lasting for half a
century, popular interest In the subject
81 water transportation has been strong
ly revived. During the past twelve
months especially the congestion OF
freight on nearly all the railway lines
OF the country has aroused producers
and dealers who face growing diff.
Guilty in getting their goods to market.
Railway men themselves who formerly
fought all proposals for waterway i'm.
provement are now in many instances
It's strongest advocates Their present
position is illustrated by the statements
OF President James J, Hin who has
pointed out that II the waterways are
made effective to the point where they
will take care OF the bulkier and less
femunerative classes Of freight the
tension on the railroads will be re.
laved and they will be enable not
only to handle their business more ex-
pcditiously but to make more money
out OF 1t.
Several years ago these advocates Of
waterway improvement formed an or.
ganixation which they called the Ma.
tional Rivers and Harbors Congress-,
During the past two years, under the
energetic leadership Of Representative
Joseph y. Ransdell Of Louisiana, this
association has grown rapidly in mum.
bers and strength until II now includes
many OF the most prominent business
men and influential representatives OF
the various professions in nearly every
American community. Congressman
who has become the leader
In this movement. represents the Fifth
District OF Louisiana containing
hundreds Of miles Of waterways, 80 that
his attention has naturally been fixed
On their needs for many years. Furth. b
ermore, he Is one Of the most active ,
OF the Rivers and Harbors !,
Committee Of the House and has there. /,
lore spent large part Of his time since /
no entered Congress in dealing with
'ubjects of this kind. Outside Of his
,flicial duties he has travelled to every
'tate and territory Of the country In
5he past two years speaking in favor I
u the adoption Of a national policy Of d
waterway utilization. He Is q close I
riend of Mr.. Roosevelt and in some t
legee the Presidents interest in this Q
nbject has been stimulated no doubt Q
" the fact and figures collected byI !.
fr. Ransdell. !.
The annual convention Of the Ma. :
ional Rivers and Harbors Congress is O.
. be held at the New Willard Hotel in R
his city on December 4. $, and Q, prac- 8