The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1907-01-08
NO TOMBIGBEE
IMPROVEMENTS
The Government Engineers Turn
Down Recommendations

Washington dated January 3rd.
will be read with disappointment
and great regret by the people
of Columbus, and along the river
to Demopolis:
The report of the United States
engineers on the Tom bigbee riv-
er from Demopolis, Ala, to Co
lumbus, Miss, has just been
made public, and it is great
disappoin ment to the advocates
and friends of the proposed i'm
provement. The last congress
ordered a survey of this stretch
of the river and the first report
of the engineer who made the
survey was unfavorable. Con-
gressman Gambler, whose district
is deeply interested in the project,
learning that the report in ques-
ton would be adverse, went to
work getting up data showing tile
industrial developments Of the
Tomoigbee valley.
The Progressive League of CO.
lumbus, MISS, prepared an elab-
crate statement giving present
and prospective tonnage, money
and other valuable statistics.
Last September Mr.. Gambler and
Mr.. Humphreys, the later being
member of the committee on
rivers and harbors, appeared be-
fore the rivers and harbors board
of engineers ami by their presen-
tations and arguments made
such a favorable impression that
the board refused to concur in
the report of the local engineer.
A new investigation was orr
dered by the board of engineers
and the facts and Fl ures fur
nished by the Progressive
League were sent to the local en-
gineer for his further informa-
tion and guidance. Alter care
full examination, the loca!
engineer submitted another un-
favorable report, in which he
took sharp issue with the Pro-
gressive League regarding It's
statistics as to the commerce of
the Tombigbee valley.
Satisfied that The subject need
not be pursued beyond this point
the board OF engineers indorsed
the report OF The local engineer
and he chief of engineers, Gen.
Nacltonzie, and the secretary of
war have concurred in theindorse-
ment. This means that the pro-
ject, SO far as the present con-
gress is concerned, is laid upon
the shelf.
The defeat of the scheme 20
deepen the channel of the Tom
bigbee between Demopois, Ala,
and Columbus, Miss, is keenly
regretted by Congressman Cand-
Ter, who worked Two terms 10 get
the survey. and through whose
active efforts it was finally order
ed in the last rivers and haroors
bill. Undoubtedly nal the fig
ures furnished by the Progress
sive League Of Columbus been
sustained i'll the last examination
of the engineers the project
would have been recommended.
1t was charged by the local
engineers that inaccurate and
misleading figures and staSe-
ments were made by the Progress
sive League, one in particular
being with reference to the
steamer Tally, which was report
ed to have carried 5000 tons
in 1905. Maj. H. Jervey Of the
corps of engineers submitted with
his report a letter from Mr.. Ken
nerly, an employee of his office.
showing that the steamer Tally
at that time was wreck.
1t was what the engineers
characterized as sinaccuracies'
of this kind that prejudiced the
board of engineers, Chief Mac
kenzie and the secretary OF war
against the Tombigbee improve
ments.
What Mr.. Gambler may be able
to do next congress is problem
atical, but he is sure to keep up
the fight.
Negro Fails To Take
Place In postoffice.