Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-11-21
But One That Will Repay
a Thousand Fold.
Inland Waterway Convention
Completes Organization.



Deeper Waterways Association, the
object of which will be to bring about
p system of waterways to permit the
freer movement Of inland waters be-
between the various Atlantic seaboard
states from Maine to the Gulf Of Mexi-
co. This is the outcome Of the two
days conference held in this city by
delegates appointed by the governor
or trade bodies in the states interested
in the Atlantic inland waterway
project.
The association adopted resolutions
declaring that all canals should be free.
and a asking Congress to take up the
great project because it is demanded
by the commercial interests of 30.O00,-
900 people on the Atlantic seaboard.
CONGRESSMAN j. Hampton Moore Of
PENNSYLVANIA was chosen president and
q vice president and a delegate at large
was elected from each state. The next
convention will be held in Baltimore.
Many addresses in FAVOR Of the
movement and pledginG support were
made during the two sessions today.
The convention came to an end to-
night with a banquet which was at
tended by nearly all of 522 delegates to
the conference.
Philadelphia, Nov. 20.-After two
days discussion of the project for an
inland waterway along the Atlantic
coast from New England to the Caro-
linas, the Atlantic Deep Waterways
Conference this afternoon formed a
permanent organization and begun an
aggressive campaign to accomplish the
great undertaking. At the same time
resolutions will be adopted asking the
assistance Of the national government
and the corporation of all states i'll
terested in inland waterways. The del
egates from the several Atlantic coast
states attending the conference are
highly gratifed at the interest taken
by the authorities and the commercial
The attendance at the conference has
greatly exceeded their expectations
and the unanimity of the delegates for
the proposed waterway is gratifying to
the various state delegations.
Yesterdays sessions having been de-
voted to a discussion of the water
routes from Philadelphia north to
Boston, tOday's sessions were largely
taken up with addresses on the water
ways that are proposed to form part OF
the great inland route from Philadel-
phia south to Beaufort. n. c. The
speakers at the morning session In
cluded General Felix Agnus. of Balti-
more. who spoke on the Chesapeake
bay and it's connection with the Della
ware; Hugh r. Garden of New York,
formerly Of South Carolina, who de-
scribed conditions in Hampton Roads
and the Chesapeake approaches to
Maryland. Virginia and North Caro-
lima: Congressman Small of North
Carolina who took for his subject:
Behind Hatteras-the Norfolk Beau
fort route" and Major C. A. f. Flag
Ter, y. S. A.. on THE Engineering Out
interchangeable and Delaware and
Norfolk Beaufort Routes"
General Agnus. who heads the dele
CATION appointed by Governor War =
field Of Maryland. said that in his
opinion. the present difference is one
Of the most important things in the
history of American trade and trans
portation. He referred to the Chcsa-
peake and Delaware canal link in the
great waterway scheme and said
Il feel that we are at the climax of
the efforts and public spirit of many
years: that we are no longer dealing
in theories and paper plans, but are
considering plain business propositions
and assured advantages and profits
This scheme of safe navigation for our
domestic commerce means more for
our country and more for our wealth
and happiness than Panama.
There are three vital facts i'm the
work we propose to begin here this
week:
First. transportation by water is
far cheaper than transportation by
land.
Second, the conditions of traffic be-
tween the North and South have been
acute and unsatisfactory for several
years. The lines of railroad we now
possess are not equal to the demands
and II is not likely that they will be in
creased for years to come, nor is IL
probable that their present rates will
over be lower. Here we have the
absolute necessity for relief made so
manifest that not even a railroad man
can dispute it.
Third. the growth of the country is
not only proceeding at an astonishing
rate in the numbers of the population,
but is expanding almost incredibly in
the ration Of trade movement to the
population itself.
Undoubtedly much of our recent
financial trouble was due to the fact
that transportation had not been able
to give that quick exchange of ma
teriais and products which would en-
aoie US to make the freest use of the
money. In other words. slow transpor.
tation means the tying UP Ut our Guy.
rency. which under the most favorable
circumstances is hardly adequate t.
the needs of the country.
Here on the Eastern seaboar,
where the biggest work of the wor!,
Is being done and where the necessit,
for quick transportation is largest W,
face a situation that calls for promp
relief, and the only possible way out O
the difficulties is to provide these wa
ter facilities.
1T seems to me a most extraorIinar
thing that We should divert millions ,
the national wealth in irrigation Ma
when here along our Eastern seaboar
we have all the facts of a high civiliza
ton demanding recognition and en-
cOUra Gcu,opt ~