The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1907-10-11
GOV. BROWARD
ON WATERWAYS
Promises support Of Florida 70 the
Great Project.


After selecting Chicago as the meet
ing place next year and calling upon
congress to authorize work for a four
teen foot channel from the Gulf TO the
Great Lakes, the Convention of the
Lakes to the Gulf Waterways Asso-
citation adjourned today to meet in Chi
caRo next year. The meeting was the
most important in the interest Of wa
terways improvement ever held in the
South. President Kavanaugh was au-
thorized to appoint a committee 10 pre-
sent the resolutions toe congress at the
next session. A banquet was given to-
night in honor of visiting delegates and
distinguished visitors to the conven-
ton.
GOvEKNoR BRowARD's ADDRESS.
Governor Broward, OF Florida, one Of
the principal speakers Of the day. began
his address by saying that Florida was
in full sympathy with the objects
sought to be obtained by the coaven-
ton, and stood ready to join with her
strength TO follow up the movement for
deep waterway from the lakes tosthe
gulf until It was finally crowned with
complete success.
1.-The volume of this nations con.
merce Is at present" he said, ''se-
riously restricted because adequate
means are not available for moving the
nations commerce, While this condi-
ton lasts, commerce Is neither healthy
nor is II able 70 add normal growth.
The growth of the nations wealth b
retarded and limited, for wealth viii
not be created when It must be wasted
hapaNtun If tno IN trsne =.
places where it is In demand and has
value.
PRESENT SITUATION GRAVE.
1.-THE situation is unfortunate and
grave enough today. What Of the ~.
ture The development of this coun-
try has hardly commenced. Merchants,
manufacturers, grain farmers, cotton
planters, lumbermen and others IN buai-
ness find It impossible to deliver goods
promptly because the roads cannot
move their traffic with dispatch.
''Shall American development be
halted because of our inability 10 pro-
vide the facilities for the trade that
awaits the activities Of our people To
help meet this problem, II is incumbent
upon the national government to begin
q policy of the fullest utilization Of the
*
nature has so abundantly provided US.
With an expenditure in the next ten
years upon rivers and harbors of $780,
00O, 900, as against the 50, 600, 900, 600 or
more which the railroads must under.
take to provide for their work we can
so improve river navigation as to make
it possible TO lessen the burden upon
the country due TO inadequate transpor-
tation facilities.
"The time has come in the history Of
American development when every pos
sible means which can be provided for
the handling of traffic must be utilized,
and utilized promptly. The condition
which we face today Is one of supreme
II is one upon which the
progress and prosperity of
county depends.
1.-The nation has sanctioned the spend
ing OF hundreds of millions TO construct
an isthmian canal. In this IL has done
wisely. When the Atlantic and the
Pacific have been united by the Panama
canal the worlds commerce will be
reYolutionized in our favor. But this
canal, the most stupenduous work OF
this era, is not as important 70 our
country as the deepening of our rivers
and harbors. The proper levees Of the
Mississippi river would reclaim over
flowed lands which would be made 20
yield over $500, 600, 600 Of farm produtcs
a year, while millions more would be
saved from destruction.
BRANCHES ONTO RAILROADS
1--WE have heard much of vested
rights, of due process of law, of
confiscatory legislation, and of dis
OF investors What we
need TO hear and 70 see more Of is pro
lection 10 the public, honest and ade-
1uate public utility service, and fair
dealing, coming from those who are
with the use and enjoynient
Of those franchises which belong in
10 the people themselves. it
b all right to invite and encourage pri-
vate capital TO find investment in the
development Of common carrier trans
portatiOn systems. But we should bear
IN mind that the first and most import
ant lntrest In such public service agen-
eiee II the interest and rights Of the
people themselves, under the proteetion
" whose franchises public utility corr
poFations exist and are permitted 20 Do
business.
II am as anxions 70 see railrad8
built, well maintained and well OpSfat-
Cd &c any man; but have seen, &c you
have seen, and all the world has seen,
that it q peruleious % the public we'll
fare and 60 the bnsinaBa interests and
rights of the people to permit these