The new era. (Walden, Colo.) 1906-19??, 1907-12-12
WATERWAYS
CONVENTION
IMMENSE GATHERING FOR THE
PROMOTION OF WATER
TRANSPORTATION
RAILWAYS INADEQUATE
SECRETARY ROOT DEFINES POL.
ICY OF UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT.

Washington, Prominent officials of
the national government, governors of
states, representatives of foreign pow
ers, members of the senate and house
Of representatives and leaders in all
walks of civil life in America partici-
pated Wednesday in the opening of the
convention of the rivers and harbors
congress.
Nearly 1000 delegates representing
every state in the union ware present
Before the congress formally con-
vened, President Ransdell was present
ed with a silver mounted gavel by the
Upper Mississippi Improvement AS
sociation.
Mr.. Ransdell in opening the congress
referred to the work of the national add
ministration in promoting trade reia-
lions between Americans and foreign
countries, particularly those countries
lying to the south of the United States,
and referred in complimentary terms
to the achievements of Secretary Root
in promotinf those relations. He then
presented the secretary of state.
Secretary Root was received with
great applause, the delegation rising TO
greet him.
1T is pleasure" said Secretary
Root, TO extend to you the interest
and hearty sympathy of the national
administration in your great work. 1t
has been a subject of much misuuder.
standing and depreciation and even of
derision. Our people are so busy that
the Inhabitants of one section Of the
country understand little of which Is
going on in other sections"
The irrigation scheme, Mr.. Root said,
had been sought under color of river
and harbor improvements. He felici-
tated the convention on the fact that
the river and harbor bills of this day
were removed from temptations of the
kind referred to.
He said that policy followed by the
United States must be considered truly
as policy and not as a project He
referred to the construction of the Pan
ANA canal and to the Improvement of
the Erie canal as instances showing
that the American people stand square
ly behind the Improvement of water
ways and he expressed the hope taat
they would assert that policy in the fu.
ture.
"In your last convention" said Sec
rotary Root. there was some refer
renee that we should not cross a bridge
until we reached it. We now have
reached the bridge. There is no greater
achievement than the transportation
of articles valueleSs at one point to an
other point where they are valuable.
The railroads of the country no longer
are able, physically, 10 carry the
traffic of America and the one avenue
open to such traffic is waterway trans
portation. We must move forward or
we will go backward. | see American
production handicapped by two things:
First, the great cost of getting the
goods to the seaboard, and second. the
absence of an American merchant
marine"
President Ransdall presented re-
port of the work of the congress during
the past few months. Then he intro
duced M. Jusserand. the ambassador of
France to the United States, who
spoke at length, closing by saying:
1T is an absolute principle-no for
ests, no waterways. Without forest S
regulating the distribution of waters,
rainfalls are at once hurried to the sea,
hurried sometimes, alas, across coun-
Try. After having devastated tne lelSn-
boring fields. the rivers find them
selves again with little water and much
sand. and with such rivers how will
you feed your canals in all seasons?
"Since our forests suffered damages
which we are now bent upon repairing
at considerable pains and cost. river
like the Loire has been entirely trans
formed; 1t used to be the best of water
ways, and 1t is now the river whose in
undations are most destructive. The
question is as clear as can be: Do you
want to have navigable rivers, Or do
you prefer to have torrents that will
destroy your crops and never Dear a
boat? If you prefer the first, then
mind your forests. We can tell you, for
we know"
Senator Newland, Hon. Marth A.
Knapp and other prominent men made
forceful addresses.
A Letter Of regret was read from An
drew Carnegie. Its salient point was
this:
Instead of spending money on var
ships to fight imaginary foes, we
should spend IL on orr WATERWAYS