St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-12-14
INLAND WATERWAYS
Meeting Demanded At
-GtentiOn and Will Sc
cure Sufficient
Appropriations. King Os-
car Dead. Other Mat
ters OF Interest.
inland WATERWAYS

Washington, Dec. 6. AN annual ap,
preparation of at least $50, 900, 900 fol
the improvement and development Of
the inland water ways of America is
the .gist of the recommendation of the
Rivers and Harbors Congress, which
concluded its sessions here to-day. Nc
particular project was advocated by
the Convention, the recommendation
of the Committe on Resolutions, which
were adopted unanimously, being that
a national policy for the improvement
Of inland waterways be adopted by
the Congress of the United States.
At the opening Of to-day's session of
the Convention kilograms were read
from Senator Perkins, industrial or
ganizations and commercial bodies of
California, inviting the Congress to
hold it's next annual meeting in San
Francisco.
In introducing John A. Fox, of Ar
kansas, the special director of the
Congress, President Ransdell said that
Fox had spent the past year in trav-
cling over the country and in doing
splendid work for the Congress. In
the course of his report Mr.. Fox. said
that during the past year he had Wis
tied twenty-six States and ninety-nine
cities had given out forty-four public
interviews, had written five maga-
zine afticles, and had delivered 158
addresses, nine Of which had been be-
fore national organizations. He was
satisfied that if the United States
Congress was in possession of informa-
tion which he had presented the work
OF the Congress practically would have
been accomplished. He urged the ap-
preparation by the Association of $780,
600 for the continuance of its work
during the next year.
The following resolutions were
passed:
Resolved by the National Rivers and
Harbors Congress at the present ses-
sion, containing delegates of every
shade of opinion and representing
every business interest in the land,
standing for policy, not for a pro-
ject:
First-That we earnestly urge the
adoption by the Federal Government
of wide, liberal and comprehensive
waterway policy that will provide for
the proper improvement within the
next ten years of the rivers. water
ways and harbors of our country, the
Improvement of which is justified by
present and prospective benefits to
commerce.
Second that without presuming to
prescribs the engineering of the finan-
cial details of this great undertaking.
this Congress strongly urges upon the
Congress of the United States the i'm
portance of the immediate adoption of
comprehensive plan of waterways
improvement for the carrying on of
the work by an adequate number of
engineers, and of such liberal appro-
priations annually as will insure the
early completion of such projects as
may be undertaken.
Third-That we cordially indorse the
action of President Roosevelt in ap-
pointing special inland waterways
commission, being confident that its
report will prove source of accurate
and valuable information to the Ameri-
can people. We further recommend
$kn+ Tnva a,ra6
make the Inland Waterways Commits
sion permanent and will provide it
with necessary authority for its in
vestigations and recommendations.
Fourth That this Congress cordially
thanks President Roosevelt for the
support he has given to it's purposes
by his treatment of the subject in his,
recent message to Congress.
Fifth-That we ask Congress to view
the river, waterway and harbor ap-
preparations not as the appropriation
Of money for the current expenses of
government, but as an investment in
permanent improvements. bound to
pay increased dividends from year to
year. Viewing these appropriations
in this light, Congress is fully war
ranted in authorizing an annual ex-
penditure beginning at the present
session Of not less than one-tenth the
amount of money required for all the
various river, waterway and harbor
improvements already planned and ap-
proved, in order that the work may be
carried to speedy completion, such ap-
preparations to be not less than $780,
600, 600 annually, and Congress is fur
ther warranted in authorizing the ex-
penditure of money as needed and in
providing for the same, if in excess
of funds available, by a. bond issue
similar in character to that for the
building of tho Panama Canal. where
by part of the cost Of these vast i'm
provements will be spread over a sue
cession of years and borne by all who
share tho benefits.