The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-20
TENNESSEE
 SURVEY TURNED DOWN
Three Very Interesting Sessions Were Held Yesterday and Numerous Speakers Brought Out Inter
 estine Points In Remarks.

along practical lines of all waterways included in the name of the association, was the result of the Alabama, Tennes- see. Georgia, Florida and Mississippi wa terways convention. held in Birmingham yesterday under the auspices of the 9ir- Iningham Commercial club.
 Instead of the delegations in Congress from the territory included in the Mobile basin and Tennessee river being divided as in the past, all effort will now be con centrated, if the expressions made by the members of Congress present are to be taken for aught, and a demand for the improvement of these waterways will be made.
 The convention was far more successful than had been anticipated, and a large and enthusiastic number of delegates were on hand to participate. The desire to get at the most practicable plan of operation was prominent in every one present.
 The convention covered three sessions, the first being called to order by Presi- dent Sterling A. Wood of the Commercial club at Il o'clock yesterday morning. An afternoon session was held in the club rooms and the night session in the reading room of the Southern club.
 Craft Elected Chairman.
 The afternoon session was called to order by John Craft, president of the Mo- bile Commercial club, who had been elect ed chairman of the convention. c. Gros- venor Dave, secretary of the Montgom- cry Commercial club. was elected as sec retary of the meeting.
 W. K. P. Wilson suggested that the or ganization be made a permanent one, which was unanimously adopted. Upon suggestion of Congressman Oscar Under wood the organization was named the Mobile Basin and Tennessee River asso- citation.
 Henry Hartwell introduced a resolution indorsing the object of the national rivers and harbors congress which convenes in Washington during December, which is the appropriating by Congress of the sum of $5O,O00,0 ,00O annually for the improve ment of waterways.
 Maddox Makes Strong Address.
 
 mer member of Congress, and at pres- ent Mayor of Rome, Ga, was one of the strongest features of the afternoon ses- sion. In part Mr. Maddox said:
 'The Mobile basin contains all of the Seventh Georgia district, which I repre- scented in Congress for a number of years. I have always fought for the opening of lao r;x,N, terest in the Seventh district is identicalls the same as the interest of South Ala. bama. The Coosa river Is navigable 10S know that more water passes Wetumpks in the Coosa than passes Albany, N. Y. in the Hudson? There is no need of my standing here and telling you of the inn portance of opening this waterway to the sea. But how are we going to do it?''
 MT. Maddox then told of how appropria tions were secured from Congress, int: mating that 1t was not the merits of the waterways that won the appropriations that had been made by Congress. but that it had all depended on how the wires were pulled. '"ro begin with, we have had no unity of action, absolutely none Every district has been pulling for itself and the devil for all. Some gentlemen have suggested visionary schemes. We are 50 years behind now along lines of practi- cability. If you aresgoing to tie the hands of your congressman you can't expect anything. The resolution to organize along permanent lines is good one. It is { step in the right direction. Let there b, unity of effort and perpetual organiza tion with ceaseless energy behind the or ganization."
 Telegram To Bankhead.
 J. A. Van Hoose suggested that a tele gram be sent Senator Bankhead, who wal unable to attend the convention on ac count of being critically i'll at his home in Fayette. R. N. Rhodes was appointer to draft the telegram, which read as fol- lows:
 Senator Bankhead, Fayette:
 e''The Mobile Basin and Tennessee River association learn with deep regret of your illness and trust that you may soon recover your accustomed health and be able to resume your successful activity in behalf of the waterways of our sec tion.
 Tennessee-Warrior Canal Question.
 J. A. Van Hoose introduced the fol- lowing resolution. which failed of adoption, but which brought forth some very exciting discussion before it was finally tabled:
 Resolved, That this convention deems it advisable to ask for survey by the government as to the practica- bi1ity and desirability of a naviga- ble connection between the Tennessee river near Guntersville and the War rior river, said navigable connection to connect at or near Birmingham with the survey heretofore made by Joseph Ripley between Birmingham and the Warrior river"
 This resolution was referred to the resolutions committee, which reported that it could not agree on it. Con- gressman Underwood, in expressing himself on it. said that a member o1 Congress should be guided by the sen timent of his constituents, but that he could not agree with MT. Van Hoose on the advisability of connecting the Tennessee and the Warrior. But" said he "this convention represents the sen- timent of the people of Alabama, and as such this convention should advise the members of Congress" Sterling A. Wood replied to this, say ing in part, "As I understand there has been no official survey of this proposed work, but if we continually and eternally oppose things how are we ever going to arrive at practica- bility? We want to know if this plan Is feasible or whether 1t Is not, and can't see how our delegation would be