The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-06

tems. who are compelled to make con- lession of their Inability to handle the freights offered them. They have at last seen with clear eyes that which the merchants and the manufacturers saw long ago, that there is no real antagonism between the river and the rail. as means of transportation, but only wholesome and stimulating com- petition.
 The question Is no longer in the academic stage, nor Is the twentieth century an academic century, but a century with iimitless possibilities and fuiiy recognising that the value of an article of commerce, whether raw na- terial or finished product, depends on the means of transportation to a mar ket. -
 The Ohio River ana the Ohio River states urge upon you as the chief element of success in the first place, unity. In the second place. unity, and unity in the third and last place. You can not stand alone. Today 1t s the meritorious stream that, is tonnage bearing. if improved the stream that might benefit by an oc- casional appropriation in furtherance of congressional ambitions rather than furtherance of trade and commerce.
 There are too many great States interested in the work of improvement or the inland waterways for the in. eustriai, the agricultural and the com mercial interests of the country to he satisfied with making a plea to the congress. The plea should from hence- forth take the shape and form of a righteous demand upon the Represeft- atives- and Senators from the gtates. between the A1leghenies and inc nockies, and all others interested. With the coming of that demand the inland wa.erWays and tine harbors of the meritorious dues. and the whole courI. try VIII prosper accordingly"
 Governor Broward Spea,ws.
 governor Napoleon B. Bfoward of,
 Florida spoke on Florida and Deep
 governor Broward began his adress py saying that Florida was in ftili sym patny with the objects sought to be obtained by the convention. ana stoo1 ready to join with her strength to foi- low up the movement for u deep watar- way from tAe Lakes to the Gulf. until if was nnally crowned with complete suc- cess. The volume of this natfon.a commerce IS at present." he said, ..se- Ilousiy restricted. because adequat. means are not available for moving tba nations commerce.. Whiie this condI- ton lasts. commerce Is neither health, nor is it able to add normal growth, The growth of the nations wealth is ra tarded and limited. for wealth will not pc created when 1t must he wasted be- cause of inability to transport if to places where 1t is in demand and has value.
 The situation is unfortunate and grave today. What of the future? The development of this country has naroiy commenced. Merchants, manu- facturers. grain farmers, cotton plant- CTS. lumbermen. and others in business ma IL Impossible to deliver goods promptly because the roads cannot mov, ther traffic with dispatch. Snail American development be halted be- cause of our inability to provide the facilities for the trade that awaits inc actitivies of our people? To help meet this problem, 1t Is incumbent upon the national government 10 begin a policy Of the fullest utilization of the great rivers and waterways with which Na- ture has so abundantly provided us. With an expenditure in the next ten years upon rivers and harbors of s5O- 100000. as against the $5,000, 00O. 900 or more which the railroads must under take to provide for tneIr work we ca,, so improve river navigation as to make It possible to lessen the burden upou the country due to inadequate trans- portation facilities.
 The nation has sanctioned thAApend- Ing of hundreds of millions f6 com struct an isthmian canal. In this if has done wisely. When the Atlantic and the Pacific havebeen united by the Pan ana canal the worlds commerce will be revolutionized in vur ravor En, this canal. the most stupendous work If this era, Is not as important to our country as the deepening of our rivers ana harbors The proper levees of the Mississippi River would reclaim over flowed lands which would be made to yield over $5o0.o0O,000 of farm products year. while millions more would b. saved from destruction.
 :. am thoroughly convinced that honest railroad operation in this coun try will meet all honest expenses and yield a fair profit. The country is prosperous and bids are fair to continue highly prosperous. 1t needs railroad Ia cl1ties and is going to need more and more Of them all the time. prosner ous country Is always willing ana .eady to pay fairly and literally for what 1t needsh and just now 1t needs extended railroad service mighty bad.
 What our country needs is roads over which traffic may be handled. If ts not essential whether these be for the most part waterways or railroads It IS not essential whether these avenues or commerce on water or on rail he ownsd and operated by private parties or by public agencies. What the people need are transportation facilities"
 After speeches by Governor x. O FlndalI of Arkansas Governor John ouFke or North Dakota and Governor George E. Chamberlain of Oregon. the convention began balloting for the | next meeting place.
 representatives of New Orleans who nave been conducting a vigorous cam | paign, withdrew the name of that citv | Tn favor of Chicago, and the latter | eIty was selected by exclamation. It | is generally understood that an arrees ment was reached whereby New Or | leans will have the convention in 1909 |
 The Finance Committee reported | ways and means to raise funds for the | expenses of the association.