The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-07
FIFTY MI LIONS
FOR WATERWAYS
Representative Con ven
ton Asks Congress to
Appropriate it Yearly
TEN YEARS FOR
IMPROVEMENTS
Organization Elects Prominent
Men from Every Section
as Directors and Re
elects Congressman
Ransdell Prcsi-
dent.
MASUIN6iroN


annual appropriation OF at least $780,
0Oo,0oJ for the Improvement and de-
yclopment OF internal waterways of
America ~ the gist of the reco:nmen-
dation OF the Rivers and Hnrbors Com
gross, which concluded It's session here
to-day. AT the opening of to-day's
gScssion of the convention kilograms
were read from Senator Perkins. In
duatrial organizations, and commercial
bodies OF California inviting the con-
Eress to hold Its next annual meeting
In San Francisco.
Colonel j. u. Ellison, secretary of the
congress-, presented his annual re-
port. In which he gave the expendi-
lures .. behalf Of the work of the
congress the past year. The balance on
hand, he said. was $2i972.
What Movement stnnds For.
The report Included the following
resolutions:
BE it resolved by the National Riy-
ers and Harbors Congress at the pres
'ent session. containing delegates OF
every shade of opinion and represent
ing every business interest in the land.
standing, for policy, not for q pro-
ject---
First. that we earnestly urge the
adoption by the Federal government
of a wise, liberal and comprehensive
waterways policy that will provide for
fhe proper Improvement Within the
.hext 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.
's'ecoINd, that without presuuing to
prescribe the engineering or the iinan-
ciai details of this great undertaking,
1his ccng ngress strongly urges upon the
Congress of the United States the i'm
portance of tho inime diate adoption of
u conipre henAiye plan of waterway I'M
provement. of the carrying on OF the
work by an adequate number of en-
sinecrs and of such liberal appropria-
lions Annually as viii insure the early
completion OF such pro,ectsfas may be
iindertskcp.
Third, that we cordially indorse
the action OF President Roosevelt In
appointing a special Inland Waterways
Commission. being confident that it's
report will prove q source OF accurate
and valuable Information to the amer
ican people. We further recommend
that Congress enact such laws az will
make the Inland Waterways Commits.
sion permanent. and Will provide 1t
with necessary authority for It's in
vestiGa ttons and recommendations.
Fourth. that, this congress cordially
thanks President Roosevelt for the
support he has given to its purposes
by his speeches and by his treatment
of the subject In his recent message
to Congress.
Viewed as Investment.
Fifth. that we ask Congress 10!
view the river waterway and harbor
appropriations not as the appropria-
lion of money for the current eS penses
of government, but as an Investment
in permanent improvements. bound
TO pay increasing dividends from year
TO year.
Viewing these appropriations this
light Congress is fully warranted in
authorizing an annual expenditure, be-
ginning at the present session, of not
less than one-tenth of the amount OF
money required for all the various river,
waterway and harbor improvements al
ready planned and approved, and here
after to be planned and approved, In
order that the work may be carried to
speedy completion. such appropriation
to be not less than S50.o60.000 annu-
ally. and Congress IS further warranted
In authorizing the expenditure of the
money as needed and In providing for
the sarue. in excess OF funds avaiiable,
by 9 bond issue similar In character to-
that for the building OF tho Panama
Canal, whereby part OF the cost of these
a succession Of years and borne by all !
who share the benefits
Without discussion the majority report
Of tho committee was adopted ununi-
,nouslS.
~ resolution offered by AIR, Teal, OF /
oregon. thanking the president of the |
cpngress. the officers of the association
md the board of directors for the
work they had accomplished during
/ M ~ uslx ..r1f taI
dent Ransdell was accorded the hearty
cheers OF the congress.
Officers OF u,c, Congress-.
The following officers and members
of the board Of directors OF tho con-
Sress We're elected: For President, Jos.
ll Ransdel, ofLouisiana; for Secre-I
Treasurer, J. +. Ellison, Cincin-
natl, o. II
Directors; Atlantic seaboard--wm.
y. lincoln, Boston, AIass.; Olin j. ]
Stephens. New York; i. Hampton
Moore, Phlladelphia; Frank u. Ia
lame, Philadelphia; r. w, Wood, SAL
timore, Md. South Atlantic Scahoard-l
u. ]. Hale. Fayetteville, n. c.: Il. H.. i
nosier, Columbia. S. c.; w. Is. stlliweil
Savannah. Ga. Gulf Seuboars--.I {.
sush. Birmingham, Ala, Nj. j. san |
dsrs, New Orleans; IS. Tallaforro. fIous.
ten, TeS.; s.W,s S, Duncan. Dallas, Ton.
1lile entire fAltssippippi Valley pistrictI
---,Governor j. AZ. Johnston. st. Paul, 4
Mimi Thos, W,NNillS!nson, Burlington,
La; w. p, Kennett. st, Louis; NY. Is. |
Kavanaugh. ST, Louis; Charles Scott Il
Rosedale, Miss, The Cireut Lakes bis
trict--Janles Fl. Davidson, Oshkosh t
Wis; r. w. Mickey, South ChlcaEo,i I
[nd.; II. 9, BARLOW, ,Ihicago; tidwurdE /
Fl, Butler, Buffalo, n. n. Ohio Valley
pistrict-W B, Rodgers, epittshurg,
Pa; Albert Rettinger. Cincinnati, John |
In Vance, Columbus Ohio; W.T.. Ilelr
Icy, Evansville, Ind. 'rannessee und
Cumberland plstrictAl. y, Esyan, I
Nashville. Tenn. The Arkansas NuIleSI
bistrict-Iohn A, FoN. Arkansas. Thej
Missouri Valley l5istrict--I I.awrence NJ.
Zones, Kansas City. MOI George a. |