The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-20

President Roosevelt:
 "Hon Theodore Roosevelt, Washington:
 "The Mobile Basin and Tennessee River association formed as permanent body this day in Birmingham by delegates from Georgia, Mississippi and Alabama, sends greetings to a President whose thought is given to wise conservatism of natural resources of the nation and assures him of their hearty support in utilizing and improving important waterways.
 JOHN CRAFT, Chairman"
 Dr. W. B. Phillips gave a statistical review of the resources of Alabama or more particularly the business which might be offered as an inducement for the improvement of Alabamas S water ways.
 Senator Johnston Follows Phillips.
 Senator Johnston followed Dr. Phillips in an enthusiastic address over the uni- son of action which was now to be fol- lowed by the delegation in Congress, and how they would demand that If others wished help they must agree to give Ala bama what she deserved. He compared the improvement at Muscle Shoals with that needed by Alabama, and declared that as God had blessed us with a won oerful land that we must do our part and give it what it deserves.
 congressman OnuefWOOQ was the next speaker His address covered every phase of the situation and especially the great benefit to be derived from the getting of cheaper rates by rail when competitive water rates were put on. He made com parisons of the rates in America and Eu- ropean countries, and wound up by say ing: If I had my way l would issue $l, ,000 GOO 900 worth of bonds and improve every river and harbor in the country just as rapidly as the engineering de- partment could handle the work and then apply the s50,O00,000 yearly to a sinking fund to pay off this s1.00O,O00,0 00o.'
 Judge Austil.
 The address of Judge H. Austill of Mo- bile was a eulogy of Mobile bay. He read a letter from Admiral Davis, in which the admiral stated that he was surprised that Mobile bay had not been developed by the government long ago. Judge Aus till waxed eloquent in his praise of Mo biles harbor, finally dropping into poetry to fully illustrate it. He also quoted from the Scriptures, showing how ancient, fer tile Jerusalem and Alabama were alike. Congressman Burnett.
 Congressman .urnett spoke of the Coosa and it's mighty possibilities. He spoke of how through the efforts of him. self and colleagues number of cor porations had built dams and locks across the river, thus securing power for them- selves, paying half the cost of construc- ton and given magnificent slack water navigation at number of points, in one instance the water being backed up for a distance of ten miles.
 John w. Maddox.
 John w. Maddox was again called upon and said "There is another question brought to my mind by the immense tonnage being dumped into the cities sit uated on the Mississippi and that Is that the government built these railroads that created this traffic, The railroads were built first and the tonnage followed. We have vast amounts of timber. vast min eral resources. vast agricultural possi- bilities. Let us create the transporta- ton facilities and the railroad will follow"
 w. c. Fitts.
 w. c. Fitts was the last speaker, say ing: Mobile has no quarrel over what you develop. as no matter what it is you have got to come to Mobile. We have started right. This going forward as unit gives promise of success. But there