The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-10-18

Pursuant to the action taken some
time ago by the chamber OF COM
merce in regard to the rivers and
harbors interests in the state consid-
erable attention has been attracted
to this section. The Inland Water
was Association and the chamber of
commerce became members OF the
National Rivers and Harbors Con-
gress and they were represented at
the gathering in Washington last De-
cember working in harmony with
the objects of the national organiza-
ton
Mai E. J. Hale of Fayetteville was
made one Of the p directors in the
United States and Mr.. ]. H. Chad
hourn OF this city was made the vice
president for North Carolina These
officers. desiring to have the state
identified with the movement have
made arrangements for tour Of the
principal cities in North Carolina by
Mr.. Fox. he having come to assist
in arOusing public sentiment in ia
yOr Of a large rivers and harbOrs aD-
preparation and TO call attention to
the people of the state and to its rep
resentatives in congress of the i'm
portance of deep water between this
city and the sea, the result Of which
would be to make Wilmington a port
OF entry.
In conference with the chamber
of commerce special committee yes
terday, Mr.. Fox discussed plans for
the itinerary he is to make, but the
exact date and towns to be visited
were not finally agreed on, this be-
ing given out later for publication.
Altogether twelve cities will be Wis
tied. Mr.. Fox goes to Fayetteville
today to confer with Major Hale and
will return tonight. Tomorrow he
will make trip down the Cape Fear,
accompanied by the y. S. engineer
and other government officials at the
port and the chamber of commerce
committee viewing the course which
it is hoped will be improved through
the united action Of the cities of
North Carolina.
Mr. Fox when seen at Mr.. J. H.
Chadbourn' s office yesterday gave fol-
lowing interview regarding his plans:
This agitation which our oTgani
zatiOn is carrying on for rivers and
harbCr Development will result in
much good, from the fact that we
are preaching an educational cam
paien and trying to teach the econ
Omy of cheap water transportation
if well improved waterways are pro-
vided.
"'The public sentiment being arOus
ed will serve a dual purpose. in sup
porting the delegation in congress to
vote for large and more liberal rivers
and harbor bills, and encouraging
the various states to improve the
streams entirely within their juris-
dictiOn. I have just come from the
Pacific coast and while at Portland,
Oregon, two weeks ago, [ learned
that the state had voted 100000 to
cooperate with the government IN
building a canal around the Dalles,
so that the Columbia river may be
made navigable beyond the falls.
There are many propositions, he
said, Sin all the states worthy Of
state aid in giving additional
transportation facilities and by teach
ing this waterway gospel and show
ing the people that in the end we
must revert to those natural arteries
of trade and commerce no tonly to
regulate freight rates but to ecOnO-
mically transport produce, we are
doing work national in every re-
spect
"Our organization is made up Of
throughout the United States and al
though we urge that regular large ap-
propriations be made on the part of
the national government each year,
still we endorse no project feeling
that when the country is thoroughly
awakened to the Importance of river
improvement and harbor develop
ment that each meritOrious project
will be taken care Of.
personally said Mr.. Fox, Il be-
lieve that Wilmington should have a
thirty foot channel and the sooner
the better for this is the logical gate
wav for the whole state Of North
Carolina and the 30-fOot waterway
here would permit of large tonnage
vessels, the same as ply in other
harbors on the Atlantic and Gulf sea
board so that the people of the state
may feel the advantages of reduced
TRANSPORTATION made possible by those
vessels of greater tonnage enterin e
here All the back country. as far
west as the Blue Ridge. should feel
particular interest in this port, and
I believe that if the congressional
delegation from North Carolina were
to urge the matter on broad, ma
tional policy it would appeal to ev-
cry member OF congress. The cities
OF North Carolina should join hearth
ly with the national rivers and har-
bors congress for a large and reeu-
lar appropriation, so that when the
project Is finally adopted plenty OF
money will be available to carry it
out.
Il hope to get every city I visit
to become a member of the congress
and to send REPRESENTATIVES, to WoSb
ington on December 4, 5 and 6, when
we will hold our national conven-
tion. Every city I visited elsewhere
has availed itself of the opportunity
to unite with us, and | believe that
every city whether directly on the
water or not should feel an interest
because of the congestion of traffic
and the inability to regulate freight
rates hy leeislatinn the remedx hoinu