The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-11-10
PLAN WATERWAY
MANY DELEGATES ATTEND COLUM-
 BUS MEETING.
Hahn Craft, of Mobile, Presides at First sesnion - Mir. Dave, of Mont gOmery, fin List of
 Sneakers.

two by an east and west snip Sau0s | connecting the Atlantic ocean and the | Gulf of Mexico was the leading quss. ton today before the convention or the Gulf Coast Inland Waterways As sociation in session here. Senator-eiect l D. U. Fletcher of Florida. tonight out lined this plan to the convention Tn speech In which he sald
 We must meet waterway improve ments in foreign countries by water way improvements at home we would maintain supremacy or even standing In markets abroad
 "The problem of the cheapest and safest means of transportation now re- ouired by the Southern. Western ana Northern growers Is solved when the United States Gulf ports are opened and the Florida ship canal, on the lock system, Is constructed. The require- ments for cheap transportation, 70 wit: ability to carry large quantlttes of freight in full loads without change and at rapid speed, will thus be met. It Is necessary to secure and employ | the most economical methods of trans | portation If the growth of the country i is to continue
 | Tt is believed that if each farmer. would contribute for two years one | cent for every bushel of the corn and wheat he raises which would find It's | | tons would supply enough money to build the canal. This project is not | new. The importance of ship canal | across the peninsula of Florida has l long been directed to the attention Of | the maritime world. Such canal would shorten about 500 miles the l route from the Atlantic ocean into the | Gulf of Mexico. especially to tho Gulf | ports of the United States, and avoid 1 the dangerous navigation of the Gulf stream through the straits of Florida l By the construction of this canal the | commerce and travel of this northern | continent would be placed more than | a thousand miles nearer to the Central 1 American republics.
 The weight of opinion seems to be | that q tidewater canal Is impractica- l ble, because 1t would be impossible to i control the water and maintain uni- l form depth. By the lock system the canal controls the water and the navi- l gation is safe at all seasons. It is es- i timated that in cost and in time of construction the lock system would save at least 60 per cent over the tide- 1 water plan.
 Almost a straight line across the i narrowest part of the peninsula could l be selected. passing through a number | of large lakes, and portions of rivers | could be utilized. There are no engi- | neeFing diflculties in the way. Nearly l the whole work can be done by float Ing dredges. This canal would be a part of the contemplated inland water circuit of the whole of the Central and Eastern part of the United States. east of the Rocky Mountains.
 "one estimate says that the canal can be dug for $50. .000.000.
 Tt has been estimated also that more than 30.000.000 tons would pass through the canal yearly, which does not include the enormous traffic from Mexico. Nicaragua, Costa Rica nor other countries which will use the Panama canal A reasonable estimate tor these other countries would be a total of 6o,0o0.oo0 tons annually.
 "A complete national system of in- 1 tercoastal canals ought to be con structed as rapidly as possible. transportation crisis Is upon us. The demand for cheaper and quicker trans, portation must be answered"
 The object of the Gulf Coast Inland Waterways Association as set forth al the opening session today. is to work for the establishment of an inland wa. terway along the Gulf Coast, shorten. ing the distance between ports and ma. king 1t possible for light craft to han. dle the traffic. In this connection. il was stated, the project eontemplates I NHG improvement OL NlS tG&uilH 1 to the Gulf ports, thus benefiting in. land cities and towns situated along these streams as we'll as the ports on the Gulf.
 The cutting of a canal across the Florida peninsula Is one of the definite aims of the Association.
 The principal sessions were held thi' afternoon and one to be held tomorrow the convention adjournlng Tuesday night.
 This afternoon following the regular session of the convention. a reception was rendered to the visitors at thG Muscogee Club.
 Tomorrow the delegates will be ta. ken for an automobile ride, the triT including a visit to the point on tho Chattahoochee River, where hydraulic developments have been made. after which they will he taken down the riy' CT for several miles.
 Among the convention speakers are Governor Hoke Smith, of Georgia; Con gressman Adamson of Carrollton. Ga. Duncan U. Fletcher, United States Sen ator-eIect. Jacksonville. Fla; Rober Isham Randolph, Secretary of the In ternal Improvement Company, Chicago NJ 0. Leighton. Chief Hydrographel United States. Washington; Hon. Thom as l.. Brown, President Chamber o Commerce, Tampa, Fla; c. Grosve | nor Dave. secretary COmmeFciai GluD Montgomery. Ala, S. A. Thompson. FielC Secretary of National Rivers and liar bors Congress. Richmond. Ind; John A Betjeman. Secretary Businness Meni League, Albany, Ga; Colonel J. s Kimbrough, Phoenix City. Ala; Con gressman Humphries. Greenville Miss. Congressman Burnett. Gadsden, Ala. and pr. W. J McGee, Secretary O. the Bureau of Soils Washington. D. c
 President John Craft. of Mobile. pre- sided at the opening session of the As sooiation.
 About two hundred delegates were present. Jacksonville. Apalachicols and Pensacola. Fla, and New Orleans La, were announced as candidates foi the next convention.
 Other speakers today were Congress- men w C. Adamson. of Georgia, and Burnett. of Gadsden. Ala.
 Todays addresses were nearly all confined to remarks of welcome.
 The convention today sent the fol- lowing kilograms:
 Hon. Theodore Roosevelt.
 Washington. D. c.
 The Gulf Coast Inland Waterways Association in session at Columbus. Ga. 1 November 9th and 10th 1908, send you greetings as the champion of a policy of comprehensive improvement of the rivers. harbors and land waterways ir the United StateS and adequate apprO- priations to carry out the same"
 "EIon. Wm. H. Taft.
 Hot Springs. Va.
 "The Gulf Coat Inland Waterways At