The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-01-15
HAWAII WAS PROMINENT.

Hawaii received much attention at
the congress, and in the press was
given a prominent place. She had
only one delegate there and he had a
place on the platform much of the
time. AS you know. the Executive
Committee placed your secretary, Mr..
Wood, on the Congressional Commit
tee, and so well was Hawaii thought
Of that the place was to be given at
first 10 the exclusion OF a representa-
tive from California. Finally. how
eyer, Mr.. PheIan was also given q
place on the committee. Secretary
Francis Of the congress worked hard
for Hawaii and Ex-Governor Adams
of Colorado is another good friend
of Hawaii He was here once and got
his wife here. He is very enthusi-
astie over Pearl Harbor and the need
of terrifying il. The next meeting Of
this congress, you know. is to be in
san Francisco. and Hawaii should
have a good delegation there.
RIVERS AND HARBORS CONGRESS
THE next convention I attended was
that of the Rivers and Harbors. There
are three great movements going on.
The development of the inland water
ways, forestry, and the conversion Of
public lands into homes. The latest
takes two forms, one the retaining
of arid lands by great irrigation prof.
ects, now under way, and the other
the reclamation of swamp lands
through drainage systems. The Riv-
ers and Harbors Congress was held in
Washington, right under the doors of
the national Congress, where it would
have the most influence. Many dis
tinguished people were present as del
egates. Among these were the Secre-
tary of State, the Secretary Of the IN
terror, The President of the Interstate
Commerce Commission, James J. Hill,
the great railroad man. and others.
The congress lasted for three days. one
object only was worked for, and the
congress was not held for the adj
vancement of any particular project
One resolution only was passed. That
was a resolution that Congress should
advance a comprehensive plan with a
view 20 the best interest of the entire
country for the development Of the
inland waterways. TO take ten years 10
carry out. and TO appropriate for the
purpose fifty million dollars a year.
At the congress it was brought out
what advances had been made in this
way in Europe, where in France and !
Germany one may travel between any (
two points by canal. It was urged /
that the United States could do a great /
deal more in view Of the facilities at i
The traffic of the country
has increased in the past ten years /
10 per cent, while the railroads. have
only increased 10 per cent. This was
agreed To by j. J. Hill. WHO pointed /
out that il was not a question Of cost, /
but Of getting accommodations. There
Is a great wave sweeping over the
United states in favor Of this, and
there are reasons to believe that the
advocates viii be successful in carry
ng out the project.
HAWAII WILL BENEFIT.
This VIII rebound 10 the benefit Of
Hawaii IN various ways. We viii get
,ur increased proportion Of the appro-
,riations for rivers and harbors and
- win share in the feeling that viii
e engendered in Congress that more
houIG be done. At the present time
he appropriations for river and har-
or work are passed only once every
40 years and II has been only recently
hat Congress would allow Of any con-
ract going over the amount q the
ppropriauon- Now We may expect
n appropriation Of fifty millions every
ear for river and harbor work in {
with some national. COM
reheasive plan II VIII benefit US in
Their ways. Il win open the Mfssfs- ]
'ppi river and its tributaries and {
remote the trade on the gulf. increas-
lg the business on the Pacific follow
IL the completion Of the Panama :
nal. Everyone seems 10 think that
he Panama canal win afford a great
1tlat on the Pacific for the products
the Eastern States =
IMPROVED CONSULAR SERVICE :