The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-05-08

reduced rates to market but that they get to market at all. Last year there was sold, but not shipped for lack of cars, f5O. 900, 900 feet of cypress lumber and from one salt mine i00,- 900 tons of salt This money should now be in circulation in Louisiana tns stead as 1t Is the lumber is still stacked in the yards and the salt is still un- der the earth.
 '1n order to partially overcome this limitation to progress forced upon what we term the Teche district by the Ina biiity of the railroads to ship the pro- ducts it was decided to open the port of Morgan City to the. Gulf. For years the citizens have been endeavoring to obtain favorable action, by the Gov ernment resulting in three surveys with estimates varying from S1.S0o.0oo for A twelve-foot channel to s1o,0o0.- 900 for twenty-foot channel ana winding up with the statement that the commerce did not justify the ex- penditure. The engineers insisted that fetties were essential for the mainten- ance of the channel and therefore the estimates were high.
 "The matter was not allowed to drop and private surveys were ordered and made advocating channel without jetties and at a very moderate cosl, viz. On@ 0unuTSQ anu <hANs SAAONS%~@AA dollars (S15O, ,000). The survey was made in the fall of 1906. the money was raised and contract let in April. 1907. The work was completed in October, 1907, There was removed 2.50O.0O0 cubic yards of material with result ant channel at low tide of IA feet depth and 12o feet width. This Is demon stration to show that the jetties are not needed and the Government en- tn that af. feet, after making a very thorugh in- vestigation of what has been done.
 we now want 20 feet depth and 200 feet width, and are willing to guaran- tee it's cost to be not over s50o,0oO. This present channel is enough to demon- strate the commerce.; even in these bad times we shipped 100000 feet of cypress at a saving of s4 per thous- and in freight.
 to the Gulf can only be realized, how ever, after thee interstate canal Is completed. Then 1t will be clearing house for an immense amount of pro- duce that would otherwise have long, CT and more expensive haul.
 '"rhe value of this inland canal route is directly enhanced by eevry port and the canal in turn enriches the ports.
 If this inland water route to the west or NSW OElCAHH Ab SuOtt 5Icdb benefit to the State. why should there be question of an Eastern route to Florida and eventually connecting with the Atlantic seaboard? Your Alabama coal is eagerly desired. and with water transportation the field is yours"
 The program was completed as fol- lows:
 Address. Beneht of the Intercostal Canal to Scranton, Miss-B. H. Ellis, Scranton Miss.
 Address, Benefit of the Inland Wa terway to the Chattahoochie District- Hon Richard Howard, Columbus, Ga.
 Address, The Relation of the Gulf Coastal Canal from the Lakes to the Gulf-H. c. Barlow Executive Direc- tor Assocation Of Commerce, Chicago, Ill.
 Address. The Relation of the Water ways Canal to Pensacola, Fla.-G. A. Waterman. Pensacola. Fla.
 List of the Delegates.
 The following delegates registered: T. J. Pryor, Mary Esther. Fla; E. Q. Norton. Daphne, Ala; George P. Wentworth. Pensacola. Fla. John Wal ker, Magnolia Springs; Robert J. Ram dolph. Chicago. H.; pr. J. M. Spence, Sumatra. Fla; L. J. Henderson. Apa- lachicola, Fla; G. A. Waterman, Pen sacola, Fla; R. Howard. Columbus. Ga; Charles J Swift. Columbus. Ga.; B. A. Ellis Pascagoula. Miss; Peter Smith, George H. Hoyle, Battles; Frank Fesler. Foley; W. c. Dinwiddie, Bay Minette. Ala; John M. Greene, Bay Minette, Ala; T. M McMillan, Stock Q ton. Ala; H. S. Greene. Fairhope. Ala. c. A. Swift. Bon Secour. Ala; H C.. Bartling. Swift Ala; Gordon Childress, Bon Secour. Ala; R. F. Powell, Fair hope. J. M. Pelcher, Fairhope; owen Roberts. Fairhope; F. A. Strong, Daphne: W. J. Mason. M. A, Daphne; A, M Jackson, Palmetto Beach; John Walker Magnolia Springs; J B. Me Grew Mifflin; S. D. Gaar, Rosco; G. C Randolph. Soldier Creek A. F. Hutchings, Battles; Charles Barclay Volanta; Oscar Johnson, Silverhill; P. J Cooney. Marlow; F. L. Sanford Robertsdale: Robert M. Mahler. Lox- ley Captain Rufus Walker. Caswell Fred Scott, Soldier Creek; w. H. W. Harding. Magnolia Springs pr. V. McR. schowalter. Point Clear. J. W. Grove, Marlow.
 At a late hour tonight the conven- tion was discussing a plan for per, manent organization under which per, manent officers will probably be oh osen
 It Is the desire of the delegates tc complete their work tonight although it is possible an adjournment may not be reached until tomorrow.