The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-12-10
Lakes TO the Gulf Project is
the Preference of the
Speaker.
RAILROADS PLEASED
With the Undertaking as It
Will Bring Them More
Business, He Says.

WASHINGTON, u. c., Dec. 10
Prominent speakers, among them
Speaker Cannon and joaquin Nabuco
ambassador from Brazil, addressed
today's session of the National Riv-
c=s and Harbors Congress.
President james w. Van Cleaye OF
the National Association of Manufac-
turers, today addressed the conven-
ton. and the following is an extract
OF his speech:
AS a preliminary to his remarks.
Mr.. Van Clcayc had no hesitation in
declaring preference for the Lakes
to-the-Gulf project by way of the
Mississippi river to all other local
water way schemes, because, he said,
&c had larger region, not only In
area but in population and in nat
ural resources, than any other single
enterprise. Besides, ne said, 1t
would contribute more to the coun-
try's prosperity and wealth than
would any other project which was
confined to one section. He was
aware, however, OF the Jealousy or
locality and of the desire of each
section to give priority to its own
particular scheme. For that reason.
he said. the National Rivers and Ha"-
bo-s Congress. which took the entire
country into Its calculations, had a
mission which made a powerful ap-
peal to all men who think .contiuu-
ally" Those who were Interested In
the extension OF manufacturing and
in the frightening Of the United
States's lead over the other industrial
countries In this field must also
think and plan continually.
Air. Van Cleave, In giving the rea-
sons why manufacturers ali over the
country had a profound concern in
she work the Congress aimed to ac-
complish, said that with the progress
of invention and the adoption of
lalbor-saving devices. production In
1tle factories. TO steadily increas-
ing degree. outran home consump-
tion. He declared that in order that
the operation OF mills in periods OF
trade stagnation as we'll as in per-
iods of trade activity may be con-
tinued, the prices OF American pro-
ducts Mt the great centers of cons
sumption, both at home and abroad.
must be lowered, and that the cheap
euing of transportation would help
TO do that. The readlest and most
effective way 10 do that and at tn"
same time quicken the transit be-
tween producer and consumer, he
said. was 20 put the navigable water
ways of the country in shape in
which they could do their share OF
the work. Ho pointed out why the
manufacturers had large stake in
the work which the Congress aims to
promote. The country's mills and
factories he said. represent n cap
ital of $4,000, 100000. They en-
pIoy 5000 900 of persons, givo them
5OO,OOO.0OO in wages annually.
and fashion $4,000, 100000 of ma
terials yearly into products worth
$17,OOO,OOO,0OO. The exports OF
manufactures in 1908 reached $780,
100000. In the amount of money
invested in it and In the number OF
persons which 1t enIpioyes, mauufac-
turing is the second greatest of the
country's interests, agriculture be-
ing the first. In the volume and the
value of its manufactures the United
States nearly equals It's three nearest
competitors combined--Great Britain,
Germany and France
Speaking from the national side Of
the question Mr.. Van Cleave said
that the organization OF which he
was president was in hearty synpa-
thy with the aim of the National
Rivers and Harbors Congress TO OBJ
tain an annual governmental appro-
priatson OF S5O,OOO,0OO for river and
harbor Improvement throughout the
country MY own experience as well
as that of every other manufacturer
in the country he said, shows the
harm which comes from the inability
OF the railways to handle the traffic
promptly. During the past ten or
twelve months we have had no COM
plant on this score. for the traffic
has fallen OF. But the rapidly VITA
which the number OF idle cars Is
falling Off warns us manufacturers
that the old traffic congestion at our
business centers will soon return.
Under the impulse which trade has
received in the past few weeks We
must be prepared to see the old en-
barge at our big railway stations by
crop moving time of 1909 at the lat
est He gave as an imperative rea-
son why the manufacturers must use
all their influence to get n greater
increase in transportation facilities
the fact that in the last twenty years
the volume of the c0untry's manu-
ractures had Increased 100 per cent
while the mileage Of the railways
mad gained but As per cent. Many
nI,fa slid