The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-11
RIVER RETIREMENT NATIONAL PROJECT John A. Fox Spends Day In
 Birmingham RETURNS SOON TOALABAMA Meetings Will Be Arranged For More Important Cities of the State, At Which Waterways Will Be
 the Theme.
RETURNS SOON TOALABAMA

John A. Fox, special director of the National Rivers and Harbors congress, which has done so much to awaken inter- est in the development of the waterways during the last two years. was in Bir- mingham yesterday.
 MT. Fox came from Mississippi, where he has just completed tour of the whole state awakening interest in waterway development. He is on his way to South Carolina to do similar work there, and stopped over here to confer with Col. T. G. Bush, who is Ala bamas representa- tive on the board of directors Discussing the work yesterday. he said:
 "The mission and scope of our organ ization does not seem to be fully under stood yet In all parts of the country, al though these misconce options are being corrected every day, This national organ ization stands for no project. not even the lakes to the gulf or the Ohio river or New York harbor. It stands simply for policy, and that policy is regular an- nual appropriations for rivers and harbors of not less than $5OOO0. .OOO It is composed of the various river improvement asso- 1 citations throughout the entire country, each of which has come to realize that it's work will not be effective until the ma tional Congress adopts different policy. For example, the average appropriation for rivers and harbors during the past 10 years has been about $19250,00. and that appropriated at intervals of three years This amount is too small to devote very much to each of the various projects for which 1t is appropriated. The conse- | quence is that over $365, 100000 worth of | projects recommended by the engineers 1 have accumulated and cannot be dealt with properly on this meager allotment In order to get larger amounts devoted to | such work by the whole Congress, pub | lie sentiment has got to be awakened just IS it is now awakened for the navy. When the people informed as to the value of our rivers and harbors and learn how much money can be eapned to l the people if thorough improvement of the | waterways is undertaken at once. there will be a universal demand that larger amounts be devoted to such work, and Congress will heed that demand.
 There are some 1000 miles of navl- gable rivers traversing 40 states in the union which are capable of definite i'm provement so as to make them capable of carrying boats and barges at all times. If these can be put in an actual navi- gable condition during the next 10 years it will be equal to adding as much as i50 900 miles of railroad to our transporta- ion system, for every stream 100 feet wide md eight feet deep is equal to a 1O-tracR road.
 Tt Is estimated by Mir Hill and other masters of railroad construction that over 5.ooO, 100000 will be needed to construct le railroads required to carry the 'eghts of the country Yet $5o0000, ,0OC i'll equip the waterways and serve the lal role of regulating the rates and car ing the freights. It costs, according to bureau of statistics, an average of ] mills to carry ton of freight a mile
 rail last year. yet 1t only cost l mill
 carry ton by water. There were
 
 d, and if only mill could have been ed out of the 61a difference, 1t would os ye amounted to over $1S7, 900. This
 ernment could make no better invest a It than the expenditure of $500 900, ,O0( her waterways during the next lC rs. Alabama would feel the results
 uch an investment perhaps more than s, other state in the union, and hope
 will help us arouse this universal sen.
 mt.
 ' F. Vandiver of Montgomery is vice
 dent for the state, and he and Colonel asA will arrange itinerary for me
 isit every city in the state inter- I'd in the waterways during February
 .5 now on my way to arouse interest l ghout South Carolina, where mass
 ngs will be held in 12 cities during mainder of January"
 Marriage Licenses Issued.
 riage licenses were issued from
 flee of the probate court yester-