New-York tribune., 1908-12-10
BONDS FOR WATER WAYS
THEIR ISSUANCE URGED.
We'll Kn07cn Men Address RlUerS
and Harb0rs Congress.

eral bonds for internal water courses, to be dis
tributed over a ten-year period. or 100000
annually Following the lead Of President Koose-
welt and Presdent-eIect Taft, both Of whom before
the joint conservation meeting yesterday adNo-
Gated the issuance Of government bonds foT the
construction Of permanent public improvements
enthusiastic Endorsement given the proposition
to-day by vice-Presdent Fairbanks. Andrew Car
negie Representative Joseph E. Ransdell, president
Of the congress. and other speakers 1t was
learned to-day that the conference would IN al
probability adopt resolutions asking Congress 10
authorize the issuance OF bonds
To-day's sessions brought together one Of the
most notable gatherings in the history OF the con-
gress. Leading figures in the public. industrial
and commercial life Of the nation indicated their
interest in waterway improvements by their pres
ence and participation in the proceedings Ihe
array OF speakers included Fice-President Fair-
banks. Andrew Carnegie, James Bryce the Brl'isa
Ambassador. ex-Mayor Seth Low, Of Ne" IorK'
Representative Joseph Z. Rausdell- champ 'lark'
of Missouri minority leader OF the House o. Rep
resentatives; Governor George L. Chamberlain OF
Oregon. Governor J y Sanders Of louisiana
Samuel Gompers. president Of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor: Judge George HulyeT. a neFDer
of the Georgia Railroad Commission. and Professor
" D. Lyman, Of Whitman College OF Washington.
FAIRBANKS FAvORs BOND ISSUE
In extending to the congress cordial welcome
TO Washington Vice-Presidant Fairbanks said it
was perfectly obvious that the improvement of our
waterways had not kept abreast Of our industrial
needs and our national progress The time had ar
rived he said. when We must give TO the subject
Of obtaining adequate transportation facilities At
minimum cost intelligent and effective consldera-
ton
In discussing the cost Of improving the water
ways the Vice President sid that as much Of the
benefit TO be derived from the expenditures would
be for the future a reasonable share OF the amount
should be provided Tor by bond issue so as justly
and eouitablv to distribute the burden among all
the beuefCiaries OF the expenditure. lie peHeVeu
that the Importance and magnitude Of the Work OF
improving the waterways were 50 eNcepllonaI III
character as u Justify the people in anticipating
future income by q reasonable bond issue
Ambassador Bryce vas then presented 10 the
congress. lie said in part
It is a pleasure 70 me to have the opportunity Of
joining in q discussion Of question so ~nonenIoIs ~ US
to the United states but what have 10 say ca sa N
and the only three which carry any great raul.
SfIsskow sI ana The Severn AMI Avon up Bristol
The canals have mostly passed iu-2 lte HsLIS m
railroad companies and comparatively T." d'V sum
ozr lTnHr-r7,e Tor the carriage of heavy freight,
such as coal salt lime. cement and so L2TJn. IN IN
railways. our official requirements Tor y s+Ley 9Ie are
strict and the great number OF swift passense-
trains which W. run makes the conveyance Of heavy
freight serious difficulty the way of maintain
ing with safety the complete efficiency Of the pas
Two Of our canals deserve word Of special men
tion. one IF them IS q warning Inc aleg,nl.,n man
ElrtL at Trterr,ass To- the Atlantic Ocean ~ Fort
william turns 10 account a line OF axes. ana was
s'd FT- asssIz coming from The North Sea TO
through the PeutIand Firth at the North Of Scot,
land. or the longer passage between the shetland
has been a commercial failure, partly, no DOUBT
owing the great increase tn TIE size or OCEAN
going vessels, and it has now noIhing but tourist
tr&ttr - P' i7n'en"e cost to carry vessels Of
large size from the sea al the mouth or the H'yer
,I Il ,,-as+rnert in has proved less prodtahIe
4o,ler : lhe hee,+ad II has proved of verv great
bene7r 10 Manchester and the surrounding district
by bringing trade into that great manufacturing
centre and it is nov very largely used by ocean
ned hardly say that the circumstances of Con
-Ire0raI Europe afford more i'm the way 0f practical
5 IIy recommend 10 you study OF the
erIendfd system Of internal navigation which has
sr r- enormous traf7c although on each side es-r
there run trunk lines o' ,slrgs1 re "e'eg sr4 also
gentlemen a larger river system t1an exists any
where else i'm the worIl except IN the tropical for
ests OF South America and in considering the great
plans 70 WIlel - EIII ,,+-.+ s1J s-,7-, -I,- = ,
vou will have the interest ana - 'Npd'hN or very
one who feels that this superb gfr or nature ought
ITc,nant 10 1e Of the unaaua1led natural resources
which YOUR country possesses
RANsDF1L. URGES sPEEuT ACTION.
The need Of some immediate legislation looking 70
the Improvement Of the waterways Of the country
was tho keynote Of the address Of Representative
TOSauh r Ransdeil president or the congress.
81 am convinced Mr- RausdeU declared. that We
should insist in the strongest manner both in the
resolutions OF convention and elsewhere upon
the prompt passag- Of large river and harbor
bill at this session If Congress and upon the com
initial of Congress 10 a broad liberal policy OF
waterway improvements and an annual river and
harbor bill carrying not less than Sl0U10Od0"
Mr.. Ransdeu declared that the sentiment in
favor Of improved waterways had been especially
marked IN the last twelve months In speaking OF
President RooseveIt's efforts in this direction he
said that Nj. Roosevelt the first President to
give special attention t. this subject and to advo-
cate it forcefuIIy In messages TO Congress he
smoke Ia favor OF the immediate adoption OF some
Of the most important waterway projects which
have been approved by TIE United States engineer
corDs with authority To carry these projects
through AT d fixed ratio per annum or their total
cost and urged an authorized bond issue OF $50 G0p.
~, a wear for ten years for this purpose. He rec
7rrl4t,,i.d The creation ot "a commission of nine
members TO study waterways and suggest 70 Con
sress "a plan Tor improving them also the prompt
massage of laws 90 prevent unfair discrimination
b, railways against carriers by water and that
,roner terminal facilities he provided for common
use by an carriers.
Iudee HHEyer and Professor l.y man made earnest
MEAS tor speedy action booking 60 the improve
f,ent of the nations waterways
Ar5reu carnegie iu bIs reul4rks declared % ~
Dali. baIiaf that there vas not "a mtn tn this c"un-
rrt r-ho "a o}Id obtect to Fl dill 'or the improve
1,ept or the WATERWAYS he warned the delegates
z-ainat the cons tIeratau # ~ecr"usl projects de
-larirz that PROJECTS national I'm their srore
what va. wanted. Mr. Carnegie gave bis en-