The Topeka state journal., 1908-12-09
The National Rivers and Har-
bors Congress Assemblies
In Fifth Annual Session at Ma
tiOnal Capital.
NOTABLE GATHERING
Includes Diplomats and Finan.
cierS.
Address by Vice President Fair.
banks and Others.

Washington, Dec. 9.-One of the
most notable gatherings ever assem-
bled in the history of this country in
the interest of waterway development
was called to order today when the
| national rivers and harbors congress
| met in fifth annual convention.
The congress is national in its pur-
| poses, representing all sections and all
waterways and is endeavoring to i'm
press congress with the necessity of a
comprehensive policy for improving
rivers, canals and harbors of the ma
| tion.
! Senators, representatives, diplomats.
captains of finance, governors of many
states, and others high in official life,
were present when Representative Jo
| Iseph E. Ransdell, of Louisiana, presi-
| dent of the congress, escorted to the
front of the platform, his eminence,
Cardinal Gibbons. whose invocation,
a prayer of thanksgiving to the giver
! of all resources, signaliZed the formal
| opening of the convention.
An address by Vice President ChaS.
| A. Fairbanks followed.
Ambassador James Bryce of Great
Britain told of the waterways of Great
| Britain in notable speech. Others
on the programme today were Judge
| George H. Hillyer of Georgia's railway
| commission; Samuel Gompers, the Ia
| Dor IeaQer, Governor George Il. CndH-
| herlain of Oregon; Seth Low, former
mayor of New York; Governor San
ders of louisiana; Representative
| Champ Clark of Missouri, and Prof.
w. D. Lyman, Whitman college, Wash
| ington.
Coincident was the first annual con-
vention of the woman's national rivers
and harbors congress, which held its
session simultaneously in another hall.
Fairbanks Address.
RI he rixy
| borS congress cordial welcome to
the city of Washington, Vice President
| Charles w. Fairbanks said it was
perfectly obvious that the improve
abreast of our Industrial needs and
our national progress. The time has
arrived. he said, when we must give to
the subject of securing adequate
| transportation facilities at a minimum
! cost Intelligent and effective con-
| sideratiOn-
In discussing the cost of improving
the American waterways the vice
| president said that as much of the
| benefit to be derived from the ex-
penditures would be for the future,
reasonable share of the amount
should be provided for by a bond is
sue. justly and equitably to dis
turb the burden among all the
| beneficiaries of the expenditures. He
believed that the Importance and
| magnitude of the work of improving
the waterways were SO exceptional in
| character as to justify the people in
anticipating future income by a rea-
sonable bond issue. The vice presi-
dent said that while the work of i'm
proving river navigation could
not be done all at once, the
rate of progress should be
determined by an enlightened con-
sideration of all the facts bearing
upon each project. While there might
be wide divergence of individual
/ a n two
of various projects, he had no doubt
a common ground of action might be
| found. The success of so vast an un-
! dertaking, in his Judgment. would de-
pend upon the dissemination of
accurate information as to the need
and cost of work and upon the arous-
ing of intelligent interest in it among
the people.
Appropriation of $4,000, 900.
President Ransdell called the con-
gress to order and addressed the dele
gates. The need Of some imme-
diate legislation looking to the i'm
provement Of the waterways of the
country was the keynote of his ad-
dress. Mr.. Ransdell asserted that the
time has come for decided action.
Il am convinced" he declared,
that we should insist in the strongest
manner both in the resolutions of our
convention and elsewhere upon the
prompt passage of a large river and
harbor bill at this session of congress
and upon the committal of congress to
broad, liberal policy of waterway
improvements and an annual river
and harbor bill carrying not less than
$50,000,000."
He recommended the creation of a
commission of nine members to study
waterways and suggest to congress a
plan for improving them.
James Bryce, the British ambassa-
dor, in the course of his address, said
he believed the canals are of the
greatest importance for the carrying
of heavy freight. He said that he be-
lieved that far from being hostile to
the railroads they are a positive ad-
vantage to them.
Mature has given you concluded
the ambassado "a larger river sys-
tenn than exists anywhere else in the
world. except in the tropical forests of
South America. and in considering the
great plans to which your attention is
now being directed you will have the
interest and sympathy of everyone
who feels that this superb gift of
nature ought to be turned to the ut
most advantage for the development
of the unequalled natural resources
which your country possesses
Death of Mrs. g. W. Spiker.