Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1908-12-10
For River and Harbor Work.

Washington, ID. c., Dec. 9.-With
upwards OF 1000 delegates In attend
ance, coming from nearly every state
and territory OF the Union. the NTH
annual convention of the National
Rivers and Harbors Congress was
opened here today. The chief pur'
pose of the gathering Is TO urge the
government to make provision annual
ly for river and harbor work and car
ny II forward on systematic scale,
instead OF leaving the river and har.
Dor bill as a pork barrel measure
with which TO dump a few millions
into congressional districts where II
will do the most good on the eve OF
an election.
President Joseph Il. Ransdell OF
Louisiana called the gathering TO or.
der. The business sessions of the
convention will continue three days
and papers and addresses will e'pre-
scented covering practically every
phase OF the subject by men familiar
with the problem OF inland watrways,
An elaborate programme OF entertain
ment has been arranged for the Wis.
ltors.
The congress will discuss water.
way projects and harbor improve.
ments In all parts OF the country. Par.
ticular attention will be given, how.
ever, TO the plans for deepening and
improving the Ohio and Mississippi
rivers for commercial navigation. An
other leading subject OF discussion will
be the development OF the proposed
inside passage along the Atlantic
coast, so that warships. scattered at
different Atlantic stations could run
under shelter to rendezvous.
Foremost among the scheduled
speakers ut the congress are Andrew
Carnegie. Ambassador Bryce OF Great
Britain. who will present review OF
the waterways and canals OF the
United Kingdom and their relation to
trade and commerce; Ambassador Ma.
buco of Brazil. Major J, A. Ockerson
of the Mississippi river commission,
Governor w. +. Frear of Hawaii, Sec
rotary of the Interior Garfield, Horace
Mcfarland, president of the Nationl
Civic Federation; Governor n. b,
Broward of Florida. who Is the presi.
dent of the National Drainage associa'
ton; Admiral G. NJ. Chester. who was
a delegate to the international water
ways congress recently held in St
Petersburg, and President Samuel
Gompers of the American Federation
of Labor, who will discuss "Labors
Interest In Waterways Development
The initial session today was given
over largely to welcoming the guests
and organization. When this had been
accomplished Secretary j. +, Ellison
proceeded to read the official call for
the gathering. The call was In par
as follows:
THE improvements of the water
ways of the Nation, which this nation
al convention will advocate and dis
cuss, means increased and cheapened
transportation facilities for the produc
er and the consumer. and there Is nc
question b. fore the American people
more worthy of their serious thought
development and utilization OF these
natural and economic channels OF
trade and transportation.
"The National Rivers and Harbors
Congress advocates policy, not q
project: IL represents no particular
section or project, but Is the direct
representative of all sections that have
meritorious claim for the improve
ment of n river, lake, harbor or
canal, This national organization
with delegates from every part OF
the Union-in national convention as
sembled. will advocate and stand for
broad liberal, comprehensive pol
icy for the, improvement by the Fed
eral Government of all waterways that
have been examined and favorably
reported upon by the United States as
worthy of Improvement for the bene-
tit of the commerce of the country.
The platform OF the two great po'
litical parties have unequivocally in
dorsed and declared for the improve
ment of our rivers and harbors is thus
taken out OF the political field and
placed on the roll of business. ques'
lions, the solution of which Is de-
manded by all sections and all branch
es of trade and commerce from their
representatives In the Congress OF the
United States"