Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-12-10
ARE MANY TALKS
National Waterways Congress is
Still Occupied With Speaking
Program.
ALL AGREE on IMPORTANCE
lakes-to-the-Gulf Resolution Presented
to Leaders of Congress and Meet
Their Approval.
ALL AGREE on IMPORTANCE

Washington, Dec. 10--Prominent
speakers, among them Joseph G. Can
non, Joaquin Nabuco, Brazilian ambas-
sador, former Senator Higgins of Della
ware, James w. Van Cleave, president
of the National Association of Manu-
facturers, ]. A. Ockerson, Governor
Deneen and Senator Owen of Okla
homa, addressed today's session of the
National rivers and harbors conven-
ton.
BOnds for waterway Work.
Washington, Dec. 10.-Sentiment in
favor of the issuance of government
bonds for Improvement of rivers, har-
hors and canals gained considerable
headway at the opening sessions of
the annual meeting of the rivers and
harbors congress here yesterday. The
scheme contemplates the issuance OF
$500, 100000 worth of federal bonds for
internal water courses, to be distribu
ted over a 10-year period, or $4,000,
600 annually. Enthusiastic endorse
ment was given the proposition at the
rivers and harbors congress by such
leading figures as Vice President Fair
banks, Andrew Carnegie, Joseph E
Ransdell, president of the congress
and other speakers.
Vice President Fairbanks said the
time had arrived for intelligent deal
ing with the fact that waterway i'm
NV -,
dustrial and national needs. He ad
vocated at least part provision by {
bond issue to distribute equitably the
burden upon beneficiaries of the pres
ent and posterity.
Bryce and Carnegie Heard.
James Bryce, British ambassador
gave his experience in and knowledg,
| of waterway improvement in England
and said a forthcoming royal commits
sion's report would prove useful t.
the American government He spok,
of water carriage as auxiliary to rath
er than competitiye with rail trans
portation He cited the Caledonial
canal of England, however, as a warn
ing. 1t had not contemplated the siz,
of modern craft, and soon became ou
! of date The wealth brought to Man
chester by the canal from the Merse.
was set forth. Germany and the Rhin,
country were cited as an object les
son of internal waterway improvement
and advantage.
w. d. Lyman of Walla Walla, Wash
An1 h. 8 tINa ~,
as whole and the common bond o
sympathy in asking for federal aid.
Andrew Carnegie was applaude,
when he declared he would lend hi
aid to inaugurate an extensive sys
tenn of waterway Improvements.
| Are $500 Delegates.
Upwards of $500 delegates, repre-
senting A states and the territorie
of Alaska, New Mexico. Hawaii an,
Porto Rico, were in attendance. TIL
congress met in the Willard hote
auditorium.
The section of minerals reported al
Inual production in excess of $4,000
100000, second only to agriculture a
a contribution to national wealth. Th
Iannual waste is put at more than $500
100000. At the present rate of produt
ition exhaustion of present known cos
lsupply could be expected before tn
middle of the next century. The iro
supply Of the country is threatene
with exhaustion by the middle of tn
Ipresent century. The same fate, III
der present conditions, is said t
await petroleum, natural gas and pho:
Iphate rock.
Favor Other Project.
Washington. Dec. 10.-A delegatio
of 100 business men appointed at tn
lakes to the gulf deep waterways col
vention held in Chicago today, calle
on Vice President Fairbanks, Speake
Cannon and Senator Frye, chairman {
the committee on commerce. The st
of resolutions adopted at the recer
convention was presented to each an
, short addresses of acceptance mad
| Each favored the project.
OLD OFFICERS REELECTE