The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1908-12-10
WA TER WAYS
DISCUSSED
At One of the Most Notable
Gatherings in the His
tory oflthe Country.

4 1T4'ig y
WASHINGTON, D. G.. Dec. O.
One OF the most notable gathering
ever assembled in the history OF thi
country in the interest OF waterwa,
development was called to order to
day when the National Rivers ami
Harbors Congress met in annua
convention here.
Senators. Representatives. dfpio,
mats. captains OF finance. governor
OF many states and others high Ii
official life We're present, when Rep
resentative Ransdell. OF Louisiana
president of the congress, called tn,
congress to order.
Features of the program were ad.
dresses by Vice President Fairbank.
and Ambassador Bryce. OF Great
Britain.
The need OF some immediate leg.
islatson looking to the improvement.
OF the waterways of the country wa
the keynote OF the address. of tPresi.
lident Ransdeli. Mr.. Ransdell as
serted that the time has come 10.
decided action. He said that the
Congress has been passing resolu-
tons and doing educational work for
the past three years and that the
time is now ripe to see some results
of this work.
4 am convinced he declared
that we should insist in the strong
est manner both in the resolutions
OF our convention and elsewhere up
on the prompt passage OF q large
river and harbor bill at this session
OF Congress. and upon the co1nmittal
OF Congress to broad, liberal pol
Icy OF waterway improvements and
an annual river and harbor bill car.
rying not less than $50,0O0.00O.
There have been innumerable ex-
pressions." the speaker continued,
in approval of our policy by the
most advanced statesmen, publicists,
and thinkers in the Union, and II
any man of note has disapproved OF
II l have no knowledge thereof.
Practically the entire press of the
land has favored US and thousands
of articles in explanation and adyo.
cacy OF our cause have been pub
lished In every part of the country.
And yet.'' he declared, 1.-THE
definite results We have in view
seem still far from attainment. In
spite of the fact that we advocated
with, sall our force q bill for. rivers
and harbors at the last ses-,nn OF
Congress and that there was not oae
dissenting voice against Its passage
in either house; the session closed
without passing the bill and We
have mo- positive assurance of bette.
treatment at this session."
MIR. Ransdell declared that the
evidence in favor of improved water.
ways has been especially marked
duringthe past twelve months. IN
speaking OF President Roosevelt's eff
forts in this direction he asserted that
Mr.. Roosevelt is the first President
to give special attention to this sub.
iect and advocated it forcefully IN
messages to Congress. He mention.
ed the fact that both OF the leading
political parties, as well as most OF
the others. declared in their plat.
forms In favor of improving oui
waterways on liberal and compte.
hensive lines and that at a grea:
many conventions many of gu,
brightest men have declared in favor
of the same policy and insisted upon
its immediate adoption by Congress
He suggested, that every man a
the convention should constitute
himself q committe OF one to con
fer with his senators and representa-
tives and when he, returns home ~
duce his friends to do likewise, de
claring that thus "the pressure o.
public opinion would become 1irresis
tible and before the close of THU
session there would he at least ;
good start made on the desired leg
islation."
He spoke in favor Of the immed
late adoption of some OF the most I'M
portant waterway projects which
have been approved by the United
States Engineer Corps, with author
ity to carry these projects through
at fixed ratio per annum of theil
total cost, and urged an authorize,
hood issue of $5o,00O,0O0 per yea
for ten years. He recommended lii,
creation of a commission of min,
members to study waterways an,
suggest to Congress plan for i'm
| proving, them: also the prompt mass
age Of laws TO prevent unfair dis
examination ibs. railways against CIR
riers by water and that proper ter
minal facilities be provided for com
mon use by all carriers.
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