Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-12-10
OUR WATERWAYS.
Bond Issue Favored For
Their Improvement.
Congress 10 Be Asked TO Au-
thorize S5OO,0O0,0OO Issue.
Notable Gathering at Conservation
OF Forests Convention.


favor of the issuance of government
bonds for a comprehensive improve
ment of the rivers, harbors and canals
Of the country, to the end that the
country shall have the greatest system
of waterways in the world gained con-
siderable headway at the opening ses-
sion of the annual meeting of the river
and harbOrs congress here today.
The scheme contemplates the iSsu-
ance of $500 000,0oO worth of federal
bonds for internal water courses to be
distributed over 10-year period, or
$50,000,00o annually. Following the led
of President Roosevelt and President
elect Taft, both of whom. before the
joint conservation meeting yesterday
advocated the issuance of government
bonds for the construction of perma-
nent public improvements enthusiastic
endorsement was given the proposal
today at the Rivers and Harbors Con-
gresi by such leading figures as Vice
President Fairbanks, Andrew Carnegie.
Joseph f. Ransdcll, president of the
congress, and other speakers.
1t was learned today that the con-
gress will in all probability adopt res
olutions asking Congress to authorize
.
witnessed 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 wa
terways Improvement by their presence
and participation in the proceedings.
The notable array of speakers includ-
eG Vice President Fairbanks, Andrew
~ tha vlvit ict
ambassador, former Mayor Seth Lowe
of New York: Representatives Joseph
T. Ransden, Champ Clark of Missouri,
minority leader Of the House of Rep
resentatives; Gov. Chamberlain of Ore
gon: Gov. Sanders of Louisiana; Sam
uel Gompcrs, president of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor; Judge George
Hllyer a member of the Georgia Rail-
road commission, and Prof. w. d. Ly-
man of Whitman College, Washir gton.
Upwards of $500 delegates, represent
ing Al states and the territories of
Alaska, New Mexico and Hawaii and
Porto Rico We're in attendance. The
congress resembled a political conven-
ton somewhat. the various delegations,
under blue and white banners, denot-
ing their respective states and terri
Willard hotel auditorium.
Out of respect to the memory of the
late w. T. Van Diver of Alabama, vice
president of the congress. who died to-
day in Montgomery. a resolution was
adopted extolling him for his great in
terest in the cause of waterways eX-
ransion Interest easily centered in the
address of Andrew Carnegie. who re-
coived an ovation when he declared he
would lend his aid to an extensive sys-
tenn of waterway improvements.
Mr. Carnegie made a characteristic
speech in which he took issue with the
pessimists as to the future of the
country. '"These people," he said, ''are
always talking about how slow the
world travels. The trouble with them Is
that they are looking forward too
much. Let them look back where We
once We're and where stand today"
Mr Carnegie gave his enthusiastic
endorsement of the proposition advo-
Gated yesterday by President Roosevelt
and Mr. Taft before the conservation
commission for the issuance of bonds
for the improvement of our water
courses.
When Gov Chamberlain of oregon
advocated the defeat of senators and
representatives who have pledged
themselves to waterway improvements
and who fail to redeem their pledges.
Rep. Champ Clark declared Congress
is net opposed to the river and harbor
improvements and never has been. He
expressed the belief that If Congress
were presented with a feasible. compre-
hcnsive scheme of waterway improve
ment, it would be adopted.
Ex- Mayor Seth Low said that the
present greatness of New York City
was due largely to the building of the
Eric canal. He expressed the belief that
New York state would support national
waterway projects as heartily and un-
rescrvedly as any other state. -
Gov Sanders of Louisiana spoke Of
the effect of the floods on the Missis-
sippi river upon his state and said
it was time the general government
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