The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-30
Washington viii Bethe Scene Of
Important Conventions
GOVERNORS TO Be PRESENT
Conservation of National Resources
Will Be Discussed, Followed BY
Country Life Commission and
Commercial Congress.

Washington, November 29.-(Special.)-
Next week gives abundant promise of
bringing together more representative
than have been gathered together in this
city for many years, on account of the
number of important conventions which
will meet here during that period.
President Rooseyelts conservation COM
mission will meet with the governors of
several states or their representatives
early in the week which has been very
apuy called "Conservation Week" TO be
followed by A meeting of the country
life commission. now making tour of
the western states for the purpose Of in
quiry as to the general needs of the far
mer and the things which will bring about
better farm conditions.
Immediately after the meeting of these
two commissions, which we're created by
President Roosevelt to meet a demand
for more comprehensive knowledge Of
our natural resources and betterment of
farm conditions, the southern commercial
congress will have meeting extending
over two days of the week of December
z, to be merged into the biggestt event
Of the year, so far as Washington is con-
cerned-the annual convention Of the ma
cember gil.
Commercial Congress.
G. Grosvenor Dave OF Montgomery,
chairman of the committee of arrange
ments for the southern commercial con-
gress, writing TO President Roosevelt of
the purposes for which the congress WAS
| formed, said:
Underlying he material aspects of
the soutt srn ~ aaarcial congress there
are three very earnest and important
purposes: first. to bring to the south a
more complete understanding of itself;
second, to bring to the rest of the union
more complete understanding of the
south; third. to bring to the business of
both sections, who will then be face to
! face a realization of a common ground
of interest and thus continue the oblit-
GRAFTON of sectional lines. Vastly import
ant though the topic of discussion will be,
the most important feature OF the whole
congress lies in personal contact and
fuller understanding of each other
Mr.. Dave further stated that from 1000
to 1900 representative men of the south
would attend the meeting of the first an
nual convention of the southern CONNER
cial congress in this city December 5,
and that Immediately upon its adjourn
ment would be merged into the national
rivers and harbors congress, whose ses-
sions will begin on December and con-
tinue until December IL.
Waterways improvements.
The meeting of the national rivers and
harbors congress will be its fifth annual
convention, and from the appointing of
delegates by governors of states. COM
mercial bodies and mayors of cities, there
is every justification in predicting that
Washington will be called upon to enter
tain the largest crowd OF representative
citizens in many years during the week
ending December u.
Secretary j. +. Ellison of Cincinnati,
o., master and owner Of vessels for
upwards of 40 years and one of the
pioneers for liberal yearly appropria
tions for waterways Improvement on
the part of the federal government is
authority for the statement that up
wards of 1000 delegates will be in at
tendance upon this convention, and
such an impetus will be given to the
work which the National Rivers and
that the national lawmakers cannot
that the nations law makers cannot
fail to appreciate the tremendous force
back of the movement for a definite
policy in the treatment of our rivers,
canals and harbors, thereby measur-
ing up to the standard set by European
countries in increasing the power and
importance of their own waterways.