Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1908-12-11
THE FIFTH SESSION.

The fact that not less than 400(
delegates are expected to attend the
fifth session of the National Rivers
and Harbors Congress, to convene
at Washington on December and
continuing throughout the two sue.
ceeding days, is a complete evidence
of the deep interest taken in the
vital question of waterway improve
ment. The expectation is not only
based upon the membership of the
Congress-a membership constantly
growing-but upon the official Motif
cations from governors of states,
.ayors OF cities, presidents and
secretaries of agricultural, indus
trial, commercial financial and
trade organizations and on notif1ca-
tion from local associations organ
lied for the advancement of the
cause of waterway improvement.
The Ohio Valley Improvement As
sociation one of the strongest as 1t
was one of the earliest associations
advocating waterway improvement,
will be represented by not less than
$50 delegates with the associations
for the improvement of other great
waterways cordially uniting in the
work of the National Rivers and
Harbors Congress because Of its
broad and comprehensive plat
forms-"A policy; not Project"
1t is now fully recognized that
waterway improvement can only be
accomplished by adhesion to that
platform of principles. A definite
system of operations is required no
less in public works than 1t is in
private enterprises. There can be
no success where the parts of what
should be harmonious whole are
made the subject of appropriation
by no means adequate, with the
work dependant upon the willing
ness of congress to consider the sub
ject, and with the subject frequently
postponed for the reason that 1t is
considered merely local in its intent
and purpose. Appropriations have
been dependent upon the influence OF
the particular representative and al
ways with the fatal defect that the
.~Ject OF waterway improvement
Is not, until the organization of
ne National Rivers and Harbors
Congress, presented in its proper
light-as national and not local in
Importance, in its intent and in its
purposes.
Fortunately the question of water
way improvement is now considered
from the standpoint Of its immeas-
ureable and its national Importance.
With the question made part of the
fixed and settled policy of the gov
ernment; with annual appropria-
tions made in adequate amounts;
with the merit Of the stream and the
favorable report of the board of en-
gineers, U. S. A, determining the
work and with the work continuous,
waterway improvement will become
an established fact-which it never
would become under the ol1-tiuio
plan of sporadic appropriations, in
adequate in amount and with the
work of improvement dragging and
delaying. 1t is unnecessary to dilate
upon the advantages of waterway
Producer, shipper
and receiver, confronted with freight
and with admitted ina
oility on the part of present means
of transportation to handle the
reight offered as it should be han
died, know the inestimable advant-
ages that would come to all classes
and conditions of trade, commerce
and agriculture from the improve
ment OF waterways-and the great |
number Of delegates to the National
Rivers and Harbors Congress Is in
evidence OF the knowl-
edge 1t will undoubtedly be the
most important meeting of the series,
with all sections OF the country alike |
interesting and aiding in the work
Of the Congress through which alone
waterways improvement can be
brought about.