The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-09
OFFICERS ELECTED.
Resolutions Passed by the Deep
Waterways Convention.

Chicago. Oct. s.-The old Of
hcers of the Deep Waterways
association were reelected with
the exception of D. r. Forgan. of
OF governors. Mr.. Forgan retired in
favor of E. S. Conway, Chicago. New
Orleans had no opposition for the
next convention and it will be held
in that city.
The following resolutions were
adopt:
ITO promote the general welfare is
recognized by the constitution of the
United States as one of the funda-
mental principles of government.
''The general welfare of the people
of the United States can best be pro-
NOTED by establishing the commerce
OF the country on sound basis and
so enlarging it that agricultural and
mineral resources may be developed
to the end that production and manu-
featuring may be encouraged.
Easy and adequate transportation
is the first essential for the develop
ment of the commerce of the United
States and the responsibility for this
development rests upon the general
government.
1T has been demonstrated during
the last 10 years that when business
conditions are normal the transporta-
ton facilities afforded by the rail-
roads are utterly inadequate and it is
stated by the traffic managers of
railroads that the department of
railway facilities can not keep pace
with the increased demands upon
them. The leading railway authori-
ties declare that water transportation
must be developed in order that the
freight of the country may be ham
died properly and promptly.
Under the constitution the regula-
ton of commerce between the states
devolves on the general government
and neither states or private capital
can be permitted under the constitu-
tion to assume these regulations.
"The duty therefore devolves on
the general government to give the
country adequate transportation facil-
tiles by developing the navigable wat
erways. This duty should be recog-
nized by congress at once and the
waterways should be made efficient
freight carriers. otherwise the United
States can not maintain commercial
equality with other nations, which
are paying adequate attention to their
waterways.
The Paramount Issue.
1.-The all important question of
transportation is a paramount issue.
If it be found that the current reve
nues of the government are insuffi-
cient for vigorously carrying out on
a broad plan, the development of our
waterways, congress SlOulO procure
funds for that purpose by providing a
sufficient bond issue.
'This convention declares that the
opening of a deep waterway channel
way connecting the great lakes with
the Gulf of Mexico, to be an impera-
tive duty of the general government
and that this work should be irnme-
diately begun and completed as speed
lily as possible.
ANY plan for inland waterway de-
velopment should comprise main
trunk line in the form of a strait con-
Meeting Lake Michigan with the Gulf
of Mexico by the Illinois and Missis-
sippi rivers
The resolutions say that the i'm
provement of the branches of this
main line should proceed simultan-
eously with the development of the
main line. The resolutions say that
the deep waterway is practically COM
plete from Chicago to Joliet and they
demand that congress at once pro-
vide funds sufficient to begin opera
tions in finishing a deep waterway
from ST. Louis to the mouth of the
Ohio. They continue:
This convention is in hearty ac-
cord with the recent movement in the
conservation of natural resources Of
the country and heartily approves the
efforts of the national rivers and har-
bors congress in seeking to develop
the waterways of the nation.
I'VE do hereby demand that a de-
finite and vigorous policy of water
way improvement beginning with the
lakes to the gulf deep waterway be
promptly adopted by the general
government"