The Washington times., 1908-11-01
DEEP WATERWAYS
CONGRESS CALLED
National Rivers and Har-
borS Convention Meets
Here December 9.
GATHERING WILL BE
VASTLY IMPORTANT
Southern Business Men Will Be
Here in Force at
Same Time.

The official call for the fifth annual
convention Of the National Rivers ana
Harbors Congress has been issued. The
congress will meet In Washington De-
cember g. 10. and II. in the New Willard
At the last congress, held here in De
cenaber. 1907. there we're 1913 properly
accredited delegates, and il is expected
that the forthcoming convention VIII
prove Of even greater Importance than
the meeting of last year
while the congress is conservative,
and hesitates to extend the scope OF its
induence-the object being to create a
sentiment looking to the interests Of
rivers and harbors projects=another ell
fort Will probably be made by advocates
OF the Lakes-to-the-Gulf Deep Water
way to convert the congress 10 their
way Of thinking. Other projects quite
az important 10 their particular sup
pOrters viii undoubtedly come before
The meetings. and much interesting and
enliEhtening debate Is promised.
It's Importance.
improvements Of the waterways OF
the nation, members Of the congress
believe, will mean increased and cheap
ened transportation facilities for the
producer and the consumer, and that
there is no question before the Amerl-
can people more worthy OF their con-
sideration than the proper development
and utilization OF these natural chan
uels of trade.
Ii is pointed out that the platforms
Of both political parties have indOTsed
and declared for the Improvement OF
the waterways Of the country. This,
members Of the Congress assert. has
taken the matter of improving rivers
ana harbOrs out of the political field
and placed on the roll of business ques-
lions which demand solution by the
necessary action of Congress.
The frs. two weeks of December viii
be particularly active for many m-
portant conventions, ia addition 20 that
of the rivers and harbOrs congress.
which have been scheduled for that
time in Washington.
The first convention in December, and
one OF the most important viii begin
December /, when the National Conser-
walton Commission, organized at the di-
rectiOn of the President after the meet
ing Of governors here last spring, meets.
President Roosevelt is expected 10 take
a particular interest in the meetings of
the commission. and Will deliver an ad-
dress.
Divided Into Glasses.
The commission is divided into four
classes. one is a committee of thir-
teen, whose special duty is the Improve
ment OF streams, Another, also com
posed OF thirteen members, is IN charge
of the preservation of forests. Efforts
OF the third committee are directed
against the waste of land, and the
fourth committee has charge Of mineral
resources AT the present time this
committee is deVOting its energies to-
ward the more economical mining OF
coal
Between 1000 and $50 business men
from the South viii be brought TO
Washington by the Southern CONNER
Cial Congress, which will meet Decem-
Ter II. u and 10 The South is clamor-
ing for river and haTbOr Improvements,
and the sessions Of this organization
promise to develop almost as much dis
cussIon along these lines as the national
rivers and harbors congress
Preceding these meetings, however,
viii be that Of the Country Life Commits
sion, an adjunct of the conservation
congress.
Other meetings of unusual Importance
viii be held here in the first weeks Of
December, and, together with the regu-
lar sessions of Congress going on up on
Capitol Hill, Washington viii have it's
full share of notable gatherings.