The Cairo bulletin., 1909-11-02
DEEP WATERWAY ADHERENTS
WILL SEND 500 LOBBYISTS
TO WASHINGTON AT ONCE

started by Francis speech.
The addresses of Representative
Ransdell. of Louisiana, president of
the national rivers and harbors con-
giess, Secretary OF War Dickinson
and Chief Forester Pinchot were the
principal features of the second days
session of the deep waterways con-
yention. Many of those counted upon
to participate in today's discussions
had departed. This was especially
nrue this afternoon, only about n
hundred being present when the late
afternoon session opened.
Speaker Cannon's Letter.
Speaker Cannon was expected to
speak today, but he sent President
Kavanaugh the following letter:
Il am called to Illinois by manda
tory telegram. VIII you present my
regrets. | assure the convention that
am in harmony with the earliest So
luton practicable of the engineering
problems in connection with the con
struction of the Lakesto-the-Gulf
Deep Waterway With the adoption
of plan, thereon, | am as ready as
any citizen and representative to sup
port the plan for ample appropriations
for a speedy, effective and continuous
prosecution of the work upon such
waterway until it is finished.
Senator Lorimer.
The time allotted to Mr.. Cannon was
given to Senator Lorimer, of Illinois.
Mr.. Lorimer described the birth of the
waterway idea, the troubles of its in
fancy, the objections and obstcles its
creators faced. He said:
"We had no presidents to assist us:
no congressman nor senators to help
us. Even now certain gentlemen
when approached about the project,
step around as though they might
tramp upon eggs But | don't blame
them. | studied the question five
years before was willing to say that
the plan was feasible. | went to the
army engineers, river pilots and othe:
experts. They said the scheme was
simply ont OF the question.
! Lorimer discussed the gradual
change in the view of the engineers,
read recent reports showing that a
fourteen foot channel was feasible
and pleaded for the persistent fight
for the IA foot plan. He said his idea
was that the best plans were a lock
and dam system at the cost of $685.
000,G00 or the regulation system of
| }5S,O0O,00O.
I.ormer pointed out that the Ohio
and Missouri rivers must be improved
| in order to minimize the effects of
| their silt discharges in to Mississippi
and that the term IA foot channel
meant minimum 1t meant, he said,
that there might be as much as "a
| feet of water in the channel four
months every year.
| The launching of these various
questions in connection with the i'm.
provement plans of the Mississippi
and its tributaries caused animated
discussions The sentiment was divid-
ed, some were disposed to follow the
advice of Taft and decide just what
was feasible and advisable before go
ing ahead, but the vast majority clung
to the slogan IA feet through the
valley"
Tribute to Women.
A surprise was sprung this after
noon when President Kavanaugh
said: When two years ago, the Wom-
ans National River and Harbor Con
gress was organized many laughed
Today that congress has member
ship of $500. When we have the
women with us. we must win. | want
to present Mrs. Hoyle Tompkies, OF
Shreveport, La, president of the
| Woman's Rivers and Harbors Con
gresa"
President RanadeII Speaks.
"The demands of commerce fully
warrant a large expenditure to con
meet our Great Lakes and the Gul
with a waterway of suitable dimen
sions for all present and prospective
needs National pride prompts !
| strongly. We need this connection il
order to permit free interchange BY
cheap water transportation betweer
the innumelable cities and towns o
the Mississippi Valley and those 0
the Great Lakes
Thus Representative Joseph f
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Concluded on Sixth Page)