Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-10-20
ISSUE BONDS FOR
RIVER IMPROVEMENT
ALBERT BETTINeER ADVOCATES
RAISING FUNDS FOR WATER
WAY DEVELOPMENT.
QUOTES PRESIDENT TAFT FOR
AUTHORIZATIONS INDIcT-
MENT OF PosTERITY.

Cincinnati. Ohio, Oct 16.-Pointing
to President Taft as an advocate OF
bond issues for similar prospects,
Albert Bettinger of Cincinnati, speak
ing before the Ohio River Improve
ment association today, advocated
the raising of funds by that method,
if necessary, for the early complexion
of the project under consideration.
1.-THE all important question" ne
said, 'is whether in a work OF THIS
magnitude, which already represents
an investment of ten million dollars,
the government shall proceed at It's
present rate of progress, which Will
REQUIRE fifty years for its complexion,
or. whether the means should be pro-
yided. by bond issue, if necessary,
with which the completion can De
compassed in a period of ten years.
The simplest business consideration
demand the latter course.
"Under our plan of government,
the speaker continued, "our chief re-
lance for congressional action must
be upon the congressman representing
the districts lying in the ONO vaiiey'
and especially. those bordering on the
Ohio river. Representatives from the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts can hardly
be expected to initiate measures Ior
the more rapid progress OF the ONO
river improvement. Our representa-
tiyes must be the earnest and active
SPONSORS of our cause in congress. Ii
must he their cause in the same de-
gree as it is the cause OF their CON
stituencies. They must truly repre-
sent the spirit of advancement Wnlch
prompts these vast constituencies te
labor year after year to make OF the
Ohio river an avenue OF transpofta
ton capable of carrying at all times
the burdens of an ever increasing
commerce through the valleys OF
veritable empire.
mo body of representatives ever
held nobler commission than is thus
entrusted to Ohio valley representa-
tives in congress. None of the otnel
great water way Improvement projects
have reached the perfection OF plan
nor that advanced stage of partial ex
ecution which calls for extraordinary
measures to hasten their completion
president Taft on several pubic
occasions expressed the opinion thai
projects like the Ohio river improve
ment should be provided for by a
bond issue. That is the economical
the business view The statement
that by so doing we would be mort
gaging posterity' is a well sounding
catch phrase, but does not sound III
reason. These improvements are for
all time, and rather by their neglect
than by their completion would we be
lacking in our duty to posterlty
"There is no posterity in the sense
that the burdens of government are
cast by one generation upon another'
These burdens are continuous, IN the
discharge of which each generation
must and does do its part
washington declared in a letter TO
a friend in 1888, in speaking OF the
Waterways which a kind providence
had bestowed upon us that he wished
tn God we had the wisdom to improve
Them A century and quarter nave
passed since the father of his country
whose craftsmanship was born OF the
unrest patriotism, uttered that fervent
PRAYER, and yet we have barely begun
the task. just and severe indeed
will be the indictment which posterlty
will find against us, if we longer de-
Law the performance of plain duty.