Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-10-26
Great FIotiIIa of PaddIewheeI
Steamboats,, Conveyed by
Torpedo Boats, on 1900
Mile Voyage TO New Orleans.
STOPS AT EIGHT CITIES
ON WAY TO THE GULF
Taft and Cannon Endorse
Waterways Program, But
Urge Caution in lnaugufatIngI
Vast Expenditure of Money

IBy Morning journal Special Leased Wire
st. Louis, Oct. 25.~-When President
Taft left here at o'clock this after
noon after a strenuous day of speech
making, dining and riding, he en-
barked upon river trip OF nearly
1900 miles. Following the govern
ment steamer Oleander, on whose up
per deck the president stood, ac-
knowledging the thunderous farewells
of the crowds on the levees and
bridges. came ten river packets carry
ing two cabinet officers, thirty gov
ernors several diplomats "a number
of United States senators. nearly zoo
members of congress and officials OF
every state on both sides of the river,
hesides hundreds of delegates from
commercial bodies bound for the con-
vention of the Lakes-to -the-Gulf Deep
Waterways association at New or
leans.
The flotilla was preceded down the
river yesterday by the second division
of the Atlantic torpedo boat flotilla OF
the United States navy. This squad
ron, consisting OF the destroyer Mac
donough and the torpedo boats
Wilkes. Thornton and Tingey, is
charged with the duty Of preparing
for the proper reception of the presi-
ltnt It each OF the eight cities re
stops will be made before New Or
leans is reached next Saturday morn
ing. The squad is under the command
Of Lieut. Willis g. Mitchell, and has
been in st. Louis since the celebration
Of this city's centennial early in Oc-
tober.
The naval vessels will await the flo
tilla at Memphis and aim to keep well
ahead of the presidential fleet so that
the smoke from their tunnels will not
obstruct the view of the deep water
way delegates and the government Of
ficials whom they seek to convert to
tho project Of deepening the, river. For
similar reasons, considerable dis
tance was kept between the boats of
the presidential flotilla. Strenuous
rules were announced to the pilots and
commanders of the craft before their
departure, and every effort has been
made TO prevent either the grounding
of any of the boats or the more dread
cd possibility of collision.
The details of the journey have
been worked out under the supcrvi-
sion of Commander +. III. Tillman of
the United States navy, admiral of the
fleet ON board the Oleandcr In the
upper reaches of the river. a speed of
less than twelve miles an hour is to
be made. After the mouth Of the
Ohio has been passed however. the
lr ktrtn
ter pace. and in places will travel fif-
teen miles an hour.
inc flutilla was orga nized to
boost the cause of deep waterways.
This Is the frank declaration of the
officers of the association, its prcsi-
dent, W. X. Kavanaugh, saying
This personally conducted journey
OF President Taft down the Mississip
~ river Is being made to cali the per-
sofal attention of the president of the
United states. members of congress
army engineers and levee engineers of
the various interested states, to the
commercial necessity and possibilities
OF deepening the river. Federal CO.
operation is wanted by the states. and
We hope to see a river and harbor
sress carrying an appropriation suf-
hcient To put the deep waterway on a
continuing basis. like the Panama
canal.
The flotilla and its roster follows
steamer Oleander. carrying the
president and his personal party.
steamer Erastus Wells. carrying
Frank H. Hitchcock, postmaster gem
eral; Charles Nagel. secretary of com
meree and labor, and Mayor +. II.
hreisman, st. Louis.
Secretary of War j. NJ. Dickinson
WIZ Join the party at Memphis
steamer Mississippi. Carrying the
members of the Mississippi river COM
mission. and United states army and
state engineers
steamer st. Paul. carrying governors
ot states. newspaper men and special
quests OF the association
Steamer Lily. carrying foreign dip
lomats.
steamer Quincy. carrying Speaker
Joseph Cannon. John Barrett. director
international Bureau of American Re-
Puoiies. and members of congress.
steamer Saltillo. carrying officials
oil the Lakes-to-theGulf Deep Water
way association.
steamer Alton carrying members of
'ne 81 Louis Business Mems league.
Steamer Cape Cirardeau, carving
-N'ssouri. East. ST Louis. Belleville
ana Alton deep waterway delegations
and ladies.