The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-31
Favors Issuing Bonds.

asS' Q 'SSAih9 oOIOSs
 New Orleans, October 3O.-With Presi- dent Taft declaring himself squarely in favor of a bond issue for the develop ment of the countrys inland waterways and the governors of 21 states voicing as- surance of their hearty sympathy with the movement for such improvement, the first day of the Lakes-to-the-Gulf Deep Waterways convention was characterized by much enthusiasm. It was nightfalI when the last of the governors had been heard and the convention hall was emp tied of the hundreds of delegates
 Owing to the fact that much of the morning programme had to be moved forward it was decided to postpone the address of Clifford Pinchot chief forester of the United States until Monday.
 At Mondays session many members of the large congressional delegation in at tendance will make brief addresses in addition to the speakers. including Secre- tary of War Dickinson and Speaker Can ? non, whose names appear on the pro gramme.
 Arrival Sign for Applause.
 President Taft celebrated the success full termination of his trip down the Mis- sissippi river today by addressing the delegates at the convention of the Lakes to-the-Gulf Deep Waterways association. The arrival of the President was the signal for an outburst of applause. The delegates and visitors sprang to their feet many mounted their chairs In order to get better view of the lowing, smiling big man who was working his way throurh the double line of secret service men and police officers He stood on the platform a moment greeting President Kavanaugh of the waterways association and then bowed his appreciation of the applause.
 President Kavanaugh presented him with handsome gold badge and then in- troduced Governor Sanders of Louisiana, who in turn introduced the President.
 The applause broke out again and was reinforced with some vigorous Yale yells. When 1t died away President Taft com menced his address.
 The President began by having a little fun regarding the trip down the river He said the dangers great had all been run, and that the fleet had come through without the loss of a single man. Mir. Taft taunted the congressman and gover- nors for having resorted to the humiliat- ing device of land transportation at one stage of the journey. He paid a tribute to the city of New Orleans and the hos pitality of her people and then turned to serious discussion of the Mississippi. saying he hoped the present voyage and convention would make an epoch in the
 
 Ohio will Cost $e3,o0o,o 900.
 The President declared that no progress had been made in river navigation in this country in the last 40 or 45 years The waterways of the country Mir. Taft de- clared, must be used eventually to carry the bulk of heavy merchandise.
 The Presidents declaration that he rav- ored the issuance of bonds for carrying out the Ohio river improvement as one of the approved projects of inland water ways called out burst of applause The Ohio improvement will cost s63, 100000. MT Taft said that he also favored bonds for all other improvements, including the Mississippi just as soon a s q feasible pro- ject can be decided upon and can be shown to be necessary and justifable The Ohio river gives the bulk of business to the Mississippi. the President declared and every improvement of a tributary tended to increase the value of the great water highway to the gulf.
 The President told of the Improvements to the Mississippi on the way down, es- pecially in protecting the banks from a further sloughing off at the outside of the bends. The engineers say they need $2,000,000 more a year to carry on this beneficial work as it ought to be car ried on, and that it was a shame Con gross did not give 1t to them
 In conclusion President Taft declared that the time for oratory was past, and that it was now time to get down to brass tacks. He said:
 "It is now up to you gentlemen to decide what you will want, what it will cost, how long 1t will take and what the result will be. Once that is done, you can command, not ask"
 Compliment for Ladies.
 He paid a compliment to the women of New Orleans and predicted that if the del- egates to the convention remained here two or three days they would forget that there was such thing as a river.
 In his address this afternoon President Taft said:
 'I am delighted to be present (you see we adopt in our administration the Roose- welt policies to the fulD and to head the