Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-11-02
FIGHT FOR BOND
ISSUE TO GO ON
SECRETARY ELLISON OF NATION
AL ORGANIZATION SAYS CON-
GRESS WILL HAVE TO CONSIDER
WATERWAYS MATTER.

1NS" ollSduS, NoN. 1.-OWluS W IAS
departure of many persons counted on
to take part in the second days ses-
sion of the Deep Waterways conyen-
ton, there was much uncertainty to-
day as to the program. The principal
features of the day proved to be ad-
dresses by Secretary Dickinson and
Clifford Pinchot, chief of the forestry
service.
Various questions in connection with
the plan for river improvements were
brought up in this way and discussed
pro and con by the delegates.
Sentiment Divided AS to Depth.
The sentiment apparently was
largely divided. Some showed mark
ed disposition to follow closely the
advice of President Taft and decide on
what is feasible and advisable before
going ahead on the work
Others advocated more extensive
plans for deepening the channel than
those tentatively agreed upon and still
others believed 1t best to work for a
nine foot channel, but the vast ma.
jority still clung to the old slogan,
fourteen feet
Pinohot Gives Figures.
Forester Pinchot before the water
ways convention detailed the result of
surveys already made in the territory
and adjacent to the Mississippi, and
said that no matter what depth Of
channel may be needed there Is vast
amount of work to be done. The COM
mercial advantage of the deep chan
mel being settled, the only question
a MI fc fnfo o1 f0r a
fourteen foot waterway is estimated at
$159,000,000. From this he deducts
Illinois $20,000,000 appropriation and
$90,000000 for the regular work below
Cairo necessary whether the channel
is deepened or not. This, he said,
leaves s50,000,000 as the total estimat-
ed difference between the cost to the
United States il we build a lakes-to-
gulf deep waterway and the cost if we
do not build it.
President Taft's Speech.
The president in his New Orleans
speech 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 single
man. Mr.. Taft taunted the congress
IHeH anu governors LOT having reSOrteu
to the humiliating device of land
transportation at one stage of the
journey. The president declared that
no progress had been made in river
navigation in this country in the last
forty or forty-f1ve years. The water
ways of this country, Mr.. Taft de-
clared. must be used eventually tc
carry the bulk of heavy merchandise.
Bond Project Applauded.
The presidents declaration that he
favored the issuance of bonds for car
rying out the Ohio river Improvement
as one Of the approved projects of in
land waterways called out a burst OF
applause. The Ohio river Improvement
will cost s63,0o0,000.
Mr.. Taft said that he also favored
bonds for all other improvements in
cluding the Mississippi, just as soon as
a feasible project can be decided upon
and can be shown to be necessary and
justif1able. The Ohio river gives the
bulk of business to the Mississippi, this
president declared, and every improve
ment of a tributary tended to increase
the value Of the great water highway
TO the gulf.
Time for Talk is Past.
The president told of the improve
ments to the Mississippi on the way
down, and especially in protecting the
banks from further sloughine off al
the outside Of the bends. The engineers
say they need $2.0o0,000 more year tc
carry out this beneficial work as i
ought to be carried out, and that !
was shame congress did not give il
10 them.
Fight to Be Continued.
Washington, Nov. 1.-The fight fol
the authorization of a bond issue fol
the improvement of the rivers and
harbors will go on until it is won, de
spite the outspoken opposition o.
Speaker Cannon, according to Secre
tary Ellison of the National Rivers
and Harbors congress. This ques
tion of bond issue for waterways,
said Ellison today, "is a live one ant
congress will have to consider it ser
iously in the near future"
Serious doubt is expressed by Eli
son If river and harbor bill, com
mensurate with the needs of the coun
try, will be passed during the comm,
session, in view of the policy of thu
present administration to practice rie
i'd economy during the next fisca
year.