The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1909-12-10
nx AaeneIatad Press


Washington. D G. Dec s-rho Ma
tional Rivers aud iIarbors Congress
convened here today Tor q three day.
session. that Is expaeted % be produe
tive of great boneuts 10 sections
a8ected by the betterment Of the con
ditions of the rivers and hafbofs q
this country There are many prom
inent men OF the world IN attendance
After the formal opening OF tho con
gress, President Randall delivered bis
annual address
Outlining the work before the con
yention. President Ransdell spoke IN
part as follows
"We must make the people who
elect the congressman aud the state
legislators understand that water
transportation ls much cheaper than
rail for heavy, low class. bulky ar-
ticles We must make them under
stand that well improved system Of
canals and rivers with standard
depths along our seaboard and IN.
terror would furnish admirable faeil-
ities for moving freight and prevent
the congestion which eaused such
heavy losses three years ago aud
threatens 20 recm. We must teach
them that most OF the terminals on
the watereoursca ave owned by one
o. more railroads and used for selfish
interest with scat regard for the pub.
lie welfare
eThls situation viii be changed as
soon as the people demand IT, II Is
the duty OF the friends Of waterways
Ia see that the demand Is made i'm
mediately and strongly We must IN,
sure comprehensive policy of i'm
pfovement OF the nations waterways
BY am annual appropriation of $50,
100000 secured by an authorized bond
issue OF s500000oo year to be used
only when the current revenues are
not available. This is financial pro
eramme fully warranted by the mag
hitude Of The interests involved.
'iLet us protect our watercourses
from improper rail competition, with
state and national laws TO the end
that thls great natural resource may
bo used to assist III solving onr trans
partaton problems. the simplifying ui
which means Increased growth and
to every community Ia the
nation Those are the tasks before
us
President Rnsdell declared that the
railroad interests of the nation have
treated the Improvement Of water
ways with Indifference and silence and
he said be feared their position would
strengthen the advocates Of govern.
ment ownership Of the railroads. al
though he said he wished to 80 on
record against government ownership
Of rail lines
sAs good friend OF the railways
which consider the most marvellous
agents OF civilization aud progress on
EARTH he said. 4 sound this note Of
warming and insist that the strongest
weapon Of defense against this men.
ace OF government ownership, is the !
best possible transportation system
for the entire union, Of combined co.
relation mterdependent and friendly
railways and waterways cooperation
and not competition urge the
friends Of these two great agencies to
unite their forces aud secure In the
near future this end SO devoutly wish
ed by every lover Of the republic
Another splendid address was that
of Count fon BeFHstoFn the German
ambassador to the United states The
ambassadors address was largely
an exhaustive resume OF the develop
ment and maintenance Of inland water
ways Of the German Empire under the
direction of The minister of public
works rhe count told the congress
that re could not attempt TO draw
am lessons for the United tsates be.
cause Of the wide variance Of condi.
tlons existing IN the two nations
Count Won Bernestort sketched the
building of the early canals BY the
Prussian princess and took up his sub.
jet AZ the middle Of the past century
when the railroads OF the empire be
gan to show considerable develop
meut and the waterways seemed to
lose some OF their Importance nnt
eventually the condition turned and
ii the seventh decade of the last cen
tury. the railways in spite Of their
advantage were unable to meet all the
demands upon them, especially for
lowering their tarins for the transport
alton Of goods carried in great MASSES,
and the interest for water eommunlea
ton was revived
tA..t st4.4 tt.4Z 1p-H ~, EafaI