The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-11-29
POLICY NOT PROJECT
WATERWAYS MOVEMENT BEGINS
 TO TAHE FORM.
old Idea of Securing Appropriations Has Been Abandoned And Definite Policy Has
 Been Adopted.

Washington, Nov. 28--(Special)--In the discussion of Improvement of the inland waterways of the United States. the fact that the old time policy of sporadic appropriations for special ob- jects, not regarding the character nor the value of the stream when im-
 proved. is especially noticeable. The
 reason. though obvious always. was not given It's just weight in the times when appropriations for waterway Improvements went by favor and were looked upon in the light of fads. use- full in the, days preceding nominations
 rather than useful to trade and com
 merce. The trade and commercial in- terests of the country pushed forward by the irresistible force of develop ment are now as a unit in apprecia- tion of the fact that the inland water way Is the natural avenue between shipper and receiver and that. when improved. development can proceed on
 unhampered lines with freight conges- tons avoided and communication be- tween producer and a market always open.
 Moreover, all sections of the United States are united on the automatic
 proposition that all inland waterways worthy of improvement and with tom mage bearing capacity when improved. are component parts of one magnifi- cent system of transportation. each
 bearing its constituent part to the comprehensive whole. and with each to receive the attention of the govern ment of the United States In due time and with complete and effective con- sideration in the adoption of the plat form of the National Rivers and Har-
 bors Congress--"A Policy; not 6 Pro- 1ect."
 The policy of inland waterway im- provement Is now in the stage when
 unity of action on behalf of the adop- ton of the policy and the abandon ment of the project, will command suc- cess. There Is no longer question of
 the value of the improved inland | waterway to the trade and commercial interests of the United States. That value Is appreciated-and appreciated at a great cost to shipper and re-
 ceiver--on the Pacific coast. no less l than on the Atlantic. New England. with her manufacturing Interests. ap- preciates the inestimable value of the
 inland waterway improved no less
 than the value Is appreciated In the
 cotton and rice and the sugar fields
 of the South. now supplemented by
 the wonderful industrial develop
 ment or that section. The belt of
 manufacturing and mining states ex- tending from the Delaware crossing the mountains and stretching through
 to the Mississippi. appreciates the
 value-and across the Mississippi is
 the great West stretching to the foot hills of the Rockies.
 All sections, and all parts of sec- tions of the country, with each state
 of the forty-six having its especial treasure of mine or field or factory.
 are now as one in the demand for the adoption of that comprehensive plat form--"A Policy; not a Project."' The
 unity of desire Is conceded. The sup-' plemental force is unity of action. For that reason the absolute impor- tance of each and every section of the
 Union, and each and every trade and commercial organization being
 adequately represented at the sixth
 annual session of the National Rivers
 and Harbors Congress, at the New
 Willard. Washington. December sth.
 sth and 10th. cannot. be too strongly
 nor too consistently urged That Con-
 gress will mark the beginning of the
 end of delay and disunitei demands.
 The day of the policy. with a compre-
 hensive system of improvement of the
 inland waterways and the ending of
 the disastrous freight compositions will
 follow and be permanent.