The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-11-07
RIVERS AND AARBORs
CONGRESS NEXT MONTH

/ Washington. Nov s.-John A. Fox,
special director OF the National Rivers
and Harbors congress. which holds Its
/. sixth national convention In this city
December .. and 10. Is enthusiastic
Z over the prospects for the biggest
gathering of waterway advocates this
country has ever seen. Mr.. Fox, who
Is an engineer OF distinction, having
been connected with many of the big
waterway projects of the country. Is
just completing tour of the United
States In the interest of the National
Rivers and Harbors congress, whose
cardinal plank is IA policy and not a
project. I'm so far as the waterways
of the United States are concerned
MIR. Fox, who Is an earnest advocate
for bond issue of $500. 900, 600 to be
spent upon the rivers, harbors and
canals OF the United States To make
! them equal OF the best In Europe said.
speaking or his tour OF education for
better Waterways:
Il have just completed practically
the same circuit of the United States
that President Taft is now making.
having travelled over $4,000 miles since
going south of this city last De-
ccmber. II took me down the Attain
tic scaboard to Florida. through the
southern states To the Mexican border
on the Rio Grande. up the Pacific
coast states from San Diego on the
south to Bellingham on the north of
Puget sound, back through the valley
of the Columbia and Missouri rivers,
east along the lakes. Down to the
Ohio and Tennessee rivers and now
again to the Atlantic seaboard.
Throughout that entire journey the
pulse of the nation has been quick
cned for "A bigger. better and broader
system of waterway Improvement. The
Pacific coast harbors need immediate
appropriations from Congress to deep
on them and provide for commerce
through the Panama canal. San Di-
ego, Los Angeles. Oakland. Eureka.
Portland. Grays Harbor. Tacoma and
Seattle must be provided for more lib
orally in the future If the western
coast is To reap the full benefit of
the great isthmian cut now being
made The Sacramento and San
Joaquin. the Columbia and Snake
rivers ON the western slope traverse
II country that is developing too fast
10 wait for appropriations made in the
old manner. They must receive larger
amounts from congress if the country
is 10 receive any marked benefits.
The great region adjacent To the
Missouri river in Montana. Nebraska.
Iowa and Missouri is awakening from
the disert. like Il huge giant under the
wonderful touch Of irrieation: and
that magnificent artery of traffic can
no longer be allowed tn remain un-
used and unserviceahie when the
farmer In that railroad bound empire
is paying Il and Is mills per ton per
mile to move his product that could.
by judicious expenditure of money.
ON the great river. be moved for ~.
mills ut most by water.
The people along the Ohio, the
Tennessee and the upper Mississippi
rivers are clamoring for relief through
adequate water transportation. and ii
every member of congress could have
heard the unanimous cry that | have
listened to during my $4,000 mile tour.
for larger and more regular appropria-
tons on tn part of congress for
business-li;Se development of our
great arteries of traffic. | am sure
that relief would be provided. and that
quickly. From all that | have gath
cred throughout this tour | judge that
the meeting of the National Rivers
and Harbors congress to be held in
December will be attended by fully
5000 of the best business men of the
country, bent on securing favorable
legislation for our river and haraor
Improvement at the coming session
OF congress. Fifty million dollars an
nually must be provided for. and IL
current revenues do not warrant such
an expenditures, then we must issue
bonds and begin this great work at
once