The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-12
WflERWAYs
DISCUSSED
Elaborate Banquet at
New Orleans.
RECEPTION TO BATTLEsHIP
Representative Rznsdeu Talks Of
Mississippi River.
He Predicted successfui Conplstion
es the Project to Make the Mis-
sisaippi River . Great
.Theroughfare.
RECEPTION 10 4AT1LEsHIr

double purpose OF celebrating the first
passage OF big modern warship VI
the Mississippi river to q point as
high as Natchez. thus giving great
impetus to the deep waterways move
msnt, and also public reception TO
the officers of the battleship Missis-
sippi. the citizens of New orleans en-
tertained at an elaborate BANQUET to-
night.
The banauet was given In the palm
garden OF the ST. Charles Hotel and
was attended by about I'VE hundred
prominent citizens Of the city, sew
eral out-ef-town guests who have
played conspicuous parts In the mat
ter Of deepening the waterways of
the country, ana the officers OF the
Mississippi. The battieship starts for
Natchez, Miss, tomorrow morning and
the banquet was made the occasion
of several addresses exhaustive OF
the good will OF the people OF the
Mississippi Valley and best wishes for
successful trip up the river.
Mayor Behrman presided and intro
duced the speakers In turn. Captain
Fremont. OF the Mississippi. restpnd-
ed to the address of welcome BY the
mayor and told of his apprecia ton
and that OF his men for the court
estes that had been extended them.
Representative Joseph &c. Ransdeii a,
Louisiana, President of the National
Rivers and Harbors Congress. was the
principal speaker of the evening. He
predicted successful completion oil
the project to make the Mississippi
River great thoroughfare, the con-
summation OF which, he declared would
prove Of the greatest benefit to chica.
so. St. Louis, Pittsburg, Cincinnati
Louisville. Memphis and New Orleans
Representative Ransdell said:
During the steel and iron age OF
fhe past half century, transportation
on our rivers has been much neglected
and In many instances the rivers ars
scarcely used at all. But change 1,
In sight The business world b be,
ginning to realize that water is ths
best, the cheapest and the auickes
agent for transporting low class bull
articles. and IL is determined "a utilize
the rivers again as in the past and al
| the Germans ana Frehcii DO at tl9i
time. IN Germany and ID Franc,
| transportation by water costs abou
one-fifth as much az by rail-, and Ia tbs
United states on our few thoroughly
improved water courses. about one
sixth as much as by rail, hence II
would be well to improve our waters.
THE cost will be Unexpectedly
one-half billion dollars--but It would
pay heavily as an Investment, and II
funds are not available out OF current
revenues, they should be provided by
bond Issue of $50.o00,o 900 per year fol
ten years. Railroads are always built
by bonds; the great Panama and Erie
canals are now being constructed out
of the proceeds of bonds; why not I'm
prove our waters In the same way
Posterity will reap most of the benefii
from permanent waterway improve.
ments and should help to pay for them
The invocation was asked by Father
Whireney, the chaplain OF the Misgis-
sippi. and the tall priest with THE
ascetic face, attired In evening clothes
was the center Of attraction during
the brief blessing which he invoked
AS the band struck out into a stirring
march. the guests were seated and the
dinner began.
When the menu had been disposed
Of. Toastmaster Behrman called for q
standing toast to the President .of the
United States, the commander In CHIEF
OF the navy. To the tune OF Dixie,
spiritedly played by the band, the
great throng stood and cheered as II
drank the toast.
Philip Werlein, who was to havs
responded to the toast '"rhe New Or.
leans Progressive Union" was called
home by the news that his wife had
shot at a presumptive burglar. His
toast was responded to by Chief Dep.
uty Collector of the Port l.. q. Bent.
ley, in clever and witty talk.
Mr.. Bentley, who Is native of Ohio
referred to Captain Fremont as the
son OF the great pathfinder and elicit
ed thunders OF applause. which became
a storm when he nominated the cap
tain for Vice President.
NJ T Sanders one Of fhA vina nraa nj.
dents of the deep waterways conven-
ton, responded to the subject. Lakes
to the Gulf"
He scored the Navy Department for
its apprehension as to the safety of
warship on the river and declared
he felt that the Niger in the wood.
pile" was the fear OF the East and
that big naval station at New Or
leans would rob Brooklyn of its big
commercial asset.
Captain Fremont, grizzled, bluff and
blithe, followed Congressman Ransdell
and in a few hearty words thanked
the city of New Orleans for its court