The Pensacola journal., 1909-12-19

In May, 1907, few 'hair-brained
enthusiasts met in Mobile, Ala, to
advocate federal construction Of an
inland waterway to connect the Missis-
sippi and the ApaIachicola rivers, and
thence across the Florida peninsula.
Prior to this meeting the Mobile Reg
lister published the following letter
from Mr.. Geo. A. Waterman, secretary
OF the Pensacola Chamber of Com
merce:
Gentlemen: Owing to the White
House conference on May the 18th,
which will discuss canals among other
factors in the conversation of the ma
turaI resources of the nation, the Apa-
lachicola Board of Trade, the inaugu-
rator Of the convention in the interest
of the Gulf coast canal, urges that the
said canal convention be held May the
7th.
"Appreciating the advantage of that
date, and local conditions being such
as TO preclude the reasonableness Of
our undertaking the convention on
that day, the board of directors of
this body has directed me to withdraw
my ivitation to meet here, and to NOM
mate and urge Mobile for the conven-
tion. l first secured the approval OF
Apalachicola, which joins in our re-
quest that the Mobile interest at once
get busy.
I'VE look upon the Pensacola-M Mobile
section of the proposed canal as the
most practical part of the project, for
which reason l. am especially anxious
that the convention should be held in
either Mobile or Pensacola and the
strike situation here, which is quiet on
the surface but intense, with the busi-
ness interests strongly aligned On dl-
vision OF sentiment, precludes that the
degree Of promise of suitable condi-
tions in the near future that alone will
justify US in pressing our invitation"
April 18th The Pensacola Journal
devoted q page to the subject, contain
ing q map Of the United States show
ing the proposed waterway and letters
from many Interested persons. The
Columbus, Ga, Ledger April 23rd pub
lished an article entitled, "Apalachi-
cola is now astir for an east coast
waterways convention"
Delegates at Mobile Meet.
The delegates who attended the Mo-
bile meeting are as follows
T. ]. Pryor, Mary Esther, Fla; E. Q.
Norton, Daphne, Ala; Geo. P. Went
worth, Pensacola, Fla; Jno. Walker,
Magnolia Springs, Ala; Robert l. Ran
dolph. Chicago, ILL.,; DIR. J. NJ. Spence,
Sumatra, Fla; Leland J. Henderson,
Apalachicola, Fla; G. A. Waterman,
Pensacola, Fla; R Howard, Columbus,
Ga-: Chas. ]. Swift. Columbus, Ga: b.
A. Ellis, PascagouIa, Miss; Peter
Smith and Geo. H. Hoyle, Battles,
Ala: Frank Fesler, Foley, Ala; W. c.
Dinwiddle, Bay Minette, Ala; J. NJ.
Greene, Bay Minette, Ala; T. NJ. Nc
MILAN, Stockton, Ala; H S Greene,
Fairhope, Ala; c. a. Swift, Bon Sc
cour, Ala; H. c. Bartling. Swift. Ala;
Gordon Childress, Bon SecOur, Ala;
r. F. Powell, Fairhope, Ala; E A.
Strong. Daphne. Ala; w. J. Mason,
Daphne, Ala; a. NJ. Jackson, Palmetto
Beach, Fla; John Walker, Magnolia
Springs, Ala; J. B. McGray, Mifflin.
Ala; S. D. Gaar, Rosco, Ala; G.. c.
Randolph, Soldier Greek, Ala; A. F.
Hutchins. Battles, Ala; Charlie Bar
clay, Voltana, Ala; Oscar Johnson,
Silver Hill. Ala; p. J. COOney, Mar
low, Ala; R. L. Sanford, RObertsdaIe,
Ala; r. NJ. Mailer, LOxley, Ala; Capt.
Rufus Walker. Caswel, Ala. Fred
Scott, Soldier Greek. Ala; W. H W
Harding, Magnolia Springs, Ala; DR..
Y. MGR. Schowalter, Point Clear, Ala. ;
J. ". Grove, NARROW, Ala.
Officers.
Convention was called to order by
Hon. John Craft, president of Com
meTCial Club of Mobile, Mayor J. J.
Lyons, Of Mobile, delivering the ad-
dress OF welcome. Col. E. L. Russell
was elected chairman. Leland J. Hen
derson of Apalachicola, Fla, was elect
ed secretary. The vice-pTesidents
were Geo. H. Hoyles, P. Q. YOnge. {.
J. Swift, W. B. Reed, B. H. Ellis and
r. |. Randolph.
Addresses.
Addresses were made by Leland }.
Henderson, Apalachicola, Fla; Chas.
Jewett Swift, Columbus, Ga; Warren
B. Reed. New Orleans, La: B. II. Ellis.
Pascagoula, Miss; r. Howard. COlum-
bus, Ga; R. /. Randolph. Chicago. IL:
G. A. Waterman, Pensacola, Fla; J.
NJ. Spence, Sumatra, Fla: and others.
The meeting was an enthusiastic