Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-08

bhlNls lENs " VI n b1Ab1s
Addresses by men Of prominence repre-
senting the United States and Canada
marked the two sessions of the National
Rivers and Harbors Congress at the New
Willard today
Brig. Gen. Bixby, chief of the United
States engineer corps: Gov. Judson Har-
mon, Representative Champ Clark. Cliff
ford Sifton, chairman OF the Canadian
conservation commission, and Frederick
A. Delano of Indians gave a new Inn
petus to the movement, and their speeches
were punctuated with applause.
The reception accorded Gov. Harmon
and Representative Clark was notable
and for several minutes the business Of
the convention was interrupted while the
5000 delegates arose and cheered the two
men.
The appearance of Gen. Bixby marked
the first time that the head of the En-
gineer Corps has appeared before a pub
lie gathering to explain his work and
policy.
Each speaker treated the subject OF
waterway development in an optimistic
manner and Mr.. Clark closed his re-
marks with the words: Nearly every
man in the House of Representatives Is
ready to help this movement when a
broad, comprehensive and feasible meth
cd of waterway improvement is sug-
gested. Direct your missionary efforts to
the Senate and the White House.
Though the congress has been in ses-
sion only one day. signs of friction al
ready have developed among representa-
tives advocating big projects. 1t is said
= hn ting he norto SSn
will discuss their grievances at a meeting
of the Atlantic Deeper Waterways Asso-
citation late this afternoon. Some of the
members of the latter organization claim
they are not receiving adequate recOgni-
ton.
Union On Plan Urged.
In his address Gov. Harmon urged the
delegates to forget local or individual
projects and unite on a plan which shall
be nationwide in its benefits. THE only
danger to crusades such as this is that
dissension may appear in the ranks"
said he. There s no country which has
as fine system of waterways as the
United States, and there is no country
where natural streams have been so
much neglected and in many cases in
jured as in the United States. / pledge
Scattered through the audience were a
number Of senator's and representatives
who remained until the adjournment OF
the morning session and returned at
O'Clock for the afternoon meeting.
Colleagues Of Representative Clark led
the applause for him when Representa-
tive Joseph Ransdell, the presiding officer.
him as a man who IN the near
future would be able to render more val.
liable assistance TO the cause Mr.. Clark
said, in part:
system Yet to Be Devised.
'If all the words in favor OF improving
our waterways could be transmitted into
dollars, we would have funds SUFFICIENT
to build granite dikes on both sides OF
every river in the country. What pug
zles me is that we all profess to be in
favor of waterway improvement, and yet
nobody seems to have sense enough to
devise a system of development that can
he started and carried through. We
are told to ignore projects and work for
a policy-how can you have policy thae
is not made up Of an aggregate OF prof.
ects?
expenditure is not waste. Nearly every
member of the House of REPRESENTATIVES
is ready to help you, and let me add that
resolutions do no good unfess you keep
Direct your missionary efforts to the
senate and the White House."
canada's Canal Expenditure.
That Canada owes its existence to its
waterways is the belief Of Clifford Sif-
ton, chairman Of the Canadian conserva-
ton commission. who addressed the con-
gress this morning.
Transportation by water began with
the bark canoe OF the Indian. followed by
the bateau OF the voyageur," said MI.
Sfton To-day It has reached the staee
OF the greatest carrier Of tho upper
lakes" In the course OF his address.
Nr. Sifton sketched the beginning OF the
present system Of canal and river Inn
In existence III the Dominion
Of Canada and indicated the general re-
suits that have been attained. with
special reference to the great waterway
which begins at the Strait Of Belle Isle
and terminates at the head OF Lake
''When point out to you that this
work, begun In 1To0." he said. has been
steadily prosecuted ever since. that the
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