The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-09
But Ransdell Says Lamb
and Freeman Can't
Do 1t Alone.
CITIZENS URGED
TO JOIN FIGHT
President of Rivers and Harbors
Congress, at Chamber Smoker,
Pledges Help in Campaign to
Deepen James River From
Ric I'm o n d to
Sea.

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Sea.
From a store of knowledge gained
by many years service on the Rivers
and Harbors Committee OF the House
OF Representatives and as president |
of the National Rivers and IIarbors
Congress for the las, two years. Con-
gfessman j. L. Ransdell OF Louisiana.
made before the first annual smoker OF
tho Chamber of Commerce last night
the most practical and instructive ad-
dress on the subject of improvement of
waterways heard here since the ques-
ton has been before the chamber and
tha City Council. After treating the I
matter in a general way, he laid par
ticular stress on efforts made TO inn |
prove James River saying that Con-
/ 81 essman John Lamb could not ac-
compllsh what was expected of him II
the people did not back his efforts.
III you back Congressman Lamb and
Director John c, Freeman. of the Ma
tional Rivers and Harbors Congress,
you can expect the completion of your
project within the next five or six
years" said Mr.. Ransdell. You may
ibe sure that Richmond, with the right
kind of backing from its citizens Will
get its share of the annual s50.000,000
| appropriated for the Improvement OF
rivers and harbors.
Washington Ward There.
The recent election in Manchester
which unites the two cities, brought
to the meeting nearly all OF the promi-
nent citizens of that city the question
of river improvements being to them
as important a-s to the ciiZens or
l. fos Of
has opened up the advantages OF ship
ping by water from both sides of the
river ana Manchester people have
come to realize that their natural OPP
portunies are just AS great.
In introducing '-opgaaBs.na-rs Rams
, dell, Representative John Lamb did
not fail TO recognize his constituents
from Washington Ward and made spe-
cial reference to the representation.
President Henry w. Wood of the
Chamber. explained the local import
ance of river Improvement. paving the
way for the understanding OF the main
address, which treated generally the
policy of improving waterways he
said that the navigable part OF James
River should have as soon as possible |
minimum depth of twenty-five Feet
at low tide and explained how Rlch-
,nond's water-borne commerce had de-
the fact that the government had not
deepened the channel sufficiently to
enable vessels now doing most OF tho
CARRYING trade to come into this port
He showed that fifteen or twenty
years ago, the average draft OF sail
and steaming vessels coming into
Richmond was much less than at pres
ent In recent years the capacity ana
draft of these vessels has materlaily
increased, and as the river is now ohiy
about sixteen feet at low tide, it is
practically Impossible for them to
come to the city fully loaded. the con-
sequence being that many of the larg-
est manufacturing concerns are COM
pelled to ship most of their cargoes py |
deep water ports. He contended thae
the people of Richmond did not tully
appreciate the Importance OF the city
as a port. and pointed out great inland
ports of England to prove his conteh-
ton that with the proper improve
ments this city might become as great
as any of them.
TO Work for James.
CONGRESSMAN Ransdell, as he came
10 the front of the stage amid storm
of applause was frank in his state
ments. He said that being born and
reared on the Mississippi, he was geo
graphically and in every other way
waterway man, adding that he "ou!u
continue to be a waterway man uhti
James River got twenty-five feet from
Richmond to the sea and all other
streams of the United States got what
was coming to them, adding that there
were few rivers in the country Whlch
did not need Improvement lie de-
clared that the commerce OF the MIS-
sissippi within the last hfteen OF tWeh-
ty Years had diminished more than ths
James because there had been no ap-
propriation for improvements ana tha
boats had been driven out OF business
by railways; that the Missouri River
had been wiped off the map as 1t was
impossible to get an appropriation
from Congress.
He cited these incidents to keep |
those working for the Improvement OF
James River from being discouraged
saving that they had got a great deal
more than some of the others. lie
called attention to the fact that 1s7u
Congress had begun to deepen the
Ohio River from Pttsburs to Cairo
IN, but. that up to this time only one
fifth Of the work had been completed
in spite of the fact that Plttsburg IS
one Of the greatest shipping Joints in
the world. and the ONO Aver runs
through a commercial country second
w NOhS.
"Congress.'' he said, has pursued an
unwise, niggardly policy In regard to
the Improvement of rivers and har-
bors In this the greatest waterway
country0in the world"
He showed how Congress had al
ready given a, great deal OF money to
harbors, and is preparing to glve the
proper share to rivers according 10
the policy OF the National Rivers and
Harbors Congress He explained 1T
this point how 1T had been proved to
the Committee on Rivers and F1arbors
that Transportation of certain articles
ny water was cheaper and altogether
more economical than by rail. while
water routes are really not In active |
'ccmpetition with tho railroads.
Y Speaking OF Germany. which, he de-.
,clared, carried merchandise by water |
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