The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-02-19
SECRETARY OF THE MISSISSIPPI
TO THE ATLANTIC WATERWAY
ASSOCIATION MADE STRONG
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF WA
TERWAYS LAST NIGHT.

At the waterway meeting last night
in the city hall, Leland J. Henderson,
secretary of the Mississippi to the At
lantic Inland Waterway Association,
spoke in part as follows:
The Mississippi to Atlantic Inland
Waterway Association was organized
less than two years ago, to advocate
federal construction of an inland wa
terway for barge navigation from the
Mississippi to the Apalachicola river
and thence across the peninsula of
Florida, :
The organizers were told that the
project was a fine one but that its &C.
complishment would be in the time of
our chiIdren's children. Within II
months of the organization of the asso-
citation congress ordered a survey of
the entire route from the Mississippi
river to the Atlantic Ocean, including
examination of all possible routes
across the peninsula of Florida. That
part of the waterway between the
Apalachicola and Mississippi rivers
has been surveyed. The engineers
reports show that the entire pro-
ject from New Orleans to Apalachi-
cola can be completed at a cost of
seven million dollars for canal nine
feet deep. The rivers and harbors bill
which passed the house on Monday OF
this week provides for the construc-
ton of that part of the inland water
way between Apalachicola and st. An
drews, at a cost of about $450.0O.00.
Nothing now remains IN the way of
immediate construction of the re-
mainder of the waterway from st. An.
drews to Pensacola and Pensacola to
New Orleans but sufficient interest to
warrant the appropriation by congress.
Result With the People.
l have been told that about one per
cent of the people only, are sending
messages to our members of congress
favoring the construction Of the water
way, some are opposed to it and the
large majority of the people are not
interested. This condition can exist
for but one reason, viz: lack of knowl-
edge as to the advantages and benefits
to be derived. Congressman said to
me: go home and get the people
stirred up. Show them the work can
be done at once, if they demand it. We
have our ears to the ground and are
ready to act when the people speak >
Purpose of the Meeting.
The purpose of this needing is to
further stimulate the interest favoring
the project in Pensacola and to aid the
Mississippi to Atlantic Inland Water
way Association in spreading that in
terest north and south and to bring a
thousand or more people to Pensacola
in the fall to attend the greatest wa
terway convention ever held in the
southeastern states.
If the interest is great enough, and
the demand insistent enough, the riv-
ers and harbors bill, which will be
made next year will contain provision
for the construction of at least that
part Of the waterway, the survey for
which is now completed. Seven sur
veys are being made across the PENN
sula of Florida. 1t is hoped that the
engineers will be ready to report. on
this part of the waterway next year.
Plan of Organization.
The Mississippi to Atlantic Inland
Waterway Association now represents
some ten states. Besides presidents,
Vice-presidents, secretary and treasur-
err, when all counties are repreS ented
the association will have some 900
members of the executive committee.
If it should be the conclusion of this
meeting that Pensacola further aid in
the work, you should tonight appoint
a member of the executive committe
of the M. to A |. w. A. representing
Escambia county. You should give to
him full authority to represent the in
terests of this locality in the associa-
ton. He will be the ranking officer
of the association in this county and
should be the chairman of any local
committee or body which you may de-
eide to form. 1t is usually the case
that if the chairman of committee
be allowed to select the committeeman
he will obtain a more harmonious eff,
fort and better results. Your .selec.
ton of the Escambia county executive
committeeman will constitute election