The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1911-08-02
H[ARTYREC[P nON
0C0NGRESSnEN
RIVERS AND HARBORS COMMIT
TEE ARRIVED IN CAIRO
TWO DAYS LATE.
STRONG FOR RIVER WORK
United States Far Behind Other
Countries Continuous Con
tract System Urged-To-
days Program.

| The River and Harbor Committee
i of Congress and their ladies and
! friends arrived in Cairo yesterday
| afternoon about o'clock and were
met at the wharf by committee OF
| citizens Mayor Parsons and
number Of friends went up the river
a short distance and accompanied
the visitors to the city. Their ar
rival was heralded to the city by the
blowing of whistles by boats in the
| harbor, and Deals band made music
as the boat landed The visitors
| were escorted to the Halliday for
supper.
| The program of entertainment
for the evening, as agreed upon at a
meeting called by the mayor for yess
terday morning, included lunch
con and swoker at The Halliday at
10 o'clock, and a dance for the la
| dies at the Alexander club His
Honor gave his personal attention
to the latter, with the aid of num-
ber of ladies and gentlemen. aud
Hon M F. Gilbert at the luncheon
Nearly one hundred attended the
latter function and all seemed to en-
| JOY themselves thoroughly.
Mr.. Gilbert welcomed the visitors
to Cairo in behalf of the Mayor and
citizens and introduced the speak
ers. Among those who spoke were
Col Vance, DR.. Barchfeld, Capt
Rogers fof the Kanawha), Hon. J
e. Ellerbee. and others
DR.. Barchfeld of Pittsburg way
the instigator Of the trip down tho
Ohio by the committee, and spokt
strongly in favor of the rivers inn
provement He said the country had
been neglcctful too long of the great
possibilities of transportation on Its
rivers; it was behind every other
civilized country on the globe in
this respect He spoke of Germany
especially where all the rivers were
improved, with railroads on both
sides and canals between, yet doing
a heavy business; but freight rates
were low-and this was an import
ant factor in the competition which
| this country had to meet in It's for
| eign trade Objection had been
business on the Ohio river to justify
such large outlay for improve
provement as was asked; yet even in
its present condition it carried 167,-
| 100000 tons annually, more than
any river in the country. Another
| objection was that the tonnage
was largely coal from Pittsburg
which, according to engineers csti-
mates, would be exhausted in %
years, But Pittsburg shipped great
quantities of manufactured steel
| and hundred other lines which
are waiting for river transportation
to the sea board Pttsburg, he
said, was determined to reach Cairo.
and aid the latter city in becoming
the gate way between north and
south, for the immense traffic
which the completion of the Pana-
ma canal would produce. What was
now to be contended for most
strongly was the continuous con-
tract system under which the work
might be prosecuted to completion
without delay.
Like sentiments were uttered by
the other speakers.
1t was midnight before the meet
ing adjourned
At Alexander Club.
A dance was given at the Alex
ander club last evening in honor Of
the lady members of the Rivers and
Harbors Committee. Prof. Deals
orchestra furnished the music and a
very pleasant evening was enjoyed
Many members of the club and their
ladies were present to assist in Civ
ing the visitors delightful time
There were about forty couples
present.
Manager Bennett prepared an ex-
cel,ent luncheon which was served
near the close OF the dance.