The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-23
adopted was introduced by R. E. L..

adopted, was introduced by R. E. L.. Neil:
 Resolved, by the Mobile Basin and Tennessee River association, That sincere thanks are hereby returned to the sena- tors and representatives In Congress who have aided and furthered the purposes for which this association Is organized, and they are assured of the hearty apprecia- tion of the people of the states and sec tions which have benefited thereby"
 The following resolution was introduced by J. G. Weatherly:
 Be it Resolved, That the thanks of the Mobile Basin and Tennessee River asso- citation are hareby rendered the Birming- ham Chamber of Commerce for the many courteses rendered to the body, and to the individual membership thereof during this session of our association, and that we hereby express our deep appreciation for the use of their hall for our sessions"
 Officers Elected
 The following officers were elected:
 John Craft Mobile, president. John w. Maddox Rome, Ga. first vice president Nathan Lobman, Montgomery, second vice president J. H. VanHoose, Br- mingham, third vice president; w. w. Craig, Columbus, Miss, fourth vice pres
 
 tary and treasurer; w. c. Rayburn, Gun tersville, assistant secretary
 Morning Session
 The session was opened shortly after 10 o'clock by President John Craft, who, after reviewing briefly the organization Of the association in Birmingham in 1907, and the purposes of the organization, in- troduced Richard w. Massey, president Of the Chamber of Commerce of Birming- ham, who delivered a brief address of Ne'conle.
 MT. Massey stated that shortly after his taking office as president of the Chamber of Commerce the matter of the proposed canalization of Valley creek was brought to his attention and he, realizing the importance of the project appointed special committee to investigate and re- port to the chamber. He stated that he accompanied this committee over the route of the proposed canal and was greatly impressed with the feasibility of the canalization as well as the vast inn -portance of the waterway to the true development of the Birmingham district. MT. Massey not only extended a hearty welcome to the delegates on the present occasion but extended a welcoming in- vitatlon for any future time that the body might desire to meet in Birmingham. In reply to MT. Masseys welcome Pres- ident Craft emphasized the importance of water navigation not only to Birming- ham but the entire state. He called att tention to the fact that Alabama has the largest and most important water sys- tam of any state in the union and that the combined water resources, including transportation, power and drainage, should receive the thoughtful attention of all the people He plead eloquently for the more hearty support or the people of Alabama in every movement to inn prove and develop these resources.
 Lieut. Gov. Walter D. Seed, on behalf of the state, made an eloquent and time ly address on the relative importance of American waterways as compared with inferior streams of other countries that have been highly developed. He called attention to the fact that the great streams of America flow into the At lantic and the Gulf of Mexico, and that the opening of the Panama canal calls for the immediate and full development of these streams He revived the ad- vantages that the Alabama mineral dis trlct would have over the Pennsylvania field with it's short water haul to the Gulf of Mexico.
 MT. Seeds speech was full of facts and figures and was well received by those present
 Financial Report
 Secretary Benjamin B. Cox made a re- port of the finances of the association, showing balance of cents. In explain ation of the expenditures of something like $700, the largest item in the report, President Craft explained to the satisfac- ton Of the delegates that the amount was spent fin entertaining members of Con- gress and other prominent government officials on the recent trip of President rr. lii VI tha ,,,.; river
 John W. Maddox of Rome Ga, ex-con- gressman from the Seventh congressional district of Georgia, made an enthusiastic address in which he emphasized the im- portance to Alabama and North Georgia in the opening of the Coosa river as well as all the other navigable streams of the southern section. He declared that Georgia and Alabama should cooperate in their efforts to secure the adequate development of these rivers. He stressed the great importance of cooperation in all matters of this kind.
 He declared that there Is no argument whatever against the development of the great rivers that drain the basins of Georgia and Alabama and that the people should go to Congress, ask for what they want and stay there till they get 1t.
 Among other timely things he said, T have always been democrat. am still a democrat. This party is now in power and will secure still greater power in this government. It is a party of econ omy and retrenchment, but there will be no economy in neglecting the great water ways of the country. It is poor economy to withhold money for Improvements that will bring five ten, fifty and one hundred fold in return for every dollar expended Now Is the time for the south to go x. r~<,,x n5 fn, ffc 1,o ra of public improvement. The improve ment of the rivers of the Mobile basin and the Tennessee valley is a national
 
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