Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-31
President to Formally Welcome
Congress of Navigation.
MEETS IN PHILADELPHIA
First Session Ever Held by 0rgani-
cation Outside Of Europe.
MEN ON ITS ROLLS
Leading Engineers Of the World As
sembled to Discuss Problems
of the Profession.

PHILADELPHIA. December 3o.-Draw-
ing together the foremost engineers anc
navigation authorities of the world, the
twelfth International Congress of Naviga-
ton will convene in this city May % next
The sessions will be opened with a formal
address by President William H. Taft
who has accepted an invitation to become
head patron Of the congress. President
Taft's address will be replied to by Nj.
Alexis Dufourny OF Brussels, a high Of
is one OF the presidents of the interna-
tional association.
Assisted by members Of his cabinet
President Taft will also receive the dis
tinguished visiting members and repre-
sentatives Of the thirty-five foreign ma
tons invited to participate.
This. the first International Navigation
Congress to be held in this country. is
already arOusing new and greater inter-
est In water-bOrne commerce, and bids
fair to mark new era in development
OF American waterways. 1t comes at an
oppOrtune time, when large Improvement
projects for inland waterways are being
vigorously pushed in different sections of
the country and when the maritime spirit
Is stirred by the approaching opening OF
the Panama canal. In fact, it is the
recent great growth Of American interest
In navigation problems that led to an ac-
ceptance of the United States govern
ments invitation to hold the congress
in this country.
Previously Held in Europe.
Previous congresses have all been held
In Europe, the last being that at st.
Petersburg in 1908. Preceding this there
were gatherings at intervals of three
or four years in Belgium. France, Italy,
England. Germany Holland and Austria
With each congress interest and attend
ance nave increased as the nations real
lied the valuable work being done. The
discussions and conclusions of these con-
crosses form the best existing guide for
all navigation problems that arise, be-
cause they represent the worlds best ex-
perlence and the consensus of opinion of
all experts.
The invitation to hold the twelfth. con-
gress In America was accepted with en-
thusiasm because this country offers what
is largely a new fed for the attention
Of European engineers and experts. Here
are immense rivers and great lakes and
wide stretches Of land that should be
traversed by canals. Here is a vast
developed systems of European water
ways. has hardly begun to suspect the
possibilities that lie in the development
Of water highways for commerce.
Recognizing this interest and eager
to see for themselves what has been
accomplished and what is being done,
and to hear what is projected. the ex
perts Of European countries will at
tend this congress in large numbers
Reports received by the general Sec
will be very large and that this will
undoubtedly be the most important of
the international congresses.
Large Enrolment in United States.
Interest in the congress is general
also throughout the United States. 1t
is shown by a large accession In mem
bership, many hundreds Of individuals
and corporations having recently en-
rolled. These include many permanent
members as we'll as a large number of
temporary members, who join for this
one congress. The small fee for
temporary membership entities the
holder not only to a seat in the con-
able printed reports of the proceed
ings.
This general public interest is indi-
Gated by the action Of the United
States government in voting an ap-
preparation Of $4,000 for the expenses
entertainment OF visiting delegates.
The state of Pennsylvania also grant
ed subsidy Of $4,000. and an ad-
ditional appropriation by the city of
Philadelphia is expected. Further ap-
propriations will be made. it is ex-
pected, by other cities or states which
will be visited by the delegates on
ofhcia1 excursions to be conducted
after the close OF the sessions in Phila-
delphia in June.
charge Of an organizing commission, Of
which Representative j. Hampton
Moore Of Philadelphia is President Mr..
Moore is also president of the Atlantic
Deeper Waterways Association and is
one of the most active advocates Of
waterways development in the United
States House of Representatives Lieut.
Col J. c. Sanford. Corps of Engineers,
U. s. A., is general secretary Of the
twelfth congress and one of the official
representatives of the United States
government on the permanent interna-
tional commission. Col. Sanford is in
immediate charge for the War De-
partment OF the general arrangements
for the congress and the official ex-
curSions.
Among the members of the local or
ganizing commission are many of the
most prominent citizens Of PHILADELPHIA.
including Mayor Blankenburg, Z. T.
Stotesbury. the banker and financier;
versity Of Pennsylvania; Frank d. La
lame, president of the National Board
of Trade, and George f. Sproule, secre-
tary Of the Pennsylvania navigation
commission.
In Two General Sections.
The proceedings Of the congress will
be divided into two general sections,
one on inland and the other on maritime
navigation. The subjects to be con-
sidered and discussed represent the COM
cd 81 xha
of many countries, and the experts who
will present papers are the foremost
authorities Of the world on these sub
jeets.
One Of the most prominent of these
questions Is that relating to the proper
dimensions for ship canals of the
future, depending as 1t does on the
probable size limit Of ocean steamships
The growth in size of modern steam
ers has 80 far kept in advance of all