Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1911-07-14
HOW OTHER CiTifS
 USE THE RIVERS John A. Fox, of Rivers and Harbors Congress Gives Pine Bluff Some
 Pointers
OPEN THE ARKANSAS
Says Barge Lines Will Reduce Freight Rates and Navigation Will
 Become General.

John A. Fox, who has been ill the city several days in the interest of the National Rivers and Harbors Congress, will remain over until Sat- urday night and will attend the smoker to be given tonight at the Hotel Jefferson under the auspices Of the Pine Bluff Board of Trade. As MT. Fox spent yesterday visiting business men of the city and renew ing many acquaintances. He is here to. enthuse the local citizens in an effort to raise Pine Bluffs portion of $1 300 to be donated to the publi- city fund of the National Rivers and Harbors' Congress-$300.
 q think the cities along the Ark ansas river should feel very much grntified over what has already been accomplished by the Rivers and Har- bor's Congress towards securing de- finite Improvements. said MT. Fox last night While it is true that we have been receiving appropriation for the Arkansas river since 1882, nevertheless, they have come in such small amounts that the two and a half million dollars that have already been expended have produced little or no permanent results. It is now the intention, however, of those who have the internal improvements of the country to look after, to undertake some definite plans of Improvements, such as will result in reliable naviga- ton.
 ''The River and Harborl Bill of 1910, established a new precedent in re- gard to these matters, making the River and Harbor Bill an annual af- fair. This bill, carrying some S52,- OOO,0OO embodies an appropriation of $375, ,OOO for building two new hydrau- lie dredges, to be used exclusively on the Arkansas river, and provides for the expenditure of $11S,00O a year to operate them. The plans of these dredges are now in the hands of the Chief of Engineers at Washington and in all probability they will be con- structed and at work within the next twelve months.
 "These boats will enable perman- ent channel to be kept open during low water so that such navigation companies, as desire to operate this far up, will find the stream navigable and can carry on a profitable trade at all seasons of the year. l believe that when such definite channel will have been assured, new impetus will be given to water transportation on the Arkansas 1iver, and Pine Bluf will begin to enjoy the same rate ad- vantages that are now enjoyed by Memphis and Shreveport. l have re- gently visited number of cities In the South, such as Columbia on the Congaree River; Augusta, on the Savannah; Macon on the Ocmulgee; Columbus, on, the Chattahooche, and Montgomery, on the Alabama, and at all of these points the greatest H. terest is being manifest in possible water transportation.
 "Phe cities, themselves, are taking definite steps to provide munlclpal wharves and to facilitate water com merce by equipping loading and un- loading devices, and l cannot too strongly urge upon the poole of Pine Bluff the importance of following the example of these other cities. Mont gomery might be especially mentioned in this connection as the merchants of that city are now enjoying the ser vice of we'll equipped barge line, which is saving, them about 30 per cent per hundred on their freight.
 .'The National Rivers and Harbors Congress is not only trying to awaken sentiment in favon of large appropria- tions on the part of Congress. but IS doing everything that it can to en- courage the building of barges and