The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-23
FINE CONVENTION
 OF WATERWAYS MEN
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8


 
 question. It will be of far-reaching hene- fir to the entire country and especially to the industrial and business develop ment of the south. With the opening of the Coosa and the Tombigbee to Mobile and with a canal up Valley creek Mobile will soon become the. Liverpool of the south.'
 Lays Speech
 w P Lay of Gadsden, who Congress- man Maddox declared Is the best informed man in Alabama on her river resources, followed with a carefully prepared ad- dress reviewing the work that has al- ready been done and what Is desired on the Coosa river.
 His address was full of timely inform ation and was listened to with close at tention by the delegates.
 H. S. Kealhofer of Montgomery made most interesting talk on Navigation of the Coosa." He gave some interesting figures on what has been accomplished in the transportation of freight on the Alabama river between Montgomery and Mobile by the local barge line. Railroad freight rates have not only been held within reasonable bounds but large quan- titles of heavy freight have been handled at greatly reduced expense. During the
 
 cotton have been sent through the river to Liverpool and other European mar kets at a saving of 50 cents per bale. ''The barge line expects to handle 50,- coo bales next season." declared the speaker.
 The good repute of the Montgomery barge line is such that Liverpool and other cotton buyers have agreed to accept it's bills of lading when issued at Mont | on Mr yaa1 toll uya fnl1 of practical ideas and information that acted as great stimulus to the people who heard the speech.
 J. c. Weatherly of Columbus. Miss, sec retary of the Tombigbee River Improve ment association, gave an account of the work that Is hoped to be accomplished on the Tombigbee river from Demopolis to Columbus. where a slx-foot channel can be secured by the building of ten locks The speaker declared that the opening of the available rivers to navigation would have much to do with the readjustment of the high cost of living as it would fur nsh a freer exchange of the necessi- ties of life. MT. Weatherly closed his ad- dress by inviting the members of the main association to the annual meet ing of the Tombighee River Improve ment association May 30 and 3l.
 VanHoose Explains James A. vanFoose, the originator of the Valley creek canal project, made a ringing address on the importance of this | improvement. He reviewed the work of the original survey, recalled the important | recommendations of Joseph Ripley the government official who made the orig inal survey, and called attention to the | favorable expressions that have been made for the building of the canal by such men as Mark Hana, President McK.nley. J. T. Woodward and number of offi, cials and industrial men of unquestoned | authority and wisdom
 MT VanHoose exhibited letter from Senator Johnston to T. Fl. Friel of North Birmingham in which the senator made | the statement that lock Is on the Warrior | river will be raised to 63 feet This is the one obstacle in the way of equalization of Valley creek except the direct appro- | priation for the specific improvement The building of lock IS will back the water Il miles in Valley creek and establish navigation for six miles of the way. MT. VanHoose declared that all the year nav igation can be had to Bessemer for the expenditure of $4,500,000, and can be brought to North Birmingham for another like sum-
 Mir. VanHoose's address was full of wholesome enthusiasm and spirit that receives no argument. MT. VanHoose de- clared that the equalization of Valley creek is no project but fact. He will not speak of 1t as something that may be, but something that will be accomplished. Secretary Cox read an address prepared by F. G. Bromberg of Mobile. who was