The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1911-03-24
TALKS Of WORK
ACCOMPLISHED
REORGANIZATION
SECRETARY OF NATIONAL RIV-
ERS AND HAR6oRs CONGRESS
IN CITY YESTERDAY.
Thinks Brunswick Should Work for
! Improvement of Fresh Water
I Streams-Talks Interestingly of the
Work of Great Organization.

Mr.. S. A. Thompson, field secre
tary of the National Rivers and Har-
tors congress. who is touring the
south in the interest OF that organiza-
ton, was visitor in the city yester,
day
The growth of sentiment through
out tie country in favor of water
ways said he, lis as great as it is
gratifying and in consequence the con-
sress of the United States is taking
an advanced position with regard to
this great question. S.yeral of the
things we have been fighting for
nave already been granted, among
them an annual river and harbor bill,
the naming of definite time for the
completion of many projects, and a
large increase in the corps of engin-
GERS.
From 1898 to 1910 river and har-
Tor bills were passed only once in
three years, with the exception that
bills were passed two years apart in
1905 and 1907 When the bill of 1916
was presented to the house Chair.
man Alexander stated that the work
carried on throughout the country by
the National Rivers and Harbors con
gress had SO developed public senti
ment that the committee felt justi
fled in, saying that a river and har
Dor bill would be presented every
year hereafter. AS every one knows
q bill carrying nearly $37 100000 was
passed in Fef fruary, 1911, after one
carrying $52 2,0O0,O00 had been passed
in June, 1910.
''The latest bill gives $4,000 fol
Brunswick harbor, besides 100000 for
the inland waterway to Fernadina
and $4,000 for the ,Altamaha, Oconee
and Ocmulgee rivers. That these ap
preparations were secured is due, oi
course, to the activity and efficiency
of Mr.. Brantley, Mr.. Edwards and
other members of congress and the
senators from Georgia, but that you
got them this year instead of in 1918
is due to the work of our organiza
ton.
''The average amount appropriated
annually for waterways during the
last ten years has teen $22, ,OOC
while the average amount available
has been atout $6S,000000. That
means that there have not been en-
eineers enough TO execute the WORK
authorized promptly. We have urged
for some years that the engineer
CORPS be increased, and the latest bill
provides for an increase of sixty
memt ers This means that river ant
harbor work will not only be care
fully planned and thoroughly super
vised, but will be promptly executed
which is lenefit to everybody con
cerned
''Brunswick is to be most heartily
CONGRATULATED on securing a harDol
with a depth of so feet, but if YOU
people will study the growth which
has come to many cities in Europe
fr~,1 the Improvement of rivers they
will work Just as hard for the i'm
proyement of the Altamaha, Oconee
and Ocmulgee as Macon or any o
the other cities on their banks.
The great project for protected
inland waterway along the Atlantic
coast from Boston to Key West alst
merits your support. One advantage
which the railways have at presen
is that a car can lie sent from an!
point to any other point in the coun
fry. The value of our waterways
will be multiplied many fold whel
they are connected into a system, 81
that barges can run to any point OF
the Atlantic or Gulf coasts. the Grea
Lakes. and all the rivers which con
meet herewith.
"Some years ago the BrunsWic'
board of trade gave some financla
support to the work of the Natlona
Rivers and Harbors congress. Ihe
are soon to consider the matter agail
and I hope wilk consider it favor
ably. Much has already been accom-
plished but much more remains to b
done. How soon it can be done dt
pends on the amount of support give
by the people of the country. Bruins
wick, no doubt, will be willing to d
her share in supporting work i
which she is vitally interested