The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-18
JOHN HOLLIS BANKHEAD, U s.. Senator

entire state and flow through the great
iron and coal deposits, virgin forests
of, timber, rich agricultural lands and
ineXhaustihle beds of cement rock. We
demand that all these splendid arteries
of commerce be improved SO that every
day navigation TO the Gulf will be Sc
cured, and the channel at Mobile be
deepened to at least q feet and over
the outer bar SO feet When this work
is completed and the Panama canal is
opened to commercial use the largest
coaling station in the world will be
located in Alabama, near Fort Morgan
and splendid anchorage inside the bar
| is sufficiently deep and large to hold
all the ships that pass through the
canal where all will fill their bunkers
with Alabama coal at a cost not to ex-
ceed $3.50 per ton. The increase in
foreign imports and exports through
Mobile harbor the year following the
improvements of that harbor was 300
per cent"
During Senator Bankhead's service
in both branches of congress on the
Committees, Alabama has received for
her rivers and harbors by congressional
appropriation S2U.000,000.
Preserve Water Powers
With that sound common sense that
has won for him the appellatlon
among his colleaSu ;the wise man Of
the Senate Senator Bankhead has
been consistent champion UI the con-
servation of the water powers of the
country Knowing tlfat electricity must
eventually be the one motive power
and that coal and timber will be con-
sumed creating ii unless water power
is used instead, he has fought against
the destruction of these powers for the
uses OF vigation or any other purpose.
He soften said, and 1T is acknowledged
that he and Senator Burton OF Ohio,
are the leading authorities on all qt1es-
sites, in national life. that no state in
the Union is so greatly endowed in
water power sites as Alabama. He has
lamented the waste of all fuel mate
rials in those places where water pow
| er, now allowed to- go Embarrassed
might have been utilized. He has
! fought the destruction of water sites
| in all river Improvement schemes urg-
! ing such engineering methods as will
admit both navigation and water power.
| During the recent debate in the
Senate on the Connecticut river dam
| bill Senator Bankhead made unanswer-
able arguments against Federal tolls
| for power created by the water of nav
| igable streams. and showed plainly that
the only lawful interest the govern
ment had in navigable rivers was solely
navigation. 1t was greatly to the dis
comfort OF President Taft, who had
| formerly vetoed the same bill in effect
| that Senator Bankhead cited his ruling
i upon the general subject when Secre-
| tary of War, the opinion at that time
being completely reversed in the pres
idential veto. When one senator in de-
fense of Mr.. Taft said he had changed
! his mind, Senator Bankhead retorted
that minds might change but that the
constitution remained unchanged. 1t is
| this matter Of federal interference that
| is retarding waterpower development
/ in Alabama along with the rest of the
country, and 1t is confidently expected
| that the democratic administration will
expedite measures looking to prompt
and democratic conclusions.
Rural Credits
america is the only civilized country
| on earth where there does not exist
some sort of liberal rural credits sys-
| tenn" said Senator Bankhead recently,
| .and hope to lend what Influence I
| have as citizen and Representative
of the people to secure for the rural
districts some sort Of banking plans
whereby our farmers can borrow money
| for per cent as is done with such
splendid results In Germany
| During the past year the Southern
Commercial Congress with headquar-
ters in Washing gton City has raised an
| American Commission composed OF two
repre- sentatfves appointed by the gov
ernors of the states to make a PERSONAL
inquiry Of agricultural production ana
markets and rural credit systems .of
the old countries. Upon the report OF
| this commission and, the legislative
measures that will be brought before
congress as the result Of their studies
much good is bound to accrue and no
man awaits the results with keener
interest than Alabama's senior senator
| for he was himself reared upon the
| farm and the amelioration of the hard
ships of men striving to better their
condition and yet handicapped for lack
OF easy money. impossible roads ~
! market. and kindred subjects have his
lpersonal sympathy and understanding.