Evening journal., 1913-12-04
WATERWAYS
AID COMMERCE
Better Facilities Are Urged at
National River and HarbOr
Congress
EASTERN CANAL IS
FAVORED BY DELEGATES

WASHINGTON. Dec. 4.-The need Of
broad policy and Of cooperation be-
tween the Federal government and the
States to secure improved waterways
was the keynote OF all the speeches yes
terday before the National River and
Harbors Congress assembled here in its
tenth annual session. Representatives
from nearly all parts Of the country
took in the days program. All agreed
that better waterways were needed to
meet and help increase the growing COM
merce OF the nation.
Senator Fletcher, Of Florida, dwelt
upon the value Of Mississippi-to-the-
Atlantic canal not only TO the adjacent
territory, but to the entire Atlantic
coast.
Representative Small, of North Caro-
lima, said the intracoastal canal from
New England to Florida would be Of mu-
tual benefit TO hundreds of cities in
dozens of States, and Representative
Moore. OF Pennsylvania, voiced the same
sentiment. Representative Burgess, OF
Texas, spoke OF the Importance OF
Z Mississippi TO- the Rio-Grande canal
William S McNary, of Boston, speak
ling for New England, asserted that the
continued growth OF that sections great
industries depended on better water
TRANSPORTATION facilities. The confused
railroad situation there, he said, had
brought things TO point where it was
essential that waterways be improved
! to handle the commerce of the New
/ England States.
Vice President a Guest.
Last nights session of the Congress
was civen over to the ladies, beginning
with n reception at the hotel headquar-
ters 10 the Vice President and Mrs. Mar
shnll and the speaker of the House and
Mrs Clark. Mrs Sarah W. Strout, OF
Portland. Me-. president of the Woman's
Rivers and Harhors Congress, later
spoke on developed waterways and their
lrelaton to the homemaker.
President Ransdell, in his annual ad-
dress. expressed hope that Congress
would pass the greatest river and harbor
bill that had ever gone through, but, ne
added, unless local communities showed
themselves willing to make use of rivers
after work was done, he was not ready
to appropriate money for river improve
ment.
MIR. Hazen said It had not been the
policy OF Canada TO administer ner
interest in the existing system OF IN
land waterways in. narrow or sell
fish spirit." He declared that a
tremendously increasing trade and
population is now knocking at the
door Of Canada"
Cause Of StagnatlOn.
There Is present stagnation In nav
igation improvements, said MT
/ Brown. on account of the "impossi-
bilities Of the present federal dam
act, its uncertainties OF tenure, deter
inmate franchise and uncertain pro
visions for imposition of further fl.
nancial charges" The "supernation'
alistic idea" he said. was thwartinS
| Congress in its desire to encourage
private investment and recognize the
right of state control under proper
federal regulation Of navigation.
Secretary Lane was substituted a.
the last moment for Secretary Bryan
who had been originally placed OF
the program to represent President
Wilson. but who was prevented al th'
last moment from coming. Secretar.
Lane read a message of greeting iron
President Wilson ccngratulatins th'
congress on what il had already ac
complished and expressing the hop'
that river and harbor improvement
could be conducted on broad nationa
lines of benefit to the whole coun
try.