The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-11-18
Ship Their Products,
Says Lieut. Gov. Howe
of Vermont
NEW SYSTEM WOULD
ENHANCE FARMS
Address Delivered Before
Atlantic Deeper Water
way Association

Jacksonville, Fla, Nov. lS.-Pleading
for a concerted effort by all the Atlantic
coast states for the advancement of an
inland waterway from Maine to Florida,
Lieut.. Gov. Frank E. Howe of Vermont
to-day replied to the welcome extended
the delegates to the sixth annual con-
vention of the Atlantic Deeper Water
way association.
The convention began enis afternoon
with hundreds of delegates from all the
Atlantic coast states. The meeting is
to continue four days, during which
ways and means are to be discussed
for the promotion of the inland water
way from Eastport, Me-, to Key West.
Fla. II also is planned to encourage a
movement which will extend the water
way from Florida to Galveston along
the Gulf of Mexico.
Several sections of the proposed in
land water route already have been COM
pleted while others have only been SUR
veyed but have been favorably reported
on by army engineers. The main object
of the association is to obtain sufficient
funds from Congress for the completion
of the route and also to obtain state
aid. The movement was begun in. earn
est with the organization convention
of the association at Philadelphia in
1907.
How the proposed inland water trans
portation route would aid the agricIil-
tural activities of the Atlantic states
was the theme of Lieutenant Governor
Howeis address. He told of the many
abandoned and practically useless farms
in all of those states and declared that
only cheaper water transportation could
bring them back to fruitful condition.
"Your problem here in Florida and
our problem in Vermont is the same
declared Mr.. Howe 1T is to make our
cultivated land yield more and to com
pei the land, so far neglected, to give
its increase. Here in the East we are
only now learning the lesson. but we
shall stay by until the triumph is COM
plete. The same thing applies to all
the rural sections of the eastern states.
There are more deserted farms in New
York, by their own statistics, than in
all New England. Much of the land in
Pennsylvania is in backward hands. You
can ride for miles in Virginia, the Caro-
linas and in Georgia and see land neg
lected that ought to be adding yearly
to the wealth and prosperity of the ma
tion.
Every state is a partner of every
other state in the program of the coun-
try" continued Mr.. Howe "The COM
pletion of this proposed Atlantic water
way system win not only save our peo-
pie millions in transportation charges;
it will add millions in wealth through
the development of our fertile areas;
it will increase by millions the valus
of our real estate, and it will save thous-
ands of human lives now lost on our
windswept and treacherous coast. 1t is
not your problem. 1t is not my prob
lem. 1t is our problem. Let us talk
it over together"
After the various addresses of vel
come and response had been made the
first business session of the convention
took place. Committees were appointed
TO consider the following matters: Gre
lentials, ways and means, time and place
of next convention and resolutions. Will
liam H. Schoff of Pennsylvania, secre-
.ary- treasurer, read his annual report,
which showed the association in excel
ent financial condition.