The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1913-05-18
JOLuFICATIOR MEET
SHOULD Be HELD HERE
TO CELEBRATE OUR VICTORY
Achievement of Promoters Of
Scheme to Improve Tombis-
bee River Ought to Receive
Public Recognition.

There IS a tide in the affairs
of every man which, if taken at
its flood, leads on to victory"
William Shakespeare the great
est poet, dramatist and riiloso-
pher who ever lived. wrote the
above sentence in regard TO man.
kind. and the same thing applies
to cities. The action of the board
of United States army engineers
in reporting favorably on the
plan to make the Tombigbee riv-
er perennially navigable and
recommending the appropriation
of two million dollars for the
purpose of creating six-foot
channel between this city and
Demopolis marks crisis in the
history of Columbus. and if we
take the tide at its flood" our
future commercial and industrial
prosperity is assured.
We should not, however, rest
on our oars. The work of a
small band of public spirited
men has brought about this most
notable achievement, and it is
now time for the entire citizen
ship of the city to get together.
and accomplish still greater
things.
The victory should be celebrat-
ed by a great jollifcation meet
ing, and we should take advan-
tage of the opportunity which
this meeting will afford to reor-
organize the Business League and
work Systematically and continu-
ously for the upbullding of Co
lumbus.
A perennially navigable river
will naturally increase the i'm
portance of Columbus as ship
ping point, and if the proper ef-
fort is put forth by our citizens
will also increase her railroad fa-
cilities.
There should be no delay in
making this effort, 1t should be
made at once. Hon. Jno. t.
Coehrane, who controls the Ala
bama, Tennessee and Northern
railroad and other transportation
lines, has recently organized
company to control all his hold.
ings. This organization has 8
capitalization of S25, 000, 900, and
it is understood that a vast sun
is to be expended in improve
ments and extension. If the cit
liens of Columbus will make tn,
proper effort they can induce Mr.
Cochrane to build a line to thi
city.
More railroads and cheaper
! freight rates are urgently needed
here, and the proposed improve
ment of the Tombigbee gives u
a means Of securing them. TIL
promoters of railroads, however
, are not likely to seek us. w
! must seek them, tell them wha
, Columbus has to offer in the wa.
| of inducements, and show then
. that it is 10 their advantage +
} come here.
There is an old adage to the ef
feet that "all things come to hin
: who waits" This saying, how
} ever belongs to the leisurely past
No good live American of tn
present generation would fathe
the phrase. The successful me
,of the present day grab hold Q
r what they want and hang on wit
/ bull dog tenacity. This is whs
? Columbus must do, she must g
\ o u t after t h e improvement
. which are 50 urgently needed
4 and not relax her efforts unit
r they are secured.
: Let's have a jollifcation NEE
n ing, let's reorganize the BusineI
r. League, let's go out after mol
h railroads, more factories an
! more industries of every kin
o In other words, let's wake u
show our sister cities that we a
still on the map. and that v
don't intend to let any of the
J. out distance US on the mae
al along the highway Of progres