The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-09-02
'n0ITAeUE Will FIGHT
FOR RIVERS DEEPENING
TRAFFIC IS MUCH INCREASED
improvements Already Made Have
Added One-F1fth to Business.
Growth of American Merchant Ma.
rfhe May Again Dot Noble James
With Many Ships.

Richmond Is not going to lie down
on the job in having ample water
shipping facilities. Statistics COM
piled by the Chamber OF Commerce
show that the water-borne business
II the city has increased % per cen,
due to the improvements already
made and much larger increase will
be registered when, with twenty
two-foot channel and the American
Merchant Marine recovering its ante
beIlum vigor by leaps and bounds
there shall be larger shipments, both
domestic and foreign. from the city's
wharves.
The James River, too, has a great
Indirect influence on the city's bust
ness It holds out constant warning
to the railroad interests that, should
Irelent rates By land ever become
may be used TO regulate them.
VIII Hold Meeting Tuesday.
1t was decided yesterday 20 hold
the conference as to the deepening
OF the river on Tuesday next Sep
TENDER Z, instead OF ON Wednesday.
as heretofore announced. at which
time Senators Martin and Swanson,
Conere Ssman Montague, Mayor
Ainslie. City Engineer Boiling. the
omcials and many members OF the
Chamber of Commerce will discuss
the situation brought about " the
reported attitude of the United States
Army Engineers In opposition to
continuation OF the work of deepen
ing the river.
Congressman Montague Talks.
The task Of getting an appropr,a-
ton will be extremely difficult" Con-
gressman Montague declared yester-
day. because of the strong oppos.
ton from army engineers and because
Of the treasury deficit we are facing.
Nevertheless. 1t Is my purpose to wage
the fight to the utmost of nay ability
and II 1t IL humanity possible TO get
an appropriation we expect to get
L.
Army engineers object to the ex.
penditure OF more money here be-
cause they say the river trafYlc does
not warrant II. think it Is true that
most OF the steamers now coming to
Richmond have a moderate draft, but
II also true that larger steamers
would dock here II they could get up
the river.
The channel 10 already twenty feet
deep ~ far up the river as City Point.
From there to Richmond IL 10 oniy
eighteen feet deep. More than 80 per
cent Of the river trafYlc comes to Rich
mond. and I. therefore, consider It
very short-sighted policy to have the
channel only eighteen feet from CITY
Point TO Richmond"
Congressman Montague then told
how the campaign for a James River
appropriation had been waged in Con-
EreRs.
Tn 1914 the committee decided to
report $4,000 for James River. I ap-
peared before the committee and was
able to induce It to increase Its re-
commspdatSon to $500. 600. This In
crsase. Twas told. WAS the only in
crease Of its kind allowed by the COM
mittee.
This appropriation passed the
House. but was defeated In the SEN
ate. We deeply regretted Its defeat,
be understood A. criticizing the Sem
ate.e
Option to Spend
Army. engineers opposed to ap-
preparation. however small. in 1918,
but we managed to get a recomm-r-
dalton In committee for 900, 900.
lake the bfll OF 1914 this was passed
by the House. but defeated In the
Senate. The bill, ~ passed. carried
no specific James River appropria-
ton, but clause was inserted au-
thorixing the engineers TO spend as
much as 500. 600 from an unal!oetei
appropriation carried In the bill.
What I want to do II to have the
engineers instructed ta. spend SUM-
cfent money on James River Spe-
ciai and definite instructions are betH
ter that the optional right left with
the engineers who at best. are nor
favornhly inclined to the expenditure.
! shall. therefore, continue the fight
for a deeper channel. and no matter
how great the obsta cies may be
propose 10 continue the campaign
until the appropriation Is won"