The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-14
Senator Burton Tells of His Firm Confidence in the Rivers Value to Nation
THINKS HIGHWAY
 VERY IMPORTANT
 FEATURE OF PLAN
Ohio Man Pays Beautiful Tribute to Tuscaloosa as His Ideal of the TypicaIIy Southern City

If the people of Birmingham but knew the years of hard work and worry neces- sary to get the appropriations which made the Warrior river navigable to the very doors of the city, no effort or ex- pense would be spared to set the fullest 1 benefits possible from it'
 1 This was the statement of former Sem ator Theodore E. Burton of Ohio, before 1 leaving Birmingham. He was for many years chairman of the House committee on rivers. and harbors, and considered one of the best authorities in America on Waterways.
 Senator Burton was keenly interested in the Warrior liver. As chairman of the committee which passed on river develop ment he was well informed on the con ditions existing along the river, and un- derstood fully the great possibilities for use of the river, if it could be opened up to the mineral district of Alabama.
 The government has done it's full part, according to Senator Burton, and the | people must do whatever remains to get | the benefits from water transportation.
 NEARLY $15, ,OOO,OOO SPENT | l put through the Warrior development, at 1 it's great cost" he said, unless we had l been able to convince the members of Congress that the mineral district of Ala l bama, which would be at the head of navigation on the river, would supply the tonnage to justify the expenditure. | Nearly $15.000 900 has been spent on this work. Some of your industries and corporations are now able to use the river to advantage, but under existing | circumstances the great majority of the shippers and few if any of the consum- CTS of this district can hope to get any | benefits.
 i T understand that you propose to con l struct a permanent highway, and also an electric railway connecting with all parts of the city and district. The high way is important and should certainly be | built, and the construction of an electric | line such as you outline will offer the real solution of your problem.
 l Rivers are used principally for the l transportation of loW-class freight. This district has probably larger tonnage l of low-class freight, such as iron, steel pipe and coal, than any other river city l in this section There is where the real benefits will come. In addition to the transportation of the low-class freight on the river, the stream will have a good effect in helping you to adjust freight rates on all articles. The shippers prefer to use the railroads for high-class freight, but with adequate connections with the river, there can and doubtless will be i enough use of the river for high-class commodities to enable you to adjust | freight rates better than you have ever l been able to do in the past.
 ALWAYS STOOD BY WARRIOR
 '@The fact that 1 fought the last river and harbors bill and prevented it's pass l AI- IL ..s.. = idea on the part of many people in Ala bama that I was opposed to the develop ment on the Warrior which was provided | for in the bill. This is Tssrssake. I have always favored the development of the l Warrior and considered it one of the most meritorious works ever undertaken by the government. I opposed the rivers 1 and harbors bill because there were items l in it amounting to many millions which were pure pork
 | However, I assisted in the passage of l resolution which enabled the work on Lock IT to go to it's conclusion with | out any delay. 1 was too familiar with the Warrior and had studied it's possi- bilities too thoroughly to do anything to hinder it's completion
 SILENT ON POLITICS 1 Senator Burton Is personally a most affable and agreeable companion and is l | st He is willing and apparently glad to 1 talk fully on any subject that is pro- posed with but one ception-politics. l None of the wiles of the inquisitive news paper man could suffice to get an eX- pression of any kind on any matter re- | lating directly or indirectly to politics l The senator was asked regarding his campaign for the republican nomination l for the presidency. He was asked for an expression on the Wilson adminstra- | ton; the foreign policy of the nation, or for some expression regarding the sen ! timent in the republican party concern | ing Roosevelt and Hughes
 Not word, young man, not a word, he said. Under no circumstances can l | say anything bearing directly or indi- | rectly on politics. I have absolutely nothing to say in that line''
 And. judging by the finality and the emphasis with which he made that state ment, he meant just what he said. There were no further questions regarding pol 1 itics.
 Senator Burton was in reminiscent