The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-09-21
WATERWAY men
TO meet SOON
AT miami, FLA.
Hope to Improve Eastern
Shipping Routes

official call for the Tenth Annual Con-
rention to be held in Miami, Florida, !
November ~ to December J.. 1914, in
elusive.
1t was with especial pleasure that
the hospitable invitation from Miami
was accepted and our members will be
assured Of one CT the most attractive
programs ever arranged for a conven-
ton Of the association; attractive not
only because of the delightful sur
roundings and tropical climate in
which our Thanksgiving Conven-
ton" will be held, but because of the
magnificent spirit of progress and
self-help which will be everywhere
evident in and about Miami; and fin
ally because of the important bearing
the convention may have in further
ing the use and improvement of WI
terways for the national benefit in
this time of crisis and stress.
The congressional situation that
developed while the River and Har-
Dor Bill of 1917 was upon its passage
marked, we believe, a turning point in
public opinion in favor of a freer and
more rational treatment Of our water
ways. The old unreasoning opposi-
ton made itself manifest and scant
effort was made to meet any issue
fairly upon its merit. The directors
gave l1IIlS COIlSluSIdSbOH " Tire COai-
mercial or strategic value Of projects
as reported by the War and Navy De-
partments. In fact, 1t was often evil
dent that time had not even been
taken to consult the survey maps and
reports on the projects under discus
sion. This hae Of attack was directed
with special reference to projects ad-
vocated by this association, which
stood the test and advanced in the
good will of congress. All of which
means that the work of the associa-
ton must continue until those who
have, heretofore so bitterly opposed
these important eastern developments
are brought to better understanding
of the righteousness of our cause, or
are overwhelmed by the enlightened
sentiment of the greater number of
their colleagues in congress who know
our commercial needs and who be-
lieve in the common sense prepared
ness for war, which this association
advocates.
The definite alignment of the adj
ministrative branch of the govern
ment in favor of the bill was another
long step forward, as have been the
recent activities of the government
toward the more effective use of our
waterways as a war emergency meas
L
the Council of National Defense, it
may be observed, are earnestly coop
Grating to bring about the use of wa
ter routes wherever possible to afford
relief to the railroads for war service;
and we have the prospect during the
war, at least, of earnest cooperation
between the rail and water lines in
both routing and rating, instead of
the unfortunate disturbances So evil
dent in. the past.
The River and Harbor bill just
enacted by congress provides for the
appointment of Waterway Commits
sion to coordinate the activities of
the government with respect to our.
waterways and water resources, and
to formulate comprehensive plans for
future development. This again should,
go far toward allaying the spirit of
prejudice against the use Of water
ways which has been spread so insid-
fously during recent years.
With pride in, the progress made
therefor, and with confidence in the
future. our members will once more
assemble in Annual Convention. AS to
the past year it may be noted that
work has progressed materially on
some of our projects already adopted;
several links in the intracostal chain
are now completed and in operation.
The East River (N. Y.3 improvement
is definitely adopted, together with
the deeper channel for Boston. Nego-
tiatfons are authorized to acquire the
Cape Cod and the Chesapeake & Della
ware Canals. subject, however, to rat
ification by Congress This brings us
a step nearer the adoption of the pro-
ject for the waterway across the State
of New Jersey, vital link between
i~k. 80
plan. During the past year that state
has given further evidence Of it's good
faith, in providing for purchase of
the .right-of-way, and it's governor
and official board are justified in urg-
ing upon congress that the time is at
hand to adopt the project and pro-
coed with the work.
Problems of similar Importance
continue to claim our interest. along
| the southern section Of the waterway
chain, notably between the North
Carolina Sounds and Winyah Bay in
South Carolina, and in the series of
channels requiring Improvement to
extend the inside route down the
Florida. coast.
| With Miami, the city of the royal
palm, the coconut and banana, the
| avocado and grape fruit, the jasmine
and >everbfooming hibiscus, so many
Americans are already familiar that
we hesitate to suggest its many at
fractions.
! Miami, indeed, affords one of the
finest examples Of waterway progress
in our country. On her harbor front
| in Biscayne Bay, she is constructing,
at her own expense, a public dock,
one thousand feet long, with a public
terminal railroad. In the bay, Dade
! County, of which Miami is the seat
of government, is dredging commo-
dious channel and causeway. Access
to these improvements is provided by
the government channel and jetties,
connecting with the ocean. on which
the commerce of the Antilles and the
Gulf passes to and fl along the Gulf
Stream, seemingly a stone's-throw
from shore. This years River and
Harbor bill carries a provision for
completing the government channel
land our members may understand the
progressive spirit of Miami when we
state that for every dollar the gov
eminent has provided toward ,these
Improvements, the people Of Miami
have provided more than two dollars
The opening of this new harbor is to
be timed to our convention.
An attractive program of business
sessions, entertainme nts, and outdoor