The Washington herald., 1918-09-10
BACKS
CANAL PLAN
Intercoastal Waterway Fa,
vored by Southern Com
mercial Congress.

Following the suggestion offered by
Governor Dorsey of Georgia at the
banquet held at the University Club
last night, the Southern Commercial
Congress has called a conference OF
leaders in the commercial life of the
south at Atlanta for October "a TO
discuss plans for presenting their IN
tercoastal canal project at the con-
vention to be held at Baltimore. in
December.
In a short address delivered at the
banquet the Governor briefly de-
scribed the plan as a scheme TO con-
meet the South with the East by a
Fla, to Saint Marks.
! canal running from Saint Marys,
VIII Reduce Panama Route.
He declared that the plan was not
merely a war measure but the logical
sequence to the Panama Canal. He
pointed out that the proposed water
way would cut the distance to the
| Pacific by 500 miles.
The Governor has been in Wash
| ington for the last week to lay the
| plan beore the Southern Commercial
Congress. He ended his address last
night by inviting the October II con-
ference to meet in Atlanta, where he
promised the delegates they would be
welcomed by the whole state.
Senator Hoke Smith of Georgia as
| sured the members OF the conference
! that Congress would not hesitate to
| provide funds not only TO restore our
! flag to its place on the high seas but
! to maintain it in that position. He
| pointed out the fact that the pro-
posed canal would be OF great assist
| anCe to this country in our trade with
| South America after the war. He
suggested that much OF the work on
the subject might be done by return
| ing soldiers.
| An invitation to attend the annual
| convention of the Southern CONNER
cial Congress in Baltimore next De-
! cember was extended by Mayor
Preston of Baltimore.
| The economic advantages Of the
! intercoastal canal were emphasized
| by s, G. McLedon, secretary of the
| State OF Georgia.
| Senator Fletcher OF Georgia spoke
| of the great advantage to be derived
from the diversion of trade from the
| congested ports of the east to the
! south. Other speakers were w. T
! Anderson. publisher OF the Macon
I
! of Petersburg. Va. Clarence ]. Owens
| manager of the Southern Commercial
! Congress, presided.
| Guests at the banquet were: Hon.
| Hugh NJ. Dorsey. governor of Geor-
| gia; Senator Duncan L. Fletcher, OF
! Florida; Senator Hoke Smith. OF
Georgia; Representative Larsen, OF
| Georgia; Representative Parke, OF
Georgia; Mayor James H. Preston,
| of Baltimore: Clarence J. Owens
managing director of the Southern
Commercial Congress: William Fl,
| Saunders, treasurer of the Southern
| Commercial Congress: Hugh E
| Phillips, chief cerk of the Southern
Commercial Congress: Mr.. Rogers
| director o fthe Bureau of Census OF
| the United States Department OF
Commerce; Hon. S. C. McLedon. Sec
| retary for the State o fGeorgia
Hon. John N. Holder, speaker of the
\ house of Representatives of Georgia
| w. T. Anderson. publisher of the
Macon Telegraph; l.. A. Frodock
member of the Georgia house OF
representatives; Capt. Seaton Grant
| land. member of the Georgia house
| of representatives; Hon. C. A. Rick
| err, member of the Georgia counsel
i, of defense; Hon. S. b. Brown, mem
\ Der fthe Georgia counsel of de-
| fense; Mr.. J. A. Becker. Maj. F. E
| Galloway, Charles Hall Davis, OF
| Petersburg, Va; Hon. ]. H. Small
chairman OF the House Committed
on Rivers and Harbors; c. H. Stauf.
fer and F. c. Elliott.