Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-11
BETTER WHARF AGE,
PORTS HELD NEED
Advocated by Speakers at
Final Session of Water
ways Congress.

If freight transportation by water
I is to be truly economical in the United
States the cities along streams made
naviGable by government expendi-
ture must take steps to improve
wharfage and terminal facilities, ac-
cording to =. A. Thompson, secretary
treasurer of the Rivers and Harbors
Congress. speaking at the final ses-
sion of that organizations annual
meeting at the Willard Hotel today.
In order to handle the hugely in
creasirg volume of foreign trade
quickly and efficiently, the seaport
facilities of the country a.so must
he overhauled and brought up to
date. declared Emil P. Albrecht. pres
ident of the Philadelphia bourse. who
quoted Admiral Benson to the effect
that the United States has the
"crudest port facilities of any great
country"
Would Have Survey Reports.
The suggestion was made by Thorn
as ]. WI ght of OIL City. Pa. that am
bilious industrial towns. along
streams which may be made navig-
and build proper wharveS and tracks
if government engineers would make
public within Il reaSonab'e time re-
ports of surveys on the ntvagibility
of rivers.
Congress will be chary about making
improvement unless il is assured the I'M
proved waterways will I've used extern
sively. said A. Peterson of Minneapolis.
who urged the appointment OF a work
committee TO keep i'll touch with Con-
gresS. The appointment of such A COM
mittee was opposed by Mr.. Albrecht on
grounds of propriety.
Resolutions covering the efforts
and policies of the congress We're
adopted. The rivers and harbors dele
nh
RansdeIl, the retiring president. and
to Mrs. Ransdell a handsome silver
tea service.
Representative John II. Small of
North Carolina was chosen president
of the congress. He succeeds Senator
Joseph T.. RanSdell of louisiana who
who declined reelection and who was
appointed to life membership as a di-
rector of the body. Samuel A. Thomp-
son was reelected secretary and
treasurer.
The next meeting of the organiza-
ton will be in Washington next De-
cember. Vice presidents and directors
were appointed to represent every
state in the union.
Sessions End With Banquet.
The two-day general sessions of
the congress closed last night with
a banquet at the Willard. There were
about 500 guests. and Vice President
Marshall presided.
Baron de Cartier dc Marchienne.
Belgian ambassador. and DR.. Slavko
Y. Grouitch. minister of the Serbs,
Croats and SloveneS. spoke for the
diplomatic corps. Admiral William S.
Benson spoke for the Navy. and Maj.
Gen. John A. Lejeune of the Marine
Corps. who commanded the I'd Divi-
sion in France. spoke for the A. f. F..
and its work in the world war. Miss
Janet Richards. Charles F. NeSbit and
Wilkie Bard also were on the pro-
gram.
The Belgian ambassador described the
developed waterways of his country. and
spoke of the great debt of his nation to
the United States. whose generosity, he
said. saved the population from starva-
ton.
DR.. Grouitch told of the terrible
devastation the war had wrought in
the Balkans. described the needs for
even the most meager form of re-
habilitation, and bespoke the gratitude
of his people to those of the United
States for the help given by American
agencies in the section of Europe he
represents.
Mr. Marshall commended heartily
the purposes of the rivers and har-
bors congress, declaring waterways
development as well as rail and high
way development is an imperative
need in solving the countrys trans
portation problems.