The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-09-16
SHANKS ID HEAD
 WATERWAYS BODY
Every Section of State Repre- sented as Movement Is
 Launched at Montgomery
By FRED H. GORMLEY
 Montgomery Bureau The Age Herald
 12I-2 Eirst National lanL n..IIdi na

22i-2 First National Bank Building
 Montgomery, September 15.--(SpeciaL)-- In one of the most enthusiastic conven- tions held in Ala abama in many a day over 200 business men, representing every section of the state put on foot a move ment today that means great things for the material welfare of Alabama. The occasion was the holding of the first con- vention of the Alabama Waterways As sociation, organization of which was per fected by the election of Philip T. Shanks of Selma as president, and one vice president from each of the ten con- gressionai districts. Mobile was here with delegation of seventy five men; Selma had dszen or more, Gadsden ten; Montgomery a score; Tuscaloosa seven or eight; Birmingham eight or ten, and from one to five from. score of other cities and towns. Tbey came here with the sole view of effecting some means of providing adequate port terminals at Mobile and utilize to tbeir fullest possibilities all the rivers of the state is carrying the products of the4 farms, the mines and the factories to the markets of the world.
 As a result of the meeting, great im- petus was given to the campaign for the adoption of the constitutional amendment permitting the state to lend its credit to the building of port tercliMls at Mobile. Able speeches were made by Senator Un- derwood Senatorial Nominee Heflin and resentativese McDuffie, Oliver, Almon and Bankhead. w. D. Nesbitt and Henry T. DeBardeleben of Birmingham and Chair man P T Shapks.
 John Durr of Montgomery intro duced and the convention adopted reso- lutions declaring that the further devel- opment of the inland waterways is de- pendent on the improvement of port fla cilites at Mobile. and pledging the entire membership of the organization to work for the ratification of the seaport amend uent at the election of November ?. In an eloquent speech urging the adoption of the resolution. MT. Durr predicted that Alabama. through its waterways, will supply the cheapest transportation per ton mile in the world.
 A. G. Patterson who has been norn- mated by the democrats for president of the public service commission, said that water transportation may no longer be used merely as means of extorting lower Hates from railroads: that the new policy is not one of destructive compet- tion but of intelligent co-operation be- tween the railroads and the waterways, He said that he will follow that course as president of the Alabama public serv- ice commission.
 HEFLIN APPLAUDED
 Applause erected the appearance of J. Thomas Heflin senator designate. who was introduced by Chairman Shanks to speak on the port and the farmer. MT. Heflin declared that our highway system will not be compete until we have a highway by the farmers door; that the railroads will not be complete until they are equipped to properly handle all freight offered. and that the waterways will not be complete until modern ter mnals are completed at these ports He told of the great success that has fol- lowed state aid to the seaport of New Orleans. and said that the farmers of the state will readily understand the ad- vantage of them having at the seaport a cotton warehouse with a capacity of 3Qo GOO to 10000 bales of cotton, upon which the farmers of the country can borrow money while holding their product for a fair price
 Henry DeEa rdeleben, federal manager of Warrior river, read a telegram from Theo Brent, federal manager of Missis- sippi-Warrior waterways. regretting his inability to be present and urging the great importance Of the whole waterways pldH DI the duCpttOn or the seaport amendment MT DeBardeieben told ot the advantages possessed by Mobile over New Orleans. He said that the trans portation system on that stream is sue cessful. despite antauated equipment, and that 100000 tons of freight per air mum can be handled downstream with the new equipment that will be delivered pn the stream in October
 OLIVER IS SPEAKER Congressman WillamlB. Oliver of Tus- caloosa spoke of the great necessity Of carrying the story of just what the sea- port amendment means to the people back home. and said that the intelli- gent voters of the state will vote for II If they understand it. He told of what other states are doing for their ports Turn it down. and what chance have your representatives in Congress to ob- tain additional appropriations for your waterways2" he asked, Mir Oliver ae- clared that Henry DeBardeleben is one of the greatest assets the state of Ala bama has for the development of it's Waterways. that the federal manager has the ear of the authorities at Washing
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