The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-11
EXPECT ASHBURN TO RECON MEND AID FOR RIVER
Waterways Committee Express Satisfaction
 With Trip

After q trip on the Warrior river and to Birmingport, members or the advisory committee of the Inland Waterways corporation will return to Washington Thursday morning to for mulate recommendations. which, It IS declared, will give the Warrior what ever is necessary to make 1t loo per cent efficient and productive.
 These reports, members of the cham her of commerce believe, will result III some outstanding developments ot the barge service. They were expressed at A dinner given the visitors in honor of Gen. T. Q. Ashburn, executive officer: Robert Ingalls,, president. introduced General Ashburn, who told of some of the difficulties encountered in the de- yelopment of waterways in this country. He apparently wanted members or the advisory committee to make the most pointed and committing statements TOT General Ashburn and later his advisors came down on the Warrior and made It apply to the Birmingham need. M. Il. Hunt asked members of the chamber and Birmingham folks to remember that they did not only have Robert A. Brown as member representing DIT mingham but they had all other mem bers.
 Fifty Attend
 The meeting was attended by 30 prominent men of this city and was attended also by all members Of the committee except Mir. Jaccoby, Who was detained II. w. Seamon of Chm ton, Iowa, and Chicago, told members of the vast importance of waterway de yelopments and made the statement that he believed railroads were in a con spiracy to wreck the Panama canal. He said he believed the same con spiracy existed to defeat the develop ment of the Inland waterways. lie explained at some length the activities of railroads in various rate matters and insisted that this country keep awake.
 IT w Sanders of New Orleans said the fate of the Warrior river had turned the corner and he believed tne committee at its conference Tn Nash- ington would recommend that Secretary Weeks gives to the service whatever was needed to bring out all or US possibilities.
 Tells Of DHt
 J. F. Smith of St. Louis told mem hers something of the Porter bill now pending in congress which provides that bonds amounting to 4,o0O,oOo shall be issued, as needed, to proper! develop the inland waterways on pig scale. He said it was estimated by engineers that the work could be done in five years and would effect sav- ings of 9 per cent of the eventual cost. He asked local business men to write local representatives at Washington to assist in passing the Porter egisIatlon.
 Local Men Speak
 Robert A. Brown, closed the meeting for the committe by saying how proud he was that the visitors came to DIT mingham. >
 George G. Crawford and w. D. Nes- bit were the only local speakers. MT Crawfod said committee members were entirely competent. and that ten, oral Ashburn and Secretary Weeks had been tested and not found wantlngs.
 Mir. Nesbitt, president of the Port of Birmingham corporation. expressed the qualification felt by the 43S owners of the stock in the corporation m the fuutre of the service. He said he con sidered Birmingham very fortunate m having the committee here and he as sured them that the visit was greatl! anpreciated