The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-12-11
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
Mississippi Valley States
Demand Completion of
Waterway Projects.
BY EDWARD W. pIckARD

BY EDWARD w. PlcKARD
DRESIDENT COOLIDGE, in his ad-
dress before the New York state
chamber Of commerce, put develop
ment Of the country's waterways in
the forefront Of his program. And
last week the Mississippi Valley asso-
citation, In session in st. Louis, elab-
Grated on this with the utmost en-
thusiasm. The delegates, who COM
prised the leading men Of the Middle
West. served notice on congress that
they have ceased to beg from it for
The carrying out of such great prof.
{ ects as the Chicago-to-the-Gulf water
way. Now they are demanding, and
demanding loudly, conclusive action
on the funds necessary to carry out
1.-The inland waterway plans, a fixed
policy for their completion within FIVE
] years. and a national plan by which
such policy could not be thwarted
by any bureau or department The
association put itself on record to that
effect. and in discussion Of the last
clause some Of the delegates took oc-
casion to say some very severe things
about the director of the budget.
President James e. Smith in his an
nual address said some of these
things, and so did Senator James Reed
and Roy Miller, vice president Of the
Intra Coastal Canal Association Of
Louisiana and Texas.
The congressman from the 26 states
represented In the convention were
asked to urge the President to put wa
terways completion in his annual mes
sage. The association also decided to
put on campaign for the purpose of
showing to the public the practical
benefits of waterways and to urge CO.
operation with the railways. Division
of rates is desired, but not railroad
ownership of the water lines.
Chicago's right to divert water from
Lake Michigan came to the front and
was warmly defended by Congressman
Newton of St. Louis, though he based
It on the needs of navigation rather
than of sanitation. He declared per-
manent flow of 10000 cubic feet a
minute through the Chicago river and
the drainage canal was virtually need
ed to raise the levels Of the Missis-
sippi. and he told the delegates the &c
states must get behind Chicago in
this battle for their own salvation. He
asserted that there is no longer lake
level problem involved. for the lower
Ing of that level is now complete.
Later in his lively address Mr.. New
ton said:
1.-THE bulk of protest in this country
comes from representatives of cities
located upon the Great Lakes, who in
sist that the depths Of their harbors
are being impaired and the most fe-
rocious protest comes from Mflwau-
kee.
SIT is interesting to note that when
diversion began at Chicago tie har-
Dor at Milwaukee was approximately
five feet deep. while today it IS more
than twenty-one feet. This increase
In depth was made at the expense of
the whole country from funds appro-
priated by congress.
II find that many who are most
sire uously opposed to the diversion
at Chicago have no qualms of con-
scieAce about advocating far more ex-
tenseve diversion from Niagara Falls
for he manufacture of electricity to
be led by Canadian and American
powe interests.
TT Impression is made that Chi
cago plating sacred treaty obliga-
tons een the United States and
tCanad The truth is we haye per-
feet " rstanding with Canada re-
garding diversion. and I am fully per-
suaded that no protest would ever
have been raised had 1t not b&en for
the big power interests who WANT to
use this water at Niagara and down
the st. Lawrence"
! President Smith was reelected by
the association, and Th Is F. Cum
bingham Of New Orled as made
vice president at large,
COL. WILLIAM n AOckl
- the stand in his,
his court-martial tri