CONVENTION OF THE OHIO VALLEY 



IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION 



THE Fourteenth Annual Conven- extended addresses by Hon. Albert Bet- 

 tion of the pioneer association of tinger and Dr. W J McGee ; the session 

 citizens to promote river improve- closing with the election of officers and 

 ment was held at Louisville, Ky., Octo- selection of Cincinnati as the place for 

 ber 22-23, i" ^^^ Seelbach Hotel. The the Fifteenth Annual Convention in 

 meeting was an enthusiastic one, large- 1909. During the afternoon the dele- 

 ly on account of the feeling that the gates and guests, through the courtesy 

 long-awaited fruition of hopes and la- of the Louisville Executive Commit- 

 bors is at hand. The annual report of tee, made a trip through the harbor and 

 President Vance, which followed the examined the government work in 

 opening exercises, showed the affairs of progress on the movable dam at the 

 the organization to be in a gratifying Falls of the Ohio, 

 condition ; it and the address of Hon. m,-. Bettinger summarized the legis- 

 Joseph E. Ransdell, President of the lation, surveys, and other procedure 

 National Rivers and Harbors Congress, leading to the present plan for improv- 

 were the features of the morning ses- j^,^ ^he navigation of the Ohio by means 

 sion. Mr. Ransdell outlined the devel- of ^ series of fifty-four movable dams, 

 opment of the recent waterway move- extending from Davis Island to Mound 

 ment, beginning with the organization Qj^y^ designed to give a nine-foot stage, 

 of the Ohio Valley Improvement As- ^^. ^,\ ^^^^^^^^^ estimated cost of over 

 sociation, and directed attention to the $63,000^000. Six dams have been corn- 

 constant aid and encouragement this pieted and eight are under way, of 

 ^Association has given other organiza- -^vhich two will be completed within a 

 tions of kindred .aim. including the y^^^ pj^ also outlined "the new pol- 

 Rivers and Harbors Congress. ]^y Qf waterway improvement." The 

 The afternoon session was devoted Association has contributed much to 

 to addresses by Maj. William L. ^^^ creation of sentiment in favor of a 

 Sibert, U. S. Engineer Corps; Mr. W. departure from the old methods. The 

 K. Kavanaugh, President of the Lakes- ^^jig q£ indiscriminate approval of 

 to-Gulf Deep Waterway Association ; projects, insufficient provision of funds 

 Mr. George W. Theiss, Mr. Alfred _K. ^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ promptly to com,pletion, 

 Nippert, and others; and the evening ^j^^ jg,,j, ^f ^ comprehensive plan of 

 session to addresses by Hon. F. B. ^.j^^j. improvement, insufficient number 

 Posey, of Indiana, and Mr. A. B. Lips- ^^ engineers, have all been so much dis- 

 comb, with an illustrated lecture on the mussed that a mere mention of them is 

 Locks and Movable Dams of the Ohio gT^ifficient. What principles should 

 River, by Capt. J. Frank Tilley. The ^^j^^ ^{^^ future action of Congress in 

 session of Friday was occupied by re- J^^^g^ matters? President Roosevelt, in 

 ports of the secretary, Capt. J. F. Elli- his^message td Congress February 26. 

 son. with reports of committees (in- "^g"^ transmitting the report of the In- 

 cluding that on resolutions), brief ad- la^id Waterways ^Commission said: 



dresses giving assurances of support _ ,,,,., *-i fv,« 



■I-, . .• (T ou 1 r No nroiert should be beeiin iin*il the 



by Representative Swager Sherley, of ^^^No vrojct^^^^^u ^^^^^^^^ .^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^^ 



the Louisville District, and ^ several provided, pnd no p'an once under way should 



other members of Congress with more be changed except for grave reasons. Work 



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