THE NATIONAL RIVERS AND 



HARBORS CONGRESS 



Washington, D. C., December 3, 4 and 5, 1907 



BY 



Mrs. Lydia Adams-Williams, of Women's National Press Association, and International 



League of Press Clubs 



Special Report for FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 



nr HE large ball room of the New crowned with success called the 



A Willard Hotel, all in white and meeting to order and presided in an 



gold, with the National emblem in evi- able and impartial manner over its de- 



dence, was the scene of a brilliant and liberations. 



representative gathering of the fore- The Congress was opened with a 



most and most substantial men of the prayer by Rev. Earl Cranston, of 



Nation, when the important River, Washington, D. C., bishop of the M. 



and Harbors Congress held its ses- E. Church. 



sions there on December 3, 4. and 5, The able Secretary of State, Elihu 



1907. Root, was the first and principal 



Cabinet members and other repre- speaker, of the opening session. After 



sentatives of the great Government de- commending the efficient work of 



partments, foreign Ambassadors, Chairman Burton, of the Rivers and 



United States Senators and Congres Harbor^ Committee, and referring to 



men, the Governors of many States the Panama and Erie canals, Secre- 



and other notables of State and Na- tary Root said : "\Ye have reached 



tional distinction, and representatives the bridge. It is now a question of 



of the most important financial and whether we shall have our products 



commercial industries from every part carried or not. 



of the Union, with a sprinkling of "There is no greater achievement 

 earnest and interested women, com- than the transportation of articles 

 bined to make a gathering, the per- from nne point where they are value- 

 sonnel of which is seldom, if ever, 1<-' S to another where they are vain- 

 equalled, able. The railroads of the country 



In attendance there were, not count- no lo nger are able, physically, to carry 



ing many spectators, 2,000 delegates the lraffic of America, and the one 



from 463 cities and towns in 43 States. avenue open to such traffic is water 



These were appointed by 23 govern- transportation. We must move for- 



ors, 51 mayors and 183 waterway and vard or we wil1 S backward. I see 



commercial organizations. American production handicapped by 



Congressman Joseph E. Ransdell, : * r f- ^ cost of getting 



of Louisiana, President of the River, '? the seaboard, and, sec- 



and Harbors Congress he whose un- abs . enc , e of an Allieri can 

 , i , merchant marine 

 tiring energy and unswerving devo- 

 tion to the one fixed policy of "fifty The Ambassador from France, M. 

 millions annually for river and bar- Jusserand. delivered an entertaining 

 bor improvements," bid fair to be and characteristic address.* 



*XOTE. Found elsewhere in this issue. Ed. 



