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December, 1913 for the presentation of the needs for waterway improvement for all parts of the nation. It is one of the hope- ful signs of the times that representa- tives of different parts of the United States are willing to assemble annual- ly in such numbers, to discuss mat- ters of such vital importance to their localities and to the nation at large. We have heard during the last year something of the foresight and policy of foreign nations in their attitude to- ward river and harbor improvement, through the delegates that assembled in Philadelphia at the 12th convention of the Permanent International Asso- ciation of Navigation ' Congresses. Many of the delegates of that great international organization sailed from Buffalo to Cleveland, to Chicago and to Duluth studying the conditions ex- isting along the Great Lakes, over which a large part of the waterway commerce of the United States is economically transported. Through the papers and addresses and personal interviews of those distinguished rep- resentatives of foreign nations, we learned much of the practical phases of river, harbor and waterway im- provement in general that engage the attention of such nations as Germany, France, Austria, Russia, Italy, Bel- gium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Nor- THE MARINE REVIEW way and Sweden, and especially of Great Britain, whose merchant fleets sail every sea and reach practically every portion of the habitable globe. We have been able to learn from them how they overcame obstacles to navigation in their interior and coast- wise waterways, and possibly we may get some inspiration from the suc- cess which has attended their intel- ligent efforts to improve commerce over their waterways which are far in- ferior in adaptability to the Great Lakes, to the requirements of 'a world-wide commerce. Nine Conventions The nine conventions of the Rivers and Harbors Congress have awakened in the people of this nation a greater appreciation of the economical ad- vantages of transportation by water for large volumes of tonnage over those of transportation by: rail; ..or in any other manner. In the next, which is the tenth annual convention of the congress, the demands that may properly be made upon the con- gress of the United States for lib- eral appropriations ought to be so forcefully presented that the national government may be impressed and liberal appropriations made to meet these demands. The ports of Cleve- 44 land, Buffalo, Detroit, Milwaukee, Chicago and Duluth and others ought to send large and enthusiastic dele- gations to the National Rivers and Harbors Congress, to awaken deeper internal and broader national concep- tion and appreciation of the magni- tude and importance of the Great Lakes as highways for a large por- tion of the commerce of the nation. The declaration of principles em- bodied in the resolutions of the last National Rivers and Harbors Con- gress clearly shows that the organ- ization is nation-wide in its scope, and is doing a great work in promot- ing more intimate commercial rela- tions with all parts of the nation. There is still much to be done be- fore all of our waterways are brought into practical communication. I ven- ture the prediction that the time will come when it will be possible for barges to pass from state to. state, and through the large parts of such states as New York, which has auth- orized an expenditure of $127,800,000 for the improvement of its barge canal system, and it will then become a matter of national concern as to the regulation of such interstate com- merce as already indicated in the amendments made to the interstate commerce law. Atlantic Inland Waterways Two Important Waterway Association Meetings Are Held in the South-- Address of Senator Fletcher HE Mississippi to Atlantic In- : land Waterway Association of which Senator Duncan U. Fletch- -er is president, and Leland J. Hen- derson,; of Pensacola, is; secretary, held its sixth annual convention at. Palatka, - Fla, Nov. 1/)and 18. After adjournment the members went to Jacksonville and attended the sessions of the Atlantic Deeper Wat- erway Association, of which J. Hamp- ton Moore is president. This con- vention remained in session until Nov. 21. The Atlantic Deeper Waterway Association advocates an inland wat- erway along the Atlantic coast from Cape Cod to Key West. President Wilson telepraphed the association as follows: "May I not send my cordial greetings. The intercoastal waterway seems to be an enterprise of national importance. I tried as governor of New Jersey' to show my sympathy with it and my desire to co-operate in its accomplishment. I wish this con- SENATOR DUNCAN U. FLETCHER vention success both in counsel and in the realization of its hopes." Senator Fletcher's address at the Palatka meeting was as follows: Since our last meeting, consider- able progress has been made in con- nection with the project advocated by this: -assoctation,; ("Work = i6 pushed rapidly on the canal connect- ing the Apalachicola river with St. Andrew's bay. The last river and harbor bill provided for a survey be- tween Pensacola and Mobile bay, which will be favorably reported in time for the next bill. The improve- ment of the Ocklawaha river will be recommended by the engineers, and when that is completed, being on the route favored by the engineers across Florida, the waterway will be more than half across the state. It will be an easy matter to connect with the Withlacoochee river on the other, and thence proceed to the gulf. The sur- vey and estimates were made for a canal connecting St. Andrew's bay a4 being