Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 59, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 November 1909 — CANAL BOOSTERS TO CAPITAL NEXT [ARTICLE]

CANAL BOOSTERS TO CAPITAL NEXT

Will Follow Up the Campaign Made Io New Orleans. "00 IT NOW!" IS THE SLOGAN Delegatloiv of at Least 500 Who Are Enthusiastic Over the “Fourteen Feet Through the Valley" Proposition Will Be In Washington Early In December When the Rivers and Han bore Congress Is In Session—lllinois to Be Well Represented.

Chicago, Nov. 5. —"Do it now!” is the slogan that will resound In Washington when 500 champions of the deep waetrway to the gulf, led by Illinoisans, Invade the capital early in December to follow up the campaign which reached its climax at the New Orleans Convention. Plans for marshaling the forces of the water commerce clans In a determined advance upon the legislative stronghold were announced by returning participants In the fifth annual convention of the Lakes-to-the-Gulf association —this action to take place simultaneously with the forthcoming convention of the National Rivers and Harbors congress, which Is expected to be a notable gathering. "We shall send to Washington for the river and harbors congress, which will meet Dec. 8, 9 and 10, the greatest representation that this section ever has sent upon such a mission,” declared T. Edward Wilder, leader of the Association of Commerce forces in New Orleans. “It is planned to send 500 of our lakes-to-the-gulf delegates, but I am convinced that Illinois alone will make nearly that showing at the Washington gathering." “The plan to construct a commercial waterway from the lakes to the gulf is the government’s plan; its engineers have declared it feasible, and now the commercial interests of the country have declared its need,” said Angus 8. Hibbard, a member of the main delegation of the association. “I am certain that the trip convinced the president, the governors and the congressmen who made it that the commercial interests are In no uncer' tain mind upon the need of a fourteenfoot channel to the gulf. “To the coal shipments from Ohio, now stranded upon the sandbars of that river, would fee added shipments of Iron and heavy manufactured products from Chicago and the great lakes."