lma, sought to increase the appropriation for rivers and
harbors from $50,000 to $75,000, and made efforts to secure
improvements in navigation in Alabama waters.

Of all the Congressmen, Josiah T. Walls of Florida was perhaps the
most persistent in the effort to secure improvements for his district
and State.[83] He introduced numerous bills to erect in his district
custom houses and other public buildings, and to improve the rivers
and harbors of his State. Walls introduced also bills to provide a
lifesaving station along the coast of Florida, to amend an act
granting right of way through public lands for the construction of
railroad and telegraph lines through Florida, and to create an
additional land district. He sought further to amend an appropriation
bill to the end that $50,000 be made available for the establishment
of a navy yard at Pensacola.

James T. Rapier, who succeeded Turner in Congress, continued, to some
extent, the policy of the latter to secure local improvements.[84] Of
two measures introduced by Rapier, one proposed to erect public
buildings in his district, the other to make improvements in the
rivers and harbors of the State. He succeeded in having enacted into
law his measure to constitute Montgomery, Alabama, a port of entry.

The policy of John R. Lynch of Mississippi in the matter of local
improvements[85] did not differ materially from that of Rapier. Lynch
proposed measures for the construction of the Memphis and New Orleans
Railroad, for the construction of public buildings and custom houses,
and for the improvement of rivers within the State of Mississippi.

Smalls, of South Carolina, likewise concerned himself with the matter
of local improvements.[86] He endeavored to secure an appropriation
for the restoration of the Beaufort Library which was destroyed during
the War. He proposed measures to establish in his district custom
houses, docks, warehouses, a weather observation station, and other
public buildings. He was interested also in the redemption of lands
held by direct taxes and sought to promote a measure for the
construction of telegraph lines in the State. Similarly concerned was
James E. O'Hara of North Carolina, whose chief measures for
improvements[87] embraced bills to erect public buildings in his
district, and to improve the rivers and harbors in his State. Murray,
of South Carolina, was some years later advocating the exemption of
the Young Men's Christian Associatio