Evening star., 1896-07-04

AS tie exports from Baltimore, as well
as Norfolk and Newport News, have to
pass through the mouth of Chesapeake
ray oay' the. the total exports of corn from that
one point were, In January, 50.2 per cent.
or tr1ne more than half Of the corn ex-
pGrts Of the whole United States.
with these 1ndisputable facts there ia no
eafthly reason why Washington, with it's
fine harbor. it's unexcellent river. and its
great advantage in point Of distance from
tne west should not enter the race as a
co"petitor Tor the ocean-carrying trade
Washington Harbor.
ihere are very few harbors on either the
gulf or Atlantic coasts superior to that Of
washington, either in present depth Of
water or in possibilities for the future
wnen proper improvements are made. One
oI the most prominent subjects for discus
sion by commercial conventions in the
Se.an1smlssissippf portion of, the United
Stases' winch country now produces over
nan OF the corn and wheat, is a deep
water outlet on the gulf coast. After years
20 90 ean emort, IT. alded by an appropriation of over
so'oVVooo Galveston has just secured a
oeptn OF channel Of twenty-one feet for
ocean vessels. Washington has nearly that
depth today, and with one-tenth part of
the appropriation just mentioned could cas-
lily secure twenty-nine feet
Coal Shipments.
rev harbors have SO great and important
tributary coal fields as WASHINGTON. The
great coal areas Of West Virginia. tapped
by the West Virginia Central railroad.
could here find deep-water harbor. For
some time past this company has desired
TO secure the Chesapeake and Ohio canal
as a road bed to Washington. Very re-
Gently 1t has contracted for the extension
OF the road westward to the Ohio river.
Nlth an eastern extension to Washing ton
me pet idea of Gen. Washington to make
me Potomac connecting link between the
Ohio river and the Atlantic would he CON
summated. but by rail instead of by canal.
FOR carrying out this plan there are am
PIE terminal facilities at Georgetown, or On
the southern bank Of the Potomac between
Washington and Alexandria,
There Is no better way to promote the
development of greater Washington than
py securing tributary transportation lines
OF this magnitude. The right hand of well
come shouid be extended to every we'll
planned movement in this direction
During the past sixteen years Congress
has appropriated over $36,OOO,OOO for the
Improvement Of the trunk line of the Mis-
slssippi About $SO,OOOOOO more have been
appropriated during the past century for
the Improvement of the Mississippi, Ohio,
Missouri Red. Arkansas, White and other
branches OF that great river system. Many
millions more will be needed, and will be
appropriated before the trunk line Is in q
suitable condition for the transportation of
the products Of the great Mississippi
valley.
But the Mississippi has been termed "the
river of the nation and Of all the states, -
and therefore requires the special attention
of the federal government.
The same argument can be applied to the
Potomac which connects the federal capi-
tai with the seaboard. 1t Is e-eminently
the nations river, and should hereafter,
receive due consideration by the nation s
representatives in Congress-
ALEX. D. ANDERSON.