Evening journal., 1899-09-30
DELAWARR'S IMPROVEMENT.
CONGRESSMAN BUTLsR ON THE
WAY TO SECURE A DEEPER RIVER.

CONGRESSMAN BUTLsR ON THE
WAY TO SECURE A DEEPER RIVER.
SAYS A COMBINED EFFORT BY
THE PENNSYLVANIA DELEGA-
TION WILL SECURE A CHAN
MEL OF SUFFICIENT DEPTH AND
WIDTH FOR THE LARGEST
SHIPS.
West Chester, Sept. SO-The action OF
the secretary Of war in approving the
expenditure Of 100000 towards remov-
ing ledge opposite Reedy Island led
Congressman Butler to talk interest
ingly Of the proposed Delaware river
improvement. The congressman from
the Sixth district is very much inter
ested in the improvement of the Della
ware river as a waterway.
III the Pennsylvania members of
Congress viii make a combined and de-
termined effort" he said. Il feel sure
the appropriations can be secured which
will ensure a channel from the Break
water to Philadelphia thirty feet deep
at low water and 600 feet wide The
supposed lack OF sufficient water in the
Delaware river, in my judgment, has
been standing in the way of the busi-
ness progress of Philadelphia and Vi
cinity. You always find a safe and at
tractiye way leading from the great
highways to a well regulated and sue
cessfully conducted competing business
concern, to which and from which con-
stant hauling by customers is occur
ring. Why should not the same rule
of business conduct and enterprise ap-
ply to the approaches to cities? We
expect the patronage of the business
travellers from deep water who drop in
safe channels to make their trades and
dispose of their goods l do not pre-
tend to say that there has not been
sufficient water in the river for the
trade which has heretofore been car
ried over it. ! am not an expert, OF
course. but know that the deeper the
water the deeper the ship that ven
lures over it, and the quantity Of
water in a harbor regulates largely the
commerce OF the town built on its bor-
der. These ideas are, Of course, old and
are not worth repeating or recollecting.
but ! suppose they are true, neverthe-
less.
AN IMPORTANT BUSINESS PROB
LEN.
Il am very much interested in the
project, and l conceive it TO be the
most important business problem (af-
fecung our district that has been sub
mitted within my recollection.
Chester has, as you may know. 40,-
600 people many Of them depending
upon the manufacturing industries OF
the place These industries are as im.
portant in extent and character as car
be found in the United States or else
where. Millions of dollars have beer
invested by my constituents in thesl
institutions. which turn out al kinds o
high class merchandise. from the heav
lest machinery and castings TO tn
finest and most delicate fabrics tha
one can put on his back
These manufacturers are deeply AM
vitality interested in the improvement
which are about TO be made in the Del
aware river. It means a greater for
eign trade to them. and also a goo
safe waterway for their vessels to tn
markets which they already have.
MUST HAVE A DEEPER WATER
WAY.
Then. again, League Island has 81
out to be the naval station Of Il
United States. With proper exertion,
few years will settle that propositiC
favorably. Preparations are now beiI
made with the first great appropri
tions secured by the Pennsylvan
members Of Congress for the purpo
to provide a reserve basin sufficient
size for the accommodation and prese
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