Evening journal., 1899-07-06
WANT DEEPER CHANNEL
Maritime interests Demand
That the Work Be Started.
WILL URGE CONGRESS TO ACT
RAYMOND FIGURES
THAT THIS IMPORTANT WORK
CAN BE DONE IN SIX YEARS FOR
LESS THAN s6,OOO,OOO

LESS THAN 100000
Demands for the thirty-foot channel
from Philadelphia to the sea, which is
being urged by all the maritime, com
mercial and trade organizations Of that
city, and which it is positively expect
ed will be authorized at the next ses-
sion Of Congress, are based upon rea-
sons and facts which admit of no dis
pute. Active efforts to bring to Phila-
delphia the congressman who compose
the Appropriations and River and Har-
Dor Committees will be begun as soon
as the makeup of the committees is
announced by the next speaker OF the
House
No one anticipates that either Chair
man Cannon or Chairman Bur-
ton will be deposed, and they
were instructed in the needs and possi-
bilities of that port during the recent
tour Of inspection of the river by the
committee Of the Maritime Exchange,
When Congress learns the extent Of the
advantages which will accrue not only
to Philadelphia, but to the nation, by
reason of a thirty-foot channel, there
can be no question of authorizing the
improvement
RAYMOND'S ESTIMATE OF COST.
Colonel c. w. Raymond, the United
States engineer in charge OF the har-
Dor work. has estimated that a channel
600 feet wide and 30 feet deep, from
Philadelphia to deep water in Delaware
bay, can be constructed for $685., 900.
The amount of earth to be removed
is estimated at S2,S75, 900 cubic yards.
and Of rock, 12,1OO cubic yards. Under
the most favorable conditions. Colonel
Raymond says the work will occupy
six years. He is convinced that it is
justified by the needs Of commerce. and
if the question were properly placed be-
fore Congress, and the fullest infor-
nation. such as can only be gained
from an inspection Of the river, sup
piled to the congressman themselves.
the conclusion of the United States en-
gineer would be sustained and support
ed by the appropriation Of the necessary
funds.
Colonel Raymond's report was sub
United to the War Department on Jan
uary 8. 1898 The improvement was
referred to a board Of engineers, OF
which Colonel Raymond is one, and
which is now in session. Its recon-
mendation, which can scarcely be
otherwise than favorable, will be pre-
sented before Congress convenes, and
all the energies Of Philadelphia should
be devoted to profting by the auspi-
cious time and securing the congress
sional approval OF the plan.
MADE NECESSARY BY BIG YES
Sells.
1t is probable that the limit of the
draught of vessels constructed to yield
the greatest return to the owners has
been nearly reached by the largest yes
sells now afoat, and there is little like
lihood that the next decade will wit
ness an increage in the size Of vessels
such as the last one has seen. The
plan for the twenty-six foot channel
in the Delaware was authorized four
teen years ago, and the depth then con-
sidered sufficient for international
trade is now obsolete. The work drag
ged because of insufficient appropria-
tions, but it is hoped to have the thirty
foot channel constructed by continuous
contract
An fdea Of the great depth of mod
ern ocean carriers may be gained from
the fact that thirty-three of the steam
ers entering New York harbor require
over 2S feet of water. The Kaiser Will
helm der Crosse draws % feet l inch.
and the Bulgaria and Pennsylvania,
the colossal freighters of recent years,
draw 80 feet. The Kensington and
southwark, the American Line steam
iers, which formerly piled between Phil
adelphia and Liverpool, draw an inch
or two over so feet, but with a SO-foot
channel they would never have left
that port as the advantages in trade
would make up for slight inconveni-
ences and delays in ascending and de-
ascending the river.
CHANNELS AT OTHER PORTS.
There are only five principal seaports
on the Atlantic coast-Boston. New
York Philadelphia Baltimore and Nor
folk. Boston is to have 27-foot chan
nell New York has 3O-foot channel,
which is to be deepened toss; Baltimore
has 80 feet of deep water. and Nor
folk has a 29-foot channel Philadel-
lphia has the least depth of all. Thirty
years ago New York's channel of %
feet was so deep that the bottoms Of
the deepest draught vessels had five
feet clear water beneath them. A new