Evening journal., 1901-05-25
NEW WSPAPER OPINION
The Delaware Ship Channel

From Philadelphia North American.
While the total tonnage entering and
clearing from this port last year ex-
ceeded any in the history of Philadel-l
phia, and the showing this year prom
ises 10 be equally satisfactory. it must
still be admitted that the condition Of
the Delaware river causes much COM
merce which should come here to bel
veited to other harbors The ten
dency OF the times is TO increase the
tonnage of both sailing and steam yes
sells because of the economy of their
operation. Shipping men agree that
the greatest profit is to be made from
vessels drawing from q tol
80 feet of water, none of which can
trade with this port About twenty
Ave feet is conceded to be the limit to
which vessels can be loaded without
danger of grounding in the present
state of the river.
Many millions Of dollars have been
expended by the Federal and munich
pal governments in improving the har-
Dor and deepening the river channel
during the last twenty-five years. But
the demands Of commerce have grown
faster than the improvements havel
progressed. The project for the for
nation of a channel 600 feet wide and
so feet deep from this city to deepl
water in Delaware bay was not Offi-
cially approved by the War Depart
ment until September 8, 1899, and i'll
Is only within a very few years that
vessels OF deep draught have been able
to ascend the river to Philadelphia on
a single tide Congress has committed
the government to the 30-fOOt channel
plan, but as yet the work has been
barely begun. Less than $500, 900 had
been appropriated up to July 1, 1900, (
all of which at that time had been ex-
pended or was covered by uncOmpleted
contracts. By the defeat Of the river
and harbcr bill last March the expected
allowance OF 5000 900 was cut off and
! the only provision made for work on
the Delaware was a petty item of S61.-
500 in the sundry civil appropriation
bill, which was required for the COM
pletion of an existing continuing con-
tract As Congress will not meet until
December and no river and harbor bill
will be passed until late in the Spring
OF 1902 the work will soon be brought
to standstill unless funds are con-
tributed from local sources.
To relieve this situation 1t is now
proposed that Councils appropriate
! NtNVfNNNf vi MnlNN FoNVsNUU cItlI DH UtNDQI
in improving the Schuylkill and 5000. :
600 in blasting out Schooner Ledge n
Il the Delaware. The scheme is still in
the first stages OF discussion, but in a
| general way It has received the en-
dorsement OF many men prominent in
business circles and of Mayor Ash
bridge, with certain reservations. The
mayor, from the tone Of the inter-
views which he has given out, appears
TO be under the impression that the
city has the right to exercise a free
hand in such matters. Fortunately.
Colonel Raymond, the army engineer
: in charge of this district, has taken the
, pains to set him right ait the start
AS he points out, any improvements
upon tide waters must be made under
the direction OF the secretary Of war.
The United States engineers are his
agents and the contractors are the en-
v plOycs of the engineers. Under these
2 circumstances the mayor must accent
conditions as he finds them. He will
, further the city's interests materially
II he aids in securing an appropriation
? for river Improvements, but he cannot
v dictate how 1t shall be expended. That
+ is matter in which he must bow to
y the judgment of the War Department. s
engineers. Any such criticism Of theii
= methods as he has been indulging IN
! recently must put him in a ridiculous
d light If he is in earnest in desiring tc
n deepen the water approaches ofuhe port
K he should consult Colonel Raymond as
= to the best way for the city to Co
(, operate with the United States Govern
v ment.
Il The deepening OF the Delaware can,
u not be effected by random engineering
n 1t must be carried on as a continuous
project on scientific plans, such as tn,
War Department prescrihea II is es
d, timated that the 30-fOOt channel will
cost S5.S100 900 and that at least 81,
. years will be required for its compile
s. ton. Unless Congress manifests a IA
& more liberal policy In the future thar
ic II has shown heretofore It will TAX
e- much longer. AS fer the Schuykill. 70
4. the Improvement Of which some SO.
- 100000 more would be required. Con
u gress refuses 10 touch IL, according Z
Representative Bingham. If It's chan
mel is TO be dredged IL must be don
\. at the cost OF the city or OF the Stand
m ard Oil Company and other private in
- terests which use H.
1t Is evident, however, that II Phil
N. adelphia is TO held its present ran
at among the commercial and maritim
90 centres OF the coast the city must d
in something In its own behalf, not mere
, ly 20 meet a temporary emergenc
such as now exists because of the fai
ure OF the river and harbor act, br
IN as part OF a fixed policy. The exampl
he. OF New York and Baltimore is wort