Smyrna times., 1901-01-23
WALTER 0. HOFFECKER,S
SPEECH BEFORE CONGRESS
MAKES HIS MAIDEN SPEECH ON THE
RIVER AND HARBOR BILL.
Attempts to Get an Increase IN the ApprO-
priatiOns for Smyrna and MispiIiOn Riv-
ers, But His Efforts Failed.

The river and harbor bill passed the
House last week practically as reported
by the committee. Walter o. Hof-
fecker, congressman from Delaware,
tried to secure additional appropria-
tions for this State.
The clerk read the following from
the bill:
Improving Smyrna river, Delaware,
in accordance with the report sub
mitted in House Document No. SO,
Fifty-slxth Congress, second session,
$4,000.
Mr.. Hoffecker-I have an amend
ment to that paragraph.
The amendment was read, as fol-
lows:
In line 10, page 43, after the word
session" strike out five" and insert
fifteen
Mr.. Hoffecker-Mr. Chairman, the
appropriation for Smyrna river under
this particular project is to cut off
dangerous shoals that have a gravel
bottom and catch all the silt that flows
down that river, thus impeding and
eventually stopping navigation. This
project provides that the river be
turned from these shoals by digging
canals through the soft mud of the
marsh and thus avoid them.
We know by experience, from two
canals that have already been made,
that these canals will deepen and widen
in the course of time, thus making a
permanent improvement, and one
which will not require future appro-
priatiOns to dig out again from time to
time. The committee have allowed
$4,000 for this project This does not
complete it, because the engineers
recommend $4,000. An expenditure
OF S., 900 does not reach any result.
We shall be in the same situation with
none expended as with $5, 900 only ex-
pended.
1t is merely a beginning, and as
there are only two of these shoals, and
as an appropriation necessary to COM
plete the work will only increase the
bill $4,000. L hope the committee
will agree to this amendment, which
will complete this project and make it
permanent, and will enable the COM
merce on that river, which Is con-
stantly growing, to have a safe outlet
to market. The community around
about this river is very much engaged
in the growing of small fruits. These
fruits reach the market in much better
condition when they go by water than
when they go by rail.
These shoals in the river are a con-
slant source of danger to a boat heavily
loaded with freight-strawbe for
instance-and it is liable to stick on
the shoal and miss the market. Hence
the commerce on this river is not as
large as it would be if we could have an
absolute certainty of the boats going
out at any stage of the tide. A wind
from the west blows the water out of
the Delaware bay, and consequently
lowers the tides IN these tributary
rivers; and they are still futher low
cred by the action of the wind on the
waters of the rivers the same as in the
bay. As this is only $1O,O 900 addition
to the bill, shall be very glad indeed
1t the House will agree to the amend
ent, which will complete this very nee
essary project
Now, Mr.. Chairman, the commerce
already on the river, warrants the COM
pletiOn of this project, and especially
so since the improvement will be
permanent, requiring no further ex-
penditure on the part of the govern
ment. Now, | submit, Mr.. Chairman.
whether it is not the part of wisdom on
the part of the committee to make ap-
propriations for projects that will be
permanent in character rather than for
those that when done will in three or
four years time require doing over
again.
1t IS for project Of the permanent
type that l am now pleading; and why
should this appropriation be denied
the State of Delaware, which under this
bill as reported by the committee gets
only $4,000 in bill carrying about
s1J,J0O,OOO, and of this $4,000 only
$4,000 is for new projects, and that for
only one river, the Smyrna, the re-
naming $1,000 being for maintenance
OF improvements formerly made.
Now, Mr.. Chairman, there are at
least eight rivers in the State of Della.
ware that are worthy of government
aid. As much so, / may say, as per.
haps are the great majority of rivers
receiving appropriations under this
bill; and yet, in a spirit of compromis,
and entire fairness to the committee
knowing that it would he impossibl.
to get an appropriation for all, sub