Evening journal., 1901-06-04
DEEP WATER NEEDED

Here are some extracts from an eui-
tcrial in the Philadelphia North Amer
lean on harbor improvement when
are Of vital interest to the people OF
all the cities and towns lying between.
Philadelphia and deep water at the
head OF the bay:
IF Philadelphia is to hold its rank
as a port OF commerce the city must
take up the work of improving the
Delaware ship channel without further
delay. The shipping interests, busi-
ness classes and city officials appear toI
be thoroughly in accord en- this main
point. vet the matter still fingers in the
first stages OF discussion. In the mean
time the condition OF the channel isl
retrograding rapidly. How fast this
change for the worse is taking place isl
proved by recent Investigations Since
the twenty-six foot channel was com
pleted. little more than year ago, the
depth OF water at low tide has de-
creased from six inches to four feet att
;he danger points. Five years ago itI
was possible to take a deep-draughtI
vessel to the ocean on a single tide.
To-day two and sometimes three tides
are required to float a ship drawing
more than % feet Of water over the nu
merOus shoals between the city
wharves and the head OF deep water I'M
the bay. President Griscom has stated
that two new transatlantic steamships
OF the International Navigation Com
pany, which were built expressly for
trade with this city, have been trans
felred to the New York run because OIL
the state Of the river. Other shipown-
ers are beginning to divert their YES
sells to better ports from fear OF the
dangers OF the waterway. At the same
time the ocean-carrying business calls
for larger and deeper vessels. and what
vessels venture here must enter and
depart light-loaded or take on coal
down the river.
THE Federal government and the
city have expended more than S6.O0O.-
600 on the harbor and channel during
the last sixteen years, and dredging
has been begun on the thirty-foOt
channel. Nevertheless. the state OF the
channel is growing more dangerous TO
navigation. Correspondingly the needs
of the port are increasing. This is a
condition OF affairs that demands inn
mediate correction. The refusal OF
Congress to pass the river and harbor
act at the last session makes the situ-
alton the more serious. The appro-
priations authorized are already cover
ed by existing contracts, and before
more funds viii be available work on
the channel will be brought TO a stand
still. Every day that the municipality
and State postpone action adds to the
citys loss.
The depths Of water at mean low
tide, established by careful soundlngs
on Sunday last. ranged from 25.5 feet
at Minlin bar, Schooner ledge and
Bulkhead bar, TO 21.3 feet ait Cherry
Island flats. and 1915 feet at Dan Baker
shoal. At Cherry Island flats and Bulk
head bar shoaler water was found in
places, but the mean depth may be
taken as an average Dan Baker shoal
offers the most serious obstruction in
the river Before any work OF improve
ment was done on the Delaware chan
mel this shoal carried twenty-four feet
Of water at the lower extremity OF
Penns Point ledge At the same point
to-day, according to the official report
there is only sixteen feet Of water anC
IL is necessary TO follow a narrow, tor
twenty-five feet, which is altogethe
too little for any vessel OF more thar
!, ordinary capacity, even within tn
limitations OF this port.
These simple facts speak for them
selves. They explain sufficiently tn
reluctance Of deep-sea captains TO haz
ard their ships in these waters. Wit
an excellent system Of docks and IN
best facilities for loading. Philade
phia must be relegated to a secondar
position as a maritime port 50 long q
IT is approached through an uncertai
channel with shifting bed. Not on
is there constant danger Of grOundin
but the loss Of time incurred by the n
cessity Of waiting for food tides in e.
fering and leaving the harbor meal
the sacrifice OF hundreds OF dollars
every shipload of freight When
this is added the fact that the larg
steamers stin plying the river a
obliged TO come and go only part loa
ed it becomes obvious why the ira
OF Philadelphia by sea has not Ike
pace with the industrial and comm,
cial growth Of the city"
Three Filipinos, resident in Spa
have hocn olaofad r,or,horr 80 .