Evening journal., 1902-04-22
Measure and Amendments Go
Through With Rush
CONGRESSMAN BALL PRAISED
Wilmington Will Have $4,000 Tor
improvements Without Any
String TO II

Members OF the River ana dtaVDoI
Committee of the Board OF Trade are
1ubilant over the news that the River
and Harhor bill containing appropria-
tions for Delaware waterways, has
passed the Senate, with its amend
ments. Congressman L. Heisler Ball
has been devoting his energies to the
accomplishment of this result and is
given credit of having obtained this
much-needed assistance.
The bill now will be sent back to the
House of Representatives, where 1t
will be considered as amended, and
there seems to be no reason why the
bill should not pass that body.
1t was discovered after the original
bill had passed the House. and gotten
into the hands of the Senate COM
mittee. that there was no provision
for a survey of the Christiana river.
This was. by many, considered a fatal
defect. and President William Lawton
expressed grave doubts of the possi-
bility of getting an appropriation for
the Improvement of the river because
of the failure to provide a survey
clause in the bill. Congressman Ball.
instead of giving up hope. set to work
to remedy this defect. By persistency
he succeeded in having the bill amend
ed while it was in the hands Of the
committee. The amendments not only
provided for a survey of the local
work, but included measures that Will
benefit streams in lower Delaware.
When the bill passes the House, Will
mington will get an appropriation for
the survey OF the Christiana work;
s25 900 for harbor improvements, and
S25 900 cOnditionally. The latter money
can be had by the city ceasing to dump
it's sewage into the Christiana river.
Want DR.. Ball Returned
William Iawton, President of the
Board of Trade, in speaking of the
passage OF the bill, said:
"All the credit belongs to Congress
man Ball No man could have done
more. In every particular he has done
his duty. He is well Thought of in
Washington. was surprised that he
had made so much progress in the
short time he has been in Congress.
He should be sent back for at least an
other term. In this case me did won
ders. We have $4,000 without a string
to IL. and will undoubtedly get $4,000
more with a provisO.
Everything is now progressing IA
vorably toward us getting $5OO,OOl
next year for a permanent harbor
What we want to do now is to stor
fighting and elect two United States
senators, Without them We will not
be able to get permanent relief. II
we had two United States senators il
would be an easy matter TO make Will
mington a port of entry in fact, instead
of in theory.
'The Government will build a bulk
head from the mouth of the Christi
ana to the Edge Moor wharf at a cos
of S750,00O. We cannot do this. lie
me say again, that what is wanted il
Delaware are United States senator's
am not speaking as a politician, but al
a business man. Business men viii
not locate here, when they are un
certain what the Government is goinl
to do for them i'm the way of furnish
ing means for cheap transportation
other things we want are a new non
partisan city charter and settlenen
of the assessment and tax difficulties
The other day a manufacturing con
Germ we should have had went Z
Chester. for no other reason in tn
world than the unsettled condition o
affairs here"
Provisions of the Bill
The bill carries more than $4,000
600 fer appropriations and provides 70
a channel in the Delaware river 600 fee
wide and thirty feet deep from Chris
tian street, Philadelphia, to dee
water in the Delaware bay, 100000, {
be Immediately available, with author
ity TO the Secretary of War to ente
into continuing contracts for amount
not to exceed in the aggregate 2,400
OO0
For improving the Appoquiniminl
Murdkerkill and Mispillion rivers, De
aware. $4,000 is granted and the SAN
amount for the Smyrna river, no pa
TO be expended until a satisfactory tit
for the land required for cross-cui
and other portions of the improvemel
shall have been obtained without e.
pense to the Government.