Evening journal., 1904-01-09


the Delaware. They penetrate five Of
the most important Industrial and
commercial states OF the Union.
Through the proposed canal they give
short interior line for a large part
of our Atlantic coast on their banks
lie great industrial cities and COM
munties The value OF their connec-
tion by the proposed means is palpable
at a glance. Others dwell upon its
commercial Importance. IL is for me
to point TO its great significance as
a means OF national defense.
Praised Our Project.
"Take the map and see how the cut
through the narrow strip of land from
Delaware city 20 Chesapeake city
would give an incalculabie advantage
to its possessor. The exterior line OF
communication. The arc Of the circle
stretches from the 37th TO the 10th de-
gree OF latitude. When you count the
length Of the river and bay TO bc trav-
crscd the distance IS vastly aug
mcnted. The interior marine line from
Philadelphia 10 Baltimore would be
reduced by the canal TO about 100
miles. But even that does not begin to
measure It's value for protective pur-
poses. On the waterway thus opened
stand the Norfolk Navy Yard, Fort
ress Monroe, the National Capital, Bal
timore, Wilmington and Philadelphia
with the League Island Navy Yard.
Not a little of our naval power would
naturally be found at several of these
defensive points. Against an enemy
undertaking TO attack or to blockade
II would be easy to concentrate the
whole available force thus divided at
the point OF danger We should have
all the advantage Of the short, pro-
tected and impregnable line. while
our adversary had all the disadvan-
tage Of a long. open outside line. If we
were TO conceive the inside waterway
extending by a canal from the Della
ware to the Raritan and anotheracross
Cape Cod we should then have inter
Tor water communication stretching
from the capes almost to Boston and
be protected by an inside bulwark
covering nearly one-half our Atlantic
coast, and by far the most important
part in point of population and indus
trial and commercial power.
Nation Defense.
"Our national defense in the future
will rest on our naval power But
tressed by the two great oceans, we are
practically impregnable against mil
itary invasion. our commanding and
Isolated position gives us security
against the armies of the world. The
protection we shall need win be upon
the water and directly at the coast.
We are building a great navy for this
protective purpose. The chairman OF
the naval committee of the Senate
states that the new additions now
projected will make it second only to
the navy of England The people OF
our country approve and sustain this
extension of our naval power. They
understand that it is the cheapest and
the surest security we can have. They
support il not with the expectation
that II viii be engaged i'm war; but as
the surest guarantee against war. We
have coast line unequaled among
the nations. We front the two great
oceans. We play our part on the At
lantic and we expect to dominate the
Pacific. We ought to be the greatest
Of commercial powers and with it we
ought TO hold commensurate naval
rank. We look for the time when the
flag of our commerce will float on
every sea, and when the products of
our fields and our factories will be
landed at every port. Our mission and
our destiny among the nations call, not
for narrow views and provincial en-
deavor but for large vision and for
great projects
Must Provide Base.
While we are building up a great
navy, it will be the part Of wisdom to
provide It with an adequate base. our
vast coast involves a long line of de-
fense. Where its defensive capabili-
ties can be strengthened by interior
lines and shortened communication
and 1t is manifestly prudent and wise
to do IL. There is no place along our
entire coast where this principle can
be applied at such little cost, with such
effective results. and with such stra-
tegic value as in the construction of
the Chesapeake and Delaware canal.
A work of only IL miles will be equiv
alent in commercial and defensive
value to saving hundreds of miles.
The cost of two battle ships would
pay for IT. There may come a time
when Independent of all its CONNER
cial returns, its existence would be
equivalent IN quick concentration and
In available strength at the point of
danger TO more than two battle ships.
Let us then show the foresight and
the preparation which belong to the
conduct Of n nation OF great affairs.
and enter now i'm time of peace and Sc
curity upon a work which will be in
valuable in time Of war"
Mr. crozier's Remarks.
Mr.. Crozicr said In part,