Evening journal., 1904-03-11

bought up all tthe available supply Of
salt-petre IN Great Britain, and when
the fact became known. Parliament at
tempted to prevent its exportation, un-
til Mr.. DUPONT, armed with letter
from President Lincoln, virtually
threatening war against England,
forced the British government to yield.
Position Of Railroad.
"As to whether the railroads have
in the past opposed the construction of
this canal, because of its possible conf
petitive features, / am not informed
AT the great interstate banquet, or
ganized by the Wilmington Board Of
Trado to further this project, and held in
the city Of Wilmington, Delaware, Janu-
airy s, 1901, which was ,honored by the
presence OF a very large number Of dis
tlnguished United States Representatives
and Senators, many Of whom participated
I'm the discussion Of this important enter
prise, I had the honor of responding to
the toast on the Delaware Ship Canal %
then made the following statement: Be
fore taking up my subject, permit me TO
make an announcement. Two months ago
when the invitation to address you In
advocacy OF ship canal across the Della
ware Peninsula to connect the Delaware
river and Chesapeake Bay, followed my
suggestion at your November meeting that
we should at once organize for the Sc
curing of the great project, il was cur
renuy reported that the Pennsylvania,
Baltimore and Ohio, and Reading rail-
roads were to oppose the construction of
this canal. because Of its competitive fea-
lures IT seemed of the highest Importance
that gheir attitude be at least ascertained,
and il possible, their cooperation be Sc
cured.
President cassatt's Answer.
According, 1 took the liberty of address
Ing a letter to the president OF each Of the
three railroads setting forth in detail the
necessity of the canal, to facilitate the ma
tional defense and commerce, and holding
that it would induce a local industrial de-
velopment of much greater importance
to the railroads than any freight which
might be lost through its competition. In
reply, President Cassatt invited me tc
meet him in Philadelphia. At the close Of
our conference, Mr.. Cassatt authorized
me 10 announce to you here tonight, that
the Pennsylvania railroad would not op-
pose, but would favor this ship canal
We have the best of reasons for bcllev-
ing the other two lines will also support
the project, although final answers have
not yet been received. A few evenings ago
at public banquet I'm Baltimore, retiring
President Loree of the Baltimore and Obi,
railroad advocated this canal, saying IL
would make Baltimore real ocean port
avoid the dangerous eapes of Virginia
and save 200 miles Of the distance to New
England. and ports"
AFTER the banquet I forwarded a cop,
OF the above statement to President Cas-
satt Of the Pennsylvania railroad. asking
/ him il ] had made the announcement il
the form ne had requested. and in reply
he wrote me "A letter Of which the follow
ing IS a copy;
Philadelphia, Pa, Feb. 26, 1904.
Mr. Alfred o. Crozier. Wilmington Del
Dear Sir: 1 did not notice thai your let
ter Of January a. required an answer
You stated my position in the matter re
terred TO with substantial correctness.
Yours Truly,
A. J. CASSATT. President.
Mo Railroad Opposition.
]
tion, or any from other sources. so far a
we have learned. it is to be hoped tina
Congress Will recognize the importanc
of Immediately providing the means I
acquire for the Federal Government tn
other interests in the property and fran
chises which it'd oes not now own In IN
present canal. and sufficient money
at least begin work of widening and deer
ening the same.
Il have been informed that bars hay
been formed at either end of the cana
largely because Of dumping the dredgine
from river and harbor improvements bac
into the streams, TO be carried by the cu
rent and tides to again obstruct the char
mel and the approaches to this canal
The circumstances Of the private owl
ership of this waterway. 1 believe. ha,
made the government engineers feel tn,
these distractions should not be remov,
at public expense, while the obstructie
being in the navigable waters CONTROL,
by Congress, the Canal Company has n.
, thought it was their duty % expend /
private funds for the removal of the
, bars by dredging only to be again wash,
, back from the same courses.
= Government the Owner
If this suggestion Is followed and II
I Government becomes the owner of the e
e tire canal at once the excessive toll
r. which are almost prohibitory TO cor
0 merce, and have caused the steady redu
e tion IN the traffic through the canal. cou
p be abolished, resulting in an enormo
r and immediate development Of coast-wi
To- trade in linhf draft hoots tb-.,..t 81
4 canal. The work Of widening and deepe
$ lns can then progress as upon an navi
r. able river, as rapidly as Congress pr
> vides the money. The most profound re
son for the construction of this sh
u canal is to strengthen the defense
: Washington, our country's capitol on
> sacked and burned by an invading enem
p This was done at time when the navl
:, of the world were mere cgg-shells. and
, hnitesimal IN number OF boats, in COZ
- parison with the present gigantic nav
!, and thousands Of formidable fight
Il vessels, which 1t is possible to now ca
ceniIute almost without moments i
= tice and drive at the very heart OF O
II Republic, The centre Of all our pride a
glory. the official home of the power
= 100000 American people. that city nam
u for the great father Of our union. a
II whicn Is becoming an example Of art o
l. beauty, our magnificent Washington!
st Happily on a great patriotic issue
81 this time there IS 10 North. South. T..
or Wes,. or par;y division. ana tho heal
OF loyal Americans everywhere beat
unison Of sacred purpose with nmn det
~ mination 10 provide cvcrv facility vrii hr