Evening journal., 1906-08-08
SHIP CANALS
ARE PROFITABLE
New D. & c. Waterway Would
Open Eastern Trade to Mar
kets Of the World
NEEDED BY GOVERNMENT
Are canals prohtable7


VIII a ship canal connecting the
Chesapeake and the Delaware prove to
be a paying enterprise?
The business men Of the East answer
In the affirmative. Leading members
Of Congress say yes. And they are
right, for any venture that will short
en- the distance between Baltimore and
the seaports OF Europe by over 400
mile smust be profitable. II IS not a
question that concerns Baltimore alone
II Is OF far greater concern 60 the
farmers OF the West. who. II given q
shorter route across the Atlantic
Ocean. could place their grain cattle
and other products IN Europe at far
less cost than at present. American
farmers must look to their interests.
and the sooner The better. Lord
Cromer has transformed the basin Of
the Nile into the greatest graia-pro-
ducing region Of the world South
African hills and valleys feel the slim
ulus OF English energy. The jungles Of
Central Africa viii disappear and IN
place OF rank growth of weeds and
reeds there viii come corn, potatoes
and other products. all within reach
of European markets over the railroad
from the Capes TO Cairo. Russia Is
pouring her grain into Germany, Eng
land ana France. Argentina wheat Is
already beginning to dlsplace Amen-
can wheat in Liverpool because 1t IS
cheaper.
Must Be On the Alert.
The American farmer must be on the
alert to preserve his European mar
kcts. Baltimore Is the nearest seaport
city to the great grain and cattle pru-
duclng regions OF the West and North
west BY the construction OF a canal
across the Maryland and Delaware
Peninsula Western farm products wiz
be 400 miles nearer European markets
New England must have the canal
! The South has been making terrible In.
roads upon her cotton industries Mil.
have moved southward. New EngfdnC
Is crying out iu alarm. She Is demand.
ing the removal Of the tarin ON raw
products which she transforms into
boots. shoes fabrics and other manu-
factured articles. Free raw materials
win not bring back her old-time pros
] perlty or even keep the mills now lef'
her. She must have cheaper motive
power. She must have cheaper coal
She must have at reduced cost the
steam producing Goals of the Mary
land and West Virginia fields. Less
distance for the transportation OF that
coal means less cost. The ship canal
win shorten the distance and reduce
the price.
Needed by the Government.
The government must have the cana
deep enough and wide enough to hoai
her warships in ordev to protect Wash
ington. Baltimore, Norfolk and Phila.
l delpha from an attack Of hostile
fleet. What would the government
give for a canal across the Marylan'
and Delaware Peninsula IL attacked hJ
a foreign foe? What excuse could bl
offered then II Baltimore. Washington
and Philadelphia were threatened o
attack If the Chesapeake or Della
ware Bays fell into the hands Of Z
foreign fleet? How would the govern
ment defend IT'S policy OF inaction n
the years then gone by when she wa
. rich enough to dig the canal?
But are canals profitable2
This question Is important hecaus
In these days no venture IS looke
upon except from the view Of profit II
dollars and cents. Patriotism, futur
: needs and public demands are OF sec
j ondary consideration
thcr canals in the world are profit
able. and. II so. then why not shi
G canal connecting the Chesapeake an
Says Hon. Theodore i. Burtor
= chairman Of the Committee on River
G and Harbors in the House OF Repre-
{ sentatives at Washington. who ha
I been investigating water transporta
ton on the other side Of the Atlantic
n | Everywhere in Europe there Is dis
> position to make increased use of th
b inland waterways. whether rivers q
y canals. The value Of this means 9
& transportation Is coming to be reaI
d lied more and more. In France. Gel
2 many and portions Of Russia the quar-
y tity Of freight carried by water is in
a creasing more than that carried b
e rail-"