Evening journal., 1906-11-21
WILL Fight HARD
FOR D. & C. CANAL
Philadelphia Trade Leaeuers
Enthusiastic Over Water
way Plans
WILL APPEAL TO ROOSEVELT

An inspection of the Delaware and
Chesapeake Canal. with reference to the
plan for its conversion into deep ship
channel, was made yesterday by represen-
tatives of the Trades League Of Phladel-
phia. as guests of Coleman L. Nicholson,
president of the canal company. Among
those in the party were Prof. Lewis M.
Haupt, chairman Of the canal committee
Of the Trades League. and his fellow
committeeman. John {. Sullivan, u. 4.
Leas and N. b. Kelly,
The result Of the inspection will be
the presentation tomorrow at a meeting
of the Trades League Of a report strongly
urging the ship canal project. Resolutions
will be passed asking President Roose-
welt to incorporate in his annual message
to Congress a recommendation that the
United States undertake the construction
OF the ship canal. Although it is under
stood that the Presidents message is al
ready completed. It is hoped that It will
not be too late for the insertion Of a para
graph to that effect The Trades League
is practically unit on this question.
Facts For the Inspectors.
The Delaware and Chesapeake Canal
proved a revelation to some Of the party
The fact that the summit level is only six
teen feet above tidewater, and that there
are only three locks, the long stretches
lof wide waterway, the ease with which II
may be enlarged and the fertile country
bordering it, capable OF supporting al
enormous manufacturing population, al
impressed the committeeman, and rem
dered them enthusiastic for the desired
improvement.
The original construction Of the cana
in the early part of he last century cos
s.. 500 900, and reconstruction added to thii
s.. .OOO making a total cost Of $5,5O0,oOC
The canal now has normal depth o
eleven feet, bearing vessels drawing Mint
feet Of water.
The cost Of converting It into shil
canal thirty feet deep. including ap
proaches. is estimated in round number
at ss,OOO.OOO Add to this 100000 for tn
purchase Of the existing work and tn
franchise from the company by the gov
ernment and the total estimated cost !
$4,000 900. It is understood that the vaiu
of the franchise would probably be de
termined by arbitration. The cost of ex
cavation would be minimized by the us
of the most improved dredging machinery
and by the fact that there are lowland
and stagnant pools along the greater par
of the canal into which the material TO b
removed could be deposited.
Great Saving in Freistase.
Those interested in the project say tha
the commercial economy that would /
effected by the making Of a deep water
way between the Delaware and the Chei
apeaISe IS illustrated by .She- one fact tn;
! John X. Cowen, former receiver of II
Baltimore and Ohio. railroad, admitt'
4, that that company would ship through
annually to New England 5opqoOO tons
soft coal. II the canal were free. tn
would mean a saving IN freightage
New ENGLAND of s1O5 n Ton, or S5OO0,OoO
b wear to the consumers. This alone wou
be an enormous interest on the estimate
cost of enlarging the canal Expert eeoi
omists say that the United States cou
well afford to expend sl0o,O0OOOO to insui
an annual saving OF S5,Ooo.OOo to the publ
and that the saving would actually
much greater, because the cheapening
the price of coal shipped through Il
canal would influence the price more Z
less in other markets.
u Baltimore, it is declared. presents Il
chief obstacle to the speedy furtheran
of the ship canal project, and that l
. reason of whataits advocates characteri
as commercial jealousy. And yet son
members of the Trades League Can
committee conceive that the benefit Whit
4 Baltimore would derive from ii would
9 much greater than that which would a
a crue to Philadelphia. Seventy-five p
cent. of the shipping bound out from 81
o timore after it reaches the open sea, tn
: say takes a northerly or direct easter
h course. The canal would save to IL
y shipping 200 miles. the difference betwe
n the distance from Baltimore around
Il wav of Cape Charles 10 Cape Henlop'
and that between the same points by W
Of the Delaware and Chesapeake canal.
j. II was because Of the opposition In b
It timore TO the Delaware and Chesapea
It route that General Agnus, of that eli
d was put at the head Of the commissi
IL authorized by Congress.
The Position Of Baltimore.
z baltimore has played the dog-in-t
l. manger policy" said member OF
2, committee yesterday; but the respon
p bnity of either forwarding OF prevent
S. the realization Of the snip canal proj'
is now here. If she wants to bite of
own nose, because she is unwilling
N make a reasonable concession, which
m the end will greatly benefit her. she mi
at take the consequences"
l. There are traces all along the canal
le borings recently made by United Sta
" engineers to determine the nature Of
l. excavation which would be necessary
III order to enlarge the channel. The resi-
are said to be practically the same
those of former examinations Of the sa
kind made in the interest Of the COVE
ment. and it is supposed that the rep
which will be rendered will confirm 4
already made by an engineering board
All perior in rank to the present one. VIII
v favored the assumption Of the work
the United States. oa7fr
y, ARMY and NAVY FOOTBALL GAN