Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-29
PORT OF WASHINGTON
Opportunity to Build Along
Practical Lines.
DEEPENING RIVER CHANNEL
District Commissioners May Advocate
Legislation.
AS TO TRACKAGE FACILITIES
Assertion That Commerce Should Be
Conferred In the Capital of
the United States.

After ALL would it not gladden. the hearts
of every true Washingtonian to read such
an advertisement as this:
| The commodious steamship Blank will
| sail next Thursday from the It'll street
wharf direct from Washington to Liverpool
| and other foreign ports, carrying both
| freight and passengers"
Or this:
| The 9,OOO-ton steamship Blank will sail
! from the Georgia avenue wharf tomorrow
at pm. direct from Washington to the
| West Indies. Panama and South American
ports"
| Think carefully concerning it-you who
| are interested in the Greater Washington.
Here is an opportunity to build along prac-
teal and remuneratve lines. Here is
task for the newly organized Washington
| Chamber of Commerce.
| There is every reason to believe that the
! Commissioners of the District of Columbia
! in their next report TO Congress will strong
ly advocate legislation that will result in
deepening the channel of the historic old
Potomac; in the generous distribution Of
wharf privileges, and In every way giving
encouragement to the building up of the
United States The Commissioners will
also endeavor to have Congress Investigate
the practicable possibilities of the plan, to
the end that trackage facilities will be pro-
vided along the water front. thus enabling
ships to unload direct to cars and vice
VERSATILE ideal system in the transship
ment of freight
Developing the Trade.
Much has been said. both before and
since the recent trip of Secretary Root.
concerning the great possibilities of the
United States developing the trade of the
South American countries. What the Sec
rotary may have overlooked has been told
by John Barrett one-time minister to vari-
Gus South American republics and now
director of the bureau of American repub-
lies. No voice has been raised in contra
dicton of their commercial encourage
ment. and none will be raised for this de-
velopment of trade with the producing
countries south of the equator is sure as
| is the permanenCy of our national progress.
| And along with this material progress in the
southland there is growing a friendliness
for the United States. What. then, would
be more natural than for us as a people to
draw unto ourselves the profit and the pres
tige that are bound to come with increased
commerce? And again. what would be
more thoroughly appropriate than that this
commerce should be centered in the capital
of the United States?
Consider Baltimore for moment The
city of Washington is at present presenting
healthy competition to the city of Balti-
more for the trade in the states to the i'm
mediate south. But is the port of Washing
ton making any bid for the business that
enters the port of Baltimore? No. not
bit of it. Baltimore is resting easily en-
joying a profit through direct commerce
with European ports and West Indian ports
that could just we'll be enjoyed by
Washington. if river channel was
| deeper and our wharf facilities adequate.
Appeal for Aid.
When reflect that at present Balt-
| more is the port of entry for more than
| 81 90. ESQ worth OF imports annually from
| the West Indies alone, to say nothing of
| the transatlantic business; when we con-
! template the impending progress of South
| America; when We remember the protec-
| torate we are exercising Porto Rico
| and Cuba, and the Importance of the canal
! at Panama the necessity of a concerted
appeal to Congress for aid in enabling
| Washington to move forward with her Sis
| ter cities seems imperative.
The chamber of commerce, with its
| re-energi lied forces, might well begin its
| campaign by devoting the summer months
| to the laying of careful plans looking to the
presentation in the fall of a bill calling on
/ Congress to so deepen the channel of the
| Potomac and improve the water front to
| permit the development desired.
| AS this would not mean the commercial
! Zing of Washington; it would in no way
detract from any beauty the capital city
| may have contemplate; it would not
| interfere with the esthetic progress of the
| residential section. but, on the contrary,
| would add to such advantages the prestige
| of International commerce. there could be
no opposition to the bill. Already there is
steam railroad holding a franchise along
| Water street. in Georgetown built in the
| good old long ago when some enterpriSing
! citizens Eethought themselves of this very
! plan for the future port of Washington.
| This trackage, somewhat extended. would
! be adequate to care for the commerce for
, to f11.N
Mediterranean. from the Baltic and from
the far ends of everywhere would be
| loaded beneath the shadow of the national
Capitol and thence dispatched to the hooks
and corners of our own country.
Geographical Adva ltages,
| We need not rival New York in COM
| mercial ambition. Far from it. Nor need
we hope to take business from San Fran
cisco or Seattle. But there is no reason.
either practical or theoretical; there Is
excuse, either adequate or plausible. to be
advanced for further neglecting the geo.
graphical advantages of Washington. Ex-
ports would have much shorter rail haul
from the west and southwest by way Of
Washington than they would have via New
York Baltimore or any other old place.
Freight rates would thus be lower than on
the longer hauls. When it comes to water
rates there Is no difference between one
coast port and anohher. and consequently
Washington. being nearer by rail to the
producing centers would have distinct ad-
vantage in exports-and likewise. being
nearer the consumers would have an ad-
vantage In imports. The problem is SIM
ple-in fact there is no problem. 1t Ia
merely a case of making Congress see the
possibilities and help along the Greater
Washington by inaugurating the much
needed federal development.
No one expects an appropriation from the
next Congress that will be adequate to COM
plete this work Of channel and harbor and
wharf Improvement. No one anticipates
reading in reality such advertisements as
are quoted at the beginning of this story
until years have been spent in careful la
Dor. But as it is now possible to sail d.
rect from Baltimore or Philadelphia to
Europe and the West Indies. SO will 1t be
possible to export and import to and from
the markets of the world through the port
of Washington. If the local citizens. backed
by the new chamber of commerce, the
Board of Trade and the District Commits
sioners will take the task in hand, work
at it earnestly and continuously and con-
duet campaign Of congressional education
when the national Legislators meet here
next December. AS has been said there is
every reason to believe that the Commits