New-York tribune., 1907-01-07
RECORD HARBOR BILL.
AID FOR MANY SE4PORTS.
Share for Ne1g Yorh-Some S12,-
100000 for Lake Improvements.
LFrom The Tribune Bureau

From The Tribune Bureau
Washington, Jan. 5.-The big River and Har-
Dor bill which will be reported to the House
within ten days by Chairman Burton's commit
tee. will contain larger provision for the lead
ing ports of the country than any similar meas
ure In the past. In fact it will be Oil mainly
for the coast and inland waters already con-
gested with great traffic.
For instance. nearly s2OO0O,OO0 will be appro-
priated In cash or authorizations for the leading
Atlantic ports, such Boston, New York, Phil
adepha, Providence. Baltimore and Norfolk.
OF this approximately 100000 will be
thorized for the completion of the thirty-hve
foot channel IN Boston Harbor. The War Depart
ment engineers have just recommended an i'm
provement of the Coney Island channel and the
committee will set aside for the work liberal
amount The exact sum has not yet been agreed
upon but it Is declared that all New York's i'm
perative needs will be met.
The Great Lakes will fare We'll at the hands
of the committee About s6,OO0,O0O will be re-
ported in the bin for additional lock in the
500 Canal. A larger amount-about $500 600
will be appropriated for alternaterchannel
in the Detroit River, through which the largest
traffic in the world at present passes. This will
provide separate channels for vessels passing up
and down the river These will be the main
projects for the Improvement OF the Great Lakes.
South and the Importance of her ports not
forgotten by Mr.. Burton and his committee. IL
is considered by them that the volume of COM
merce passing through the Gulf ports has in
creased at a tremendous rate during the last
five years while improvements have not entirely
kept pace with it; therefore. the ports OF New
Orleans. Galveston. Mobile, Pensacola and Gulf
port will divide appropriations amounting TO
about IS 600 600.
The planters and shippers Of the Mississippi
Valley have for many years maintained repre-
sentatives in Washington. in order 10 gain levee
and general river improvements. These are
demanding OF the committee that IT increase
the annual appropriation OF s2.0OO.OO0 OF which
one half is used for the building OF levees 10
protect the valley from overflow, TO 100000.
The committee however. considers the present
amount adequate and will not grant more in
the present measure. The members OF the COM
mittee are inclined to think that the valley peo-
pie will be reasonable and accept the situation.
The only real fight in the committee will be
made between the advocates ana opponents OF
the 14-foot waterway from the lakes 10 st.
Louis Mr. Lormer of Illinois. has been cham
pioning the S3l 900 900 project ~nich the recent
Waterways Congress in 81. Louis strongly rec
commended and is prepared to carry the fight
10 the floor of the House. He is not likely 10
get more than three four voees in the COM
mittee. however. the majority will not favor
the appropriation at this time. though most OF
the members Of the committee willing to
concede that the commerce of the Mississippi
Valley should thus be enhanced at some future
time
Advocates OF a 35-foot channel at Philadelphia
appeared before subcommittee yesterday and
presented many reasons why the 30-foot chan
mel under way should be enlarged. The
government engineers, however. are opposed 20
1t practical grounds, and II Is more than prob
able that the decision OF the committee against
1t will be practically unanimous. Philadelphia
Will get her share of improvements. but in other
ways
The states west OF Missouri and Minnesota
have only one representative on the committee
Mr.. McLaChlan. of California, and so far little
provision has been made for the Pacific Coast
II is expected that before the committee
petes the bill the Pacific Coast ports will bs
cared for, though perhaps not in such liberal
way as the Gulf and Atlantic ports.