Evening journal., 1909-09-02
DEEPER RIVER
CHANNEL WANTED
Commercial Interests Declare
Adverse Attitude Will Limit
Shipping to Second Glass

VITA Baltimore making a preliminary
move for a 4O-foot channel, Philadel-
phia commercial interests are looking
forward with considerable apprehension
to the report which is shortly to be for
warded TO Washington on the question
Of the feasibility of making and main
tanning a 55-foot channel in the Della
ware river.
Jtis because it Is realized that halt
ing, uncertain report, or recommenda-
tions containing an "if' clause, would
very likely seriously damage the pros
poets 70 the port that those who are
deeply interested i'm the channel i'm
provemcnt are now concerning them
selves over the coming finding of Major
Herbert Deakyne the engineer in
charge Of the Improvement.
- is fully understood that unfavor-
able action on the deeper channel ques-
tion night not only put Philadelphia,
for all time. into a class behind Balti-
more and Boston as a seaport. but that
adverse action in the case Of the Della
ware might permanently place the
channel in the 30-foot class, and limit
to second-class or third-class carriers
the shipping of the port
Virtually, the physical work of the
survey Of the Delaware to ascertain the
feasibility and cost of a So foot chan
mel is now completed, but as yet Major
Deakyne has not formulated the report
which he will forward to Washington.
Before beginning the survey he wrote to
various shipping men of the port, ask
ing them for opinions as to the neces-
sity for a deeper channel. The testi-
mony Of those operating the deepest
draft ships in the river was over
whelmingly in favor of the proposition
that 35-foot channel. is a vital neces-
sity If Philadelphia is to keep in the
race with those ports that are now her
rivals for business.
There was no question in the mind OF
Major Deakyne's predecessor, .Lieuten-
ant Colonel j. c. Sanford. as to the
need of a deeper channel. and as to its
feasibility, and II is generally believed
that Major Deakyne win reach similar
p conclusions. and will make a strong
r report But the past history of the i'm
( provement has been such as TO teach
the commercial interests the damage
, that may result from a halting and
, doubtful report Years. ago there was
/ placed in a report on the Delaware an
expression of doubt as to one or two
features of the work, and this has
come up in Congress. session after
session, to plague the Philadelphia in
terests.
1t has been roughly estimated, in the
past that the annual cost of mainten-
ance Of a deep channel in the Delaware
would not exceed S25O,000 and might
not exceed 100000. That such an ex-
. penditure in keeping up a channel one,
dredged would be in no sense unreason.
able or exorbitant is the belief Of al
who view it with reference TO the i'm
lmense volume Of business which Il
done annually on the Delaware.
There is annually collected in dutie
in the port of Philadelphia, in roun,
figures. $50, 900 900. As it is reasonabl.
! assured that there viii continue 70 b
: three import ports of magnitude on tn
!, Atlantic seaboard, and that one of thes
g will be Philadelphia. this volume Z
y duties will doubtless be maintaine,
The cost Of channel maintenance woul,
n therefore. be about per. cent. Of tn
. lrevenue which the government obtain
i annually on the business done in thi
y lport.
,s The recent report of Major Craighi
IN on the Baltimore project is pointed I
10 as an additional reason for appreher
sion. Major Craighill speaks of II
= feasibility of a 4O-foot channel for thl
N city, which already has we'll along C
n ward completion its 35-foot chann
project 1t is declared that already Ba
ir timore has obtained an important lea
a. in the matter of channel depth, IN
! that the digestion of 40-foot-depth
IN the Patapsco, which has now been aC
!. Vanced, may well be viewed with cor
= Germ by Philadelphia interests.