Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-02-25
DEEP DELAWARE
CHANNEL PROJECT
SEEMS ASSURED
Boomers Certain Showing Made
by Four Cities in Its Behalf
Means Victory.
Ispeclal TO the Newark star.l

TRENTON, Feb. 25.-The greatest
confidence is expressed here today that
the fight for a thirty -five-foot channel
for the Delaware river has been prac-
tieally won by the great showing made
at the hearing on the subject in Phila-
delphia yesterday before the United
states Board of Engineers for rivers
and harbors. -Four cities took part in
urging the deep channel project, Tren-
ton, Philadelphia. Camden and Will
nington, Del. Trenton representatives
took a leading part, and In view of
the strong showing made the Trenton
hoomers are certain today that the en-
sineers will recommend the plan.
In this event a fight will at once be
started to have an appropriation for
The project included IN the rivers and
harbors bill. This measure is now
pending before the Senate committee.
after passing the House without any
provision for the Delaware river project
being included. In order that this
error may be corrected the hearing be-
fore the engineers was FASTENED SO
that their report MAJ be rendered be-
fore tho Senate committee concludes its
consideration of the bill. If the en-
aineers' report is favorable it is expect
ed that the Senators from New Jersey,
Pennsylvania and Delaware will see
that an amendment to the bill is Of
fered to include this all-important i'm
provement.
Yesterdays gathering of representa-
lives of the 'big business of four
great cities was truly impressive on
account of the show of strength made
in support of the project, the presen-
tation Of irrefutable arguments in its
behalf and the zeal of the boomers.
Two arguments against the thirty-five-
foot depth had been advanced. One
was the engineering problems that the
greater depth presented; the other the
expense involved. Both of these argu-
ments we're swamped in a torrent of
facts and statistics.
After presenting its case the meeting
placed Its cause in the hands of the
board, waving further arguments, thus
permitting immediate action.
There were speeches by j. S. W. Hol-
ton, president of the Maritime Ex-
change; Coleman Sellers. president OF
the Chamber of Commerce.: Representa-
tive Joel Cook, president of the Board
OF Trade; Acting Director of Wharves,
Docks and Ferries Joseph F. Hasskarl,
representing Philadelphia; Congress-
man Henry C. Loudenslager. Repre-
sentative w. w. Foulkrod, OF
Philadelphia; Mayor Charles ii.
Ellis, of Camden; Captain w.
q. Randle, marine superintendent
of the New York ~Shipbuilding Com
pany, Camden; John Warren Liberton,
representing the Atlantic Refining Conn
pany; William l.. Hurley, president OF
the Camden Board Of Trade; r. j.
MacLean, president of the Wilmington
Board OF Trade; Fred W. Donnell, pres
ident OF the Harbor Commission, of
Trenton; Frank d. LaLanne, president
of the National Board of Trade, and
George E. Bartol, president Of the Phil
adelphia Bourse. Summarized. the ar
currents in favor of the thirty-flve-foot
channel were these:
There are five great ports or the At
lantic seaboard, Philadelphia, New
York, Boston, Baltimore and Norfolk.
Through these ports the products OF the
nation must find exit. If Philadelphia's
way TO the sea is not deep enough to
carry the vessels that the other ports
can SEND out, il lessons competition n
hurts not only Philadelphia, but the
country.
1t has been proved that Philadelphia,
! with channel facilities equal to Boston
and Baltimore, could ship goods cheaper
than these ports, A thirty-flve-foot
channel would therefore tend to reduce
rates,
II has been shown that there are no
engineering obstacles in the way of a
thirty-ive-foot depth that cannot be
s~urmounted, so that the sole objection
TO the project Is the expense. Accord
ing to Major Deakyue's report, it will
cost less than s11, 900, 900 to obtain the
greater depth and $4,000 0 a year to
maintain. The latter sum is only Ia
per cent, of the annual receipts of the
Philadelphia port for duties, so that
this objection has no weight.
Lastly, Phiia~delphia's JUS
tifies her being placed on at least an
equality with Boston and Baltimore,
sach OF which has a thirty-foot depth,
n the fact that this city furnishes
the only fresh water navy yard In the
country is added reason why the gov
eminent should be in favor OF the thirty
dve-foot project.