The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-06-17
WILL INSPECT
MANY RIVERS
AND HARBORS
CHAIRMAN SPARKMAN AND MEM.
BERs OF THE RIVERS AND HAIR
BORIS COMMITTEE WILL SPEND
SEVERAL WEEKS IN VARIOUS
PORTIONS OF COUNTRY.
Special to The Journal.

Washington, D. c., June 16.-During
the recess of congress and for that
matter during the long days, when the
senate alone will be discussing the
Canadian reciprocity pact, while the
house will be taking it easy, Chairman
Sparkman and members of the rivers
and harbors committee, plan to visit
number of the more important water
way projects and look over projects
which have strong local backing. These
personal inspections will be made for
the purpose of familiarizing the mem
bers and particularly the newer men
of the committee with the needs of
communities, cities and states in the
development of the inland waters of
the country.
The first of the planned inspection
trips on the part of the rivers and
harbors committeP was taken a few
days ago under the personal direction
of Representative J. Hampton Moore
of Philadelphia, president of the At
lantic Deeper Waterways Association,
the members of the committee consti-
tuting the party being Chairman
Stephen NJ. Sparkman of Florida,
Joseph E. Ransdell of Louisiana, pres
ident of the National Rivers and Har
bors congress; William E. Humphrey
of Washington, Charles G. Edwards of
Georgia, j. Edwin Ellerbe of South
Carolina, Michael Donohue of Pennsyl-
vania, John H. Small of North Caro-
lima, Daniel A Driscoll of New York,
Thomas J. Scully of New Jersey, Geo.
w. Taylor of Alabama, and Andrew J.
Barchfield of Pennsylvania. The trip
was made primarily for the purpose of
first hand knowledge of the route
of the proposed Philadelphia-to-N New
York ship canal CONNECTING New York
bay with the Delaware river and cross
ing the state OF New Jersey at a point
south of South Amboy in that state to
Bordentown on the Delaware. Should
this canal be built 125 feet wide and
% feet deep as planned it will cost
S44, 100000 with 100000 a year for
mainx enance. 1t is estimated that the
annual tonnage within a short period
after it's completion would be 5000, 900
and in the very nature of things would
make New Jersey one Of the greatest,
If not the greatest, manufacturing
states of the union. AS a possible
condition to ultimate favorable action
by congress, New Jersey has already
authorized an appropriation of 100000
to provide the. right Of way for the
proposed canal predicated upon the
federal government building and main
tanning it. Col. Black of the engineer
corps and one of the ablest officers in
the service is authority for the state
ment that this project is not only fea
sible but is commercially justified.
There is an interesting parallel to
be drawn between the Jersey canal and
that of England between Liverpool and
Manchester. The English canal was
constructed at a cost considerably In
excess of the estimate necessary to
build the Jersey waterway and it has
paid the government well, and has
brought increased prosperity to teh two
English cities directly interested. But
the canal across New Jersey would tap
resources far greater than the two
English cities could ever dream of
commanding" said Col. Black in the
course of a speech to the members Of
the rivers and harbors committee. and
perhaps we can show in exact figures
that in all reasonableness the return to
the government will be satisfactory
and that II will be even greater than in
the case of the English canal"
Chairman Sparknan, speaking Of the
contemplated visits to other sections OF
the country said that the committee
had been invited to inspect the Ohio
river from OIL City to Pittsburg. the
invitation coming from Col. John L.
Vance, president Of the Ohio Valley
Improvement Association. This trip
will probably be made but just when
is largely dependent upon what the
house of representatives will do after
the passage of the wool schedule. Mr..
Sparkman will inspect some of the
rivers of South Carolina accompanied
by Representative Ellerbe of that state
and he will endeavor to look over a
part of the Missouri river above Kan
sas City, especially that portion Of the
river which is included in the Fourth
Missouri congressional district repre-
scented by Charles F. Booher, a mem