The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-05-17
10th YEAR.--NO. 40
55 CONGRESSMEN INSPECT THE
PORT OF PHILADELPHIA
Representatives of % States Spend
Day on Delaware-IIarger APP
preparations the Promised
RpSuIt

Basing their observations upon
first hand knowledge gained in IT,
hour inspection trip Saturday over
the Delaware River, the Philadelphia
Navy Yard and the Port OF Phlladei-
phia, fifty-five Congressman, includ-
ing the entire membership OF Two
of the most powerful committees in
Congress-that on Rivers and Har-
bors and the Committee on Naval
Affairs-returned to Washington on
Sunday admitting the justice of al1
most any claim that Pennsylvania
might make for Federal aid in the
further development of its natural
avenue to oversee commerce, and
with virtual unanimity pledging their
support to the bill now before Con-
gress to appropriate $1,000, 900 for
the Delaware River 35-foot channel
project.
1t was one of the most distin-
guished delegations ever brought
from Washington to Philadelphia,
and the occasion one of the most sig
nifcant events in the development
of Pennsylvania commercial pres
tige. For the visitors represented
that authority which, in the weighty
deliberation of Congressional affairs,
can by a more liberal recognition of
this states needs help so materially
in the Delaware River and Philadel
phia port projects which are the es-
sential necessities for a greater for
eign trade between Pennsylvania and
European, Asiatic and South Ameri-
can countries.
You are visiting one of the old
est and one of the greatest states in
the country" said Representative A.
J. Barchfield, of Pittsburg, in his ad-
dress to the other Congressman, "a
state with a population of 100000
and an annual tonnage on its eastern
and western borders of 100000
greater than New York, London,
Liverpool, Antwerp, Bremen, Havre
and Cherbourg combined. When it
is considered that this state con-
tributes one-fourteenth of all the
revenues gathered each year by the
National Government, Pennsylvania
is modest indeed in her requests for
rivers and harbors appropriations"
Support fer Future Bills.
Mr.. Barchfeld is a member Of the
Rivers and Harbors Committee re-
porting the 100000 appropria-
ton, and though from the western
end of the state is one of the most
earnest workers in behalf of Della
ware River Improvements. In gain
ing the support of the visiting dele
cation, however, Pennsylvania con-
gressmen have done more than mere
ly to create favorable sentiment in
the two important committees.
Among the nearly three score rep
Tesentatives and senators there were
the chairmen of nine other commit
tees and some of the most convincing
debaters in Congress.
Their SuDDOrt for pennSVlVa / a
harbor and port improvement legis-
lation will mean to immeasurably
strengthen this states claim for
greater recognition, and that they
were completely won over was at
tested by the Congressman them
selves.
THE only reason that Pennsyl-
vania's commerce has not increased
with greater strides in the past" said
William B. Wilson, of Williams
port, representative from the Fiji
teenth district, lis because her rivers
and harbors have been neglected.
Congressman Make Pledges.
From comments made to me by
my colleagues l believe the Rivers
and Harbors Committee has never
been more strongly impressed with
the worthiness of a cause than by
this project of port development
The mass of shipping and the great
commercial industries they saw dur.
ing their several hours on the river
and along the water front has been
enlightening, especially to members
from interior states. They are as.
founded by the business being done
and each asserted he would support
any measure that grants more mon,
ey to Philadelphia for the greater
commercial development of Pennsyl
Vania."
Inspection Trip on Delaware.
The early completion of the 80
foot channel project for the Della
ware River" said Chairman Hol
ton, sounding the first of the ports
needs at the opening of the investi
cation, is imperatively demanded
by the commercial necessities of th'
port, in order that its facilities ma!
equal those of competitive ports OF
the Atlantic seaboaTd. 1t is equal!
necessary to the navy, so that war
ships of the nation, carrying thu
deepest drafts, may without loss o
time and with safety reach the nava
station of Philadelphia"
At the Philadelphia Navy Yard, a
the lower end of the city, whert
members of the Naval Affairs Com
mittee were favorably impressed will
the need of a l700-foot dry dock, tn,
entire delegation boarded the steam
er Queen Anne, for the trip over tn,
harbor that demonstrated the facil
tiles of the port and showed the com
mercial and industrial activity aloni
Philadelphia's water front.
Greater Appropriations.
Senator Joseph e. RansdelI. o
Louisiana; Congressman Murray, O
Massachusetts; Davidson, of Wis
consin; Jadgett, of Tennessee, an,
many others, openly declared thes
sentiments and went on record a
pledging their support to any meas
ure that has for its purpose tn
broadening of Pennsylvania com
mercial opportunities through tn,
development of its natural avenue I
foreign and ocean-going domesti
trade.
In oil ono NJ the most auenioio,,