The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-05-22
PRICE 2 CENTS
PORT IMPROVEMENTS
Federal Appropriation ,5O0,OOO-
Republican Pledge of support.
Philadelphia, May 2

=
made to the $1,OOO,OvO already ap-
propriated by the House for the
Delaware River channel, in the SEN
ate Commerce Committees report of
the rivers and harbors appropriation
bill. This total of s. 100000 is the
largest sum ever set aside in the
annual appropriation for this pro-
Ject 1t was granted at the insistent
request of the commercial interests
that improvements be rushed to COM
pletion to meet the growing de-
mands of the port. Washington
Dispatch
1--WE pledge immediate State ap-
propTiations for the improvement of
the Delaware River and the Port
of Philadelphia" Platform Repub-
lican Convention.
The Fabre Steamship Line.
realizing the facilities to be had at
the Port of Philadelphia, and cogni-
zant of the big commercial possibil-
tiles of Pennsylvania through fur
ther development of it's home port,
will in the near future establish a
regular line between Philadelphia
and Naples. D. II. E. Jones, New
York Manager of the Fabre Steam
ship Line.
These three developments, coming
within a period of two days, and
representing as they do, one the at
titude of a foreign steamship COM
pany, the other the united opinion
and purpose of progressive, public
spirited men from all parts of the
State, and the third rejecting the CO.
operative spirit of Congress, illus
trate the determination with which
the various factors are uniting to
civ n rc n in 1nrah
expansion of its port at Philadelphia.
These conditions, materially
strengthened by the announcement
that the city of Philadelphia will
soon take steps to recover piers and
port facilities that have long been
under private control, are a boon
to commercial interests not only in
Philadelphia, but throughout every
other part of the state.
Director Norris, of the Depart
ment of Wharves and Docks, has
forcefully pointed out that such pri-
vate ownership of port accOmmoda-
tions has been one of the great evils
of the past, and that in the struggle
of individuals and corporations for
control of the river front the COM
merce of the port has suffered to
the extent of being denied its nat
ural expansion.
The announcement or another new
steamship line for Philadelphia is
one of the direct results of Mayor
Blankenburg's recent letters to tif-
! ty-five foreign steamship companies,
calling attention to the advantages
of the Port of Philadelphia. Replies
thus far received indicate that other
companies will follow the example
of the Fabre Line in the near
| future.
Republican Party Pledge.
Probably the strongest assurance
| of future port development, how
ever, is that contained in the plat
| form adopted by the State Conven-
! ton of the Republican party at Har-
risburg on Wednesday, pledging the
party, and therefore its members in
| the next session of the Legislature.
to large state appropriations for port
| purposes.
In the question of whether or not
Pennsylvania is to have its full
share of foreign trade in the future.
and especially of that increased
ocean-gong traffic between Atlantic
and Pacific ports that will result
from the opening of the Panama
Canal, much has depended upon the
attitude of the States lawmakers.
The adoption by the Republican
convention of a plank which binds
that party to aid in the further ex-
pension of the Port of Philadelphia
Is looked upon as a certain forerun-
ner of similar action by the Demo-
cratic convention, so that no matter
what the political complexion of the
next Legislature may be, business
and commercial interests in all parts
of Pennsylvania are virtually assur-
ed the port facilities which are nee
essary to a larger foreign and Pa
cific coast trade.
Shipbuilding plants which have
long been handicapped by foreign
competition, but which now look for
ward to renewed activity because OF
the demand that will be created by
the Panama Canal trade for Ameri-
Can-built vessels, regard this ad-
vance legislative pledge as the real
foundation for the business and COM
mercial expansion which will make
additional ships necessary and
thereby extend prosperity into new
fields.
The prediction made by Director
Norris when he accepted the direc-
torship of the Department of
IWharNeS and Docks, that PennSyl-
yania as a whole would willingly CO.
, operate with Philadelphia in the de-
velopment of the port when it was
fully appreciated what such a pro-
, gram would mean to all the people
in the State, is being fulfilled; and
, the result of months of tireless
work by the Director and Mayor
: Blankenburg is gradually showing
in the tacit alliance of City, State.
Federal and even foreign, support
for the projects of port expansion.
+. W. GammelI Disposes of Four
Machines.