Evening journal., 1913-10-10
BENEFITS OF
FREE CANAL
MADE CLEAR
]. Hampton Moore Sees Op-
position to c. 6 D. Water
way Project While Opti-
miStiC
ANSWERS OBJECTIONS
OF BALTIMORE BANKERS

Deeper Waterways Association, Is
optimistic of the eventual purchase by
the Government of the Chesapeake
and Delaware Canal and its full open
ling to commerce.
Mr. Moore says:
with the approach Of the Jackson
Vile Convention of the Atlantic Deep
Dr. Waterways Association, and the
recent inspection of the Chesapeake
and Delaware Canal by representa-
tives from New York New Jersey
PENNSYLVANIA, Delaware, Maryland
ard virginia. who held an enthusiastic
waterway meeting on the banks of the
canal September 18th, interest in the
Atlantic Deeper Waterways Associ-
atoms project is increasing. The
favorable reports Of the United States
Army engineers upon both the north
ern and southern links Of this con-
tinuous chain have also brought the
whole subject TO such public notice
as 70 do Just exactly what is always
to be expected when the goal Is in
sight--arouso opposition
"Thus far the seven years campaign
of the Atlantic Deeper Waterways AS
sociation has been conducted with
comparative freedom from adverse
comment The distinguished Delaware
B bstatesman, George Gray. when
4 United States Senator. said in effect
that the chief danger in the matter OF
free waterway from the Chesapeake
ITO the Delaware Bays, which in effect
3 means from Florida TO New England
z lay in the fact that everybody ap-
proved it. The inference was that
Il was nobodys business TO demand
& the removal of this barrier between
& two thriving sections Of the country
because IL was everybody's business
The Atlantic Deeper Waterways AS
sociation has undertaken TO make the /
opening of this passage way part OF
its business in securing a safe inside /
passage for vessels engaged In COM /
merce along the Atlantic Coast The /
resolutions Of the Conventions of the /
Association approved the removal OF
this barrier as the very next step IN |
this important program OF commercial /
development The necessity for this |
E Improvement, now fully supported by /
the War Department and by COM |
mercial bodies. will be emphasized at
the jacksonville Convention. We are
q ready to put the matter squarely up
E to Congress and the prospects of
favorable consideration at this time
. are exceedingly bright.
81 Hence the opposition Is beginning
5 to take notice. Baltimore bankers see
pfeat danger in the opening of the
13 miles of waterway from the Della
ware River to the Chesapeake Bay
h because the fish and oysters In the
q Chesapeake might be affected by sew
a age from the Northern States. Hea-
@ ven save the mark They have come
10 a sad pass indeed who would retain
y the old canal with its waters all lock-
+ cd up within its gates for indefinite
passage way by a flow of clean wa
ter from one great bay to another.
: We commend the health preserving
y bankers of Baltimore to the Chicago
z Drainage Canal and submit that a
sea level waterway. such as We pro-
pose TO have between the Chesapeake
3 and Delaware Bays will promote
rather than retard the public health
and will not destroy a single oyster
5 nor disturb a minnow. Scratch the
x surface OF the ground upon which the
& Baltimore bankers stand and II will
& doubtless be found that the reduction
Of railroad freights as proposed by
The free waterway Is the real cause
u the trouble. Scratch again and Il
may be found that a special and to
some extent a private project capital
ized at million or thereabouts, to
cut across the Delmarvia Peninsula
\ nay feel that II should be taken in.
Both Of these suggestions are made
& and ought to be weighed by bankers
& who are so solicitous for the welfare
4 Of the little fishes in Chesapeake Bay
But sadder than all is the opposition
4 which is being stirred up by the Ledger
T Dispatch. of Norfolk. Norfolk, the north
4 srn terminus Of the southern spur IF Nh,
Atlantic deeper waterways prois,t, nov
: written in the law for the froems 81
Z he North Carolina sounds and cannls Sc
3 hat Southern business may nna
4 Northern outlet. The Ledger Dispatch
& which has been grouchy upon this sub
F ject since the great success of the Nor
< Folk convention of the Atlantic Dccpe
s Waterways Association approving IN
& entire scheme and eNulting over South
3 ern prospects with Northern oonncc
y tions. may not be influenced by the rlll
3 roads and the railroad owned steamship
; which have pretty firm grip on Nor
FOLK. but il is actuated bv the fear that
PHILADELPHIA and Baltimore, by opening
trade to Norfolk inland may he put
3 ting one over on that enterprising cit'
Of the South. Well let MS see Shippers
who know their business tell MS that
with a free waterway inland from th'
Delaware river 90 Hampton Roads anc
Norfolk there will be a saving of freight
tdtt~ DN f'tl OF Ni ittrt " NtIiA' II i'ii
They tell MS that on fertilizer. which
comes from the North 10 Norfolk ir
large quantities the rate would be q
sents per ton, OF 80 cents less per ton
than the present rate. and this without
any loss of profit 70 the carrier They
tell us that pig iron can he shipped "a
Norfolk at a saving of from 30 70 ~
rents per Ton. That lumber which comes
+ up from Norfolk and other Southern
points for consumption in the Northern
States, could be shipped At a saving ol
Mt least so cents per thousand feet. That
+ pulp wood could be shipped for 80 cent,
per cord less than it is today, and tha
railroad ties could be forwarded by tn
Norfolk operators at cents per tie les
than the present rate.
Virginia and Norfolk are interes
ed in Pocahontas and New Rive
& canals They are interested In lun
s her all OF which they have 10 SCI
The opening of free waterway to Il
North would mean increased shil
ments from Southern points and lov
er rates 10 consumers generally III
less there is determination TO star
still and put up with existir
freight rates and shipping condition
pray what has Norfolk or any 9TH
rifv afone fhe Atlantic coast line