Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1913-10-10
BENEFITS OF
FREE CANAL
MADE CLEAR
]. Hampton Moore Sees OPP
position to c. 6 D. Water
way Project While Opti-
miStiC
ANSWERS OBJECTIONS
OF BALTIMORE BANKERS

optimistic of the eventual purchase by
the Government of the Chesapeake
and Delaware Canal and its full open
ing to commerce.
Mr. Moore says
with the approach OF the Jackson
Vile Convention Of the Atlantic Deep
sr Waterways Association, and the
recent inspection OF the Chesapeake
and Delaware Canal by representa-
lives from New York, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland
and virginia, who held an enthusiastic
waterway meeting on the banks Of the
canal September 17th 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 TO do just exactly what Is always
to be expected when the goal Is in
sight--arouse opposition.
Thus far the seven years campaign
of the Atlantic Deeper Waterways As
ISOLATION has been conducted with
s comparative freedom from adverse
comment. The distinguished Delaware
statesman, George Gray, when a
limited States Senator, said in effect
that the chief danger IN the matter OF
free waterway from the Chesapeake
8 10 the Delaware Bays, which in effect
&means from Florida to New England,
4iay in the fact that everybody APP
Eproved H. The inference was that
klt was nobodys business to demand
the removal of this barrier between
1.-TWO thriving sections of the country
because II was everyhody's business.
The Atlantic Deeper Waterways As
ISOLATION has undertaken to make the
opening of this passage way a part OF
It's business in securing a safe inside
passage for vessels engaged I'm COM
Nmerce along the Atlantic Coast The
resolutions of the Conventions Of the
Association approved the removal of
rthis barrier as the very next step in
( this important program of commercial
: development. The necessity for this
Improvement. now fully supported by
the War Department and by COM
mercial bodies, viii be emphasized at
B the Jacksonville Convention. We are
ready TO put the matter squarely up
!. to Congress and the prospects Of
y favorable consideration at this time
are exceedingly bright
AlFnIr Tue 0IIVrAii'h 10 A'HAhAiAAr
s 10 take notice Baltimore bankers sec
rvaqtaf danger in the opening of the
n 13 miles of waterway from the Della
ware River 10 the Chesapeake Bay
because the fish and oysters in the
3 Chesapeake might he affected by sew
age from the Northern States Hed-
ven stve the mark They have come
10 p sad pass indeed who would retain
RE old canal with its waters all lock
ed 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
bankers Of Baltimore to the Chicago
Drainage Canal and submit that a
sea level waterway, such as We pro
pose 10 have between the Chesapeake
and Delaware Bays will promote
rather than retard the public health
! and will not destroy a single oyster
nor disturb a minnow. Scratch the
surface OF the ground upon which the
Baltimore bankers stand and Il 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 II
may be found that a special and 10
some extent. a private project capital
zed at a million or whereabouts. 20
cut across the Delmarvia Peninsula
may feel that II should be taken in
Both Of these suggestions are made
and ought 10 be weighed by bankers
who are SO solicitous for the welfare
d the little fishes IN Chesapeake Bay
But saddcr than an is the opposition
rhich is being stirred up by the Ledger
& Dispatch. Of Norfolk Norfolk. the north
IN terminus Of the southern spur if ~,
atlantic deeper waterways proie,t, nov
written in the law for the freeing u
he North Carolina sounds and canrls 81
hat Southern business may FIND
z Northern outlet. The Ledger Dispatch
which has been grouchy upon this sub
E iecf since the great success of the Nor
4 Folk convention Of the Atlantic Dccpe
Waterways Association approving ~
II sntire scheme and e0ultinc over south
ern prospects with Northern eonncc
x tions, may not be Influenced by the rail
: roads and the railroad owned steamship
= which have a pretty firm grip on Nor
4 folk. but it is actuated by the fear that
A Philadelphia and Baltimore, by openin!
4 trade to Norfolk inland. may be put
ting one over on that enterprising citl
3 of the South We'll LET us see. Shippers
s who know their business tell us that
! with a free waterway inland from the
&HHANN dlt river 10 liHHlIi'H AA'oA7 NNN
r Norfolk there will be a saving of freight
rates on coal OF az least 20 cents a ton
3 They tell as that on fertilizer. which
comes from the North 10 Norfolk il
: large quantities. the rate would be a.
sents per ton, or so cents less per ton
= than tho present rate. and this without
any loss Of profit 20 the carrier They
tell rs that PIC iron can be shipped q
Norfolk AZ a saving of from 80 TO 81
cents 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 oil
at least so cents per Thousand feet That
pulp wood could be shipped for 80 cents
per cord less than il is today. and tina
railroad ties could be forwarded by tn
Norfolk operators at 3 cents per tie les
than the present rate.
Virginia and Norfolk are interest
ed in Pocahontas and New Rive
canals They are interested in lum
I her all of which they have 10 sci
4 The opening of a free waterway TO III
North would mean increased shiI
ments from Southern points and Low
er rates TO consumers generally. In
less there Is a determination to stan
still and put up with existin
s freight rates and shipping condition.
& pray what has Norfolk or any othe
city along the Atlantic coast line. {
lcse7 There is nothing in sight bu
: an Increase In business for all O