Evening journal., 1914-01-14
DEEP CHANNEL
NEEDED NOW
Congress- Will Be Asked to
Appropriate Money to As
sure 35-FOOt Depth
SAY CONDITIONS
MEAN TRADE LOSS

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Jan. A.
Philadelphia's representatives in
Congress will be asked to bring pres
sure on the Rivers and HarbOrs Com
mittee at this session to appropriate
sufficient money for the dredging OF
the Delaware River to a depth OF 35
feet within two years. With adequate
funds at their disposal, instead of an
annual appropriation not exceeding
$2,000,O00. including S350.O0D for
maintenance, army engineers, it was
declared, could complete a 35-foot
depth in the two-year interval.
Maritime interests, business. men
and citizens who have fought for
years for a deeper Delaware, unani-
mously declare that wouthout a chan
mel deeper than 80 feet now complet-
ed the ports future shipping would
suffer.
Losses last year of $4,000, 600 in
oil exports, as the result of the Stand
ard Oil Company and other exporters
diverting trade to New York, is cited
as one of the strongest reasons for a
river navigable to the deepest draught
vessels.
A continuance of the present ap-
preparation policy, according to COM
putations of army engineers, Will not
permit a 35-fOot depth to be reached
between seven or eight years. 1t was
declared that the engineers planned
their years work on the scale of the
appropriation expected, but always
had prepared to operate more extern
sively in the event of Congress grant
ing larger appropriations.
Urges Active Work.
George Il. Sproule, secretary OF the
Commissioners of Navigation, in ex-
planning the length of time necessary
for the completion Of a deeper chan
mel said
"The army officers cannot be CEN
sured, because they have hurried the
dredging, and have worked so fast al
| times they exhaust the apprOpria-
tions. Larger appropriations are
needed, in fact, they are imperative
if the port is to be developed with the
same strides as characterized the last
few years.
mo appropriations amounting tc
more than a million dollars, have
/ been granted Philadelphia, without 9
! bitter fight It will be necessary tC
! continue the contest to obtain the
needed improvements. The fight
should centre on the Rivers and Har.
I bors Committee, which threshes out
| the needs OF the various rivers and
harbOrs. Business men, with whom
have conferred. agree that our repre-
sentatives. at Washington should ap'
pear before the committee and ash
that at least S5,O00O0O be appropriate
ed at this term to complete the So
FOOT channel"
Trade Organizations TO Act.
Members of the Chamber of Com
merce and the Board of Trade, a
the coming meetings, it was said
would take action ON the needs of th'
channel. a conference. TO which thi
Representatives at Washington vii
be invited is proposed. President Co
hen, of the Chamber of Commerce
probably will issue the invitations
although he has not considered thl
matter officially.
Business men fear that the drydocl
discussion, from which Represents "a
tives Lee, Of Schuylkill County, am
Moore, of this city, may harm tn
agitation for a deeper channel.
Army engineers yesterday said tina
St,2S0.000 was appropriated last yea
for deepening the 3O-foot channel
and 100000 for deepening the lowe
harbor. or the former amount. ap
proximately $4,000 is unspent, an
will form a nucleus for speeding III
dredging IL the Rivers and ~Iarbor
Committee recommends that enouel
I money be appropriated TO complet
the 35-foot depth.