Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1914-12-11
SALISBURY URGES
PURCHASE OF Canal
Thinks Government Should
Use Waterway in National
Defense
SHIPPERS ALSO
WOULD BE BENEFITED

WASHINGTON. Dec. 1.-THE ac-
QUESTION Of the Chesapeake and Del
aware Canal by the government as
an incalculable aid TO the defense
of the Atlantic seaboard from an at
tack by the foreign nation, as we'll
as a means Of commercial expansion.
was urged before the National Rivers
and Harbors Congress here yesterday
by Senator Salisbury, of Delaware.
BY means of the proposed project,
he declared, the whole feet of the
( United States could be concentrated
anywhere on the Atlantic seaboard
from Narragansett Bay TO the Vir-
ginia Capes, without the knowledge
of an attacking force.
u am trying to get my colleagues
in the Senate and House to invest
for the government about s7,5OO.O 900
so they viii get a net annual return
of at least Is or 20 per cent. for 10
to 10 millions of our people. and a
war risk insurance on many billions
of dollars worth of property, as well
as save the government several mill
lions of dollars each year in naval
expenses.
"The net profits per year may in
crease to so per cent. Ten human
lives will be saved each year which
are now sacrificed; the defenses of
our capitol city and two Of the great
cities and many of the smaller cities
of the country will be doubly pro-
tected: our chances of victory in any
future war with a naval nation will
-be tremendously increased, and in
peace we will draw our dividends of
at least 1S per cent. regularly and
reduce the cost of living. increase the
means Of livelihood and generally
benefit millions of our people.
That sort of a proposition would
look pretty good to an ordinary bust
ness man, but the initiation of this
investment was possibly prevented at
the last session of Congress by the
physical ability of one Senator to vo-
calize for a week or so, and to dc
this at a critical time for "a hours in
a stretch.
When it becames impossible in tn,
last Congress to start this great
project by an appropriation, feeling
absolutely confident that no capable
engineer could make unfayorable re
ports on this project, ] offered anc
secured the passage in the Senate o.
a resolution directing tho Secretary o.
War to secure. prepare and report tC
i the Senate summaries of the reports
OF the government commissions, Off
u GERS and engineers heretofore made
!, and such facts, information and opin
ions of boards or officers of the ARM
and navy as he may deem proper o.
! pertinent as to commercial, naval o
d military, of the acquisition of tn
h Chesapeake and Delaware Canal b.
4 the United States, with such informa
r ton as he can secure as to the pric
. at which the property can be pur
D., chased.
"In my judgment. when the Sec
rotary responds to that resolution II
a report setting out the facts know
/ to the government regarding tn
canal its great possibilities for goo
TO commerce and the national defense
there will be no popular criticism o
objection to the action of the govern
ment in taking over this property an
making il available in the broades
sense. and in the biggest way for com
mercial. naval and military purposes
For National Defense.
81 believe its usefulness will be s
proven that the government will soc
proceed after its practical developmei
has shown the people of this country 4
great advantages, to extend northwal
canal which may be similarly used b
tween deep water in the Delaware riv
and New York bay. 7 do not belize
that anyone should advocate this la
ter work until the smaller and less G.
pensive work is done and demonstrate
| It's usefulness and success, but when Il
two are completed, then the enormoi
advantages to this country will be sci
evident. The whole fleet of the Unit,
States. without knowledge of an attac
ing force, could be concentrated an
where on our Atlantic seaboard fro
| Narragansett bay to the Virginia cap,
Should such concentration ever be nee
ed for defense. the value of such a pa
sageway would be incalculable. G.
anyone today compute the value TO q
| German Empire, either in money or 1
defense, of the great, but less impo
tant military canal at kiel?
"Our greatest warships last only
few years. At the end of 10 years tn
90 into the second line of defense, 1
licve, because they have become pa
tally obsolete and outclassed. For lie
| than the cost of one warship this gre
project may be demonstrated For {
! cost OF few warships the whole gre
: project may be accomplished, with
saving to the commerce of the count
q of 20 per cent. on this investment a
n 1000 per cent advantage for the mi
tary and naval defense of this count
over that of Germanys great militia
4 canal at KEEL"