Evening journal., 1914-12-01
Value OF Canals
IN TIME OF WAR
While Peace ReignSCongreSs-
man Moore Thinks Country
Should Do Something
SUGGESTS PURCHASE
OF THE WATERWAYS

os tbo Chesapeake and Delaware Canal
and the Delaware and Raritan Canal by
thc United states is putting this coun-
trv ia such q position that IN the event
of war our large vessels must be kept
in vulnerable ports or in the open sea,
or wait until inland canals are opened
mn and made available for them 10
mass from one station to another ac-
cording to Congressman J. Hampton
Moore of Philadelphia.
CONGRESSMAN Moore makes TINS
statement in the monthly bulletin oi
the Atlantic Deeper Waterways Asso-
citation. of which he is president. lie
also states that the war in Europe IL
lustrates two or three matters OF
great Significance to the American
people. He says:
"It was shown that foreign nations
presumed to be less powerful thah we
are. have been neglectful in batteship
construction and in the operation OF
merchant marine II has also shown
that waterways and canals in Europe
have received careful government
consideration and that they have been
kept up TO date for purposes OF com
merce as well as for purposes OF war.
Congressman Moore in opening the
bulletin declares that IL is expected
ihat n new Rivers and Harbors Dill
will be considered during the short
and last session of the Sixty-third
Congress, which commences next
month Continuing, he says
1T will be recalled that. the bill pre-
pared by the Rivers and Harbors Com
mittee at the last session was deieat-
ed through a filibuster in the Senate
and that compromise was had by
which a lump appropriation OF So
900 600 was turned over to the war
Department to make apportlonment
of the money I'm lieu OF such appor-
tionment hy Congress. This was
very unusual proceeding and was due
In the desire of rivers and harbors
men TO prevent further waste and de-
struction on work already commenced
I before the nlibuster got in its deadly
work. While a great to-do was made
about the Rivers and Harbors bill as
! A. passed the House, 1t is questionable
/ whether the flibuster did not cost
the government more money than II
saved. When the game of politics Is
being played. however. the good
projects are apt to suffer with others
that are not so good.
There can be no doubt but tha'
members Of Congress will again insist
as vigorously upon their rights TO rep
resent their various constituencies II
support Of local river and harbor pro
iects as they did during the last ses
sion of Congress- There is no reasor
why they should not They are elect
ed to represent the people. and II tn
Z people demand river and harbor i'm
provements their representative
ought not to run away from the re
sponsibiity imposed upon them be
cause others than lawful representa-
tives Of the people are undertaking 4
determine for the people what tn
people want.
"The war in Europe shows that II
the neglect of such important water
ways as the Chesapeake and Della
ware Canal and the Delaware an'
Raritan Canal the United States Gov
ernment is putting us in such a posi-
tion that in the event of war we mus
keep our large vessels in Vulnerable
ports or in the open sea. or wait unit
inland canals are opened up and mad
available for them to pass from on
station TO another. We have some ex
tremely important ports inland, bu
they are not connected up as the
ought to be.
Should blow be struck at on
coast line and the need arise 70
shelter or reftting, anywhere fror
Boston Harbor 10 Jacksonville,
would be up to those who, have ne
elected our canals to explain tn
waste Of life and property that woul
ensue. We have not hitherto argue
this matter very strongly from tn
war standpoint We have urged tn
opening of these canals and thei
connection through a continuous in
land waterway for commercial pun
poses.
I'VE have shown that there is a
much tonnage available for the thil
teen-mile Chesapeake and Delawar
Canal as there is for the great panam
Canal ten times over, and yet, SUI
posedly wise men who do not undei
stand the commercial need, nor eve
the ordinary prudence that patriotism
dictates, splutter over a possible te
millions and take on grievously b.
cause the opening Of such a canal
times Of peace would cost none
Pray, may we ask, what would u
cost be If in times of war the cam
should be needed and not ready?"