Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-06
S2,465,OOO ASKED
OF CONGRESS FOR
DELAWARE RIVER
Secretary McAdoo Urges
Appropriation for Deep
ening Channel
STEP TOWARD DEFENSE
Daniels Wants $175,000 Spent
on Navy Yard for New
Slip

WASHINGTON. Dec. 6--An appropria-
ton of s2,lOoOOo for continuing the work
OF deepening the channel OF the Delaware
River from Philadelphia to the sea, the
largest appropriation ever recommended
for this project, Is contained in the esti-
mates OF Secretary McAdoo submitted
to Congress today. This sum Is to be
used on the project in the next year
In addition to this amount the esti-
mates carry recommendations for $4,000
for deepening the rivers channel from
I.alor street to Trenton and t25.OOo for
the same work from Allegheny avenue
TO Trenton, or total appropriation of
s2.4e5,COO
For the present fiscal year. when there
was a great fight waged by former Sena-
tor Burton against the pork barrel meth
Ods in the river and harbor appropria-
ilons, the Delaware River appropriation
was reduced 'u Sl.O0OOW
The estimates for river and harbor
work are increased for the coming hscal
year from $4,000 900 to SlOLOOOOOO.
II Is generally agreed that important
rivers must be improved If the nation
is to be better prepared. The war De-
partment estimates carry large amounts
for forts, but do not mention where these
tOrtS are 10 DC Quit VI MIlNh bp'NS ~
to be improved. Engineers In the war
Department have said that Philadelphia
will be protected by "A new tort at Lewes'
Del.
As an evidence that there will be great
improvements in the Delaware along the
line OF preparedness, II is recommended
in the estimates that $4,000 be expended
for new aids to navigation and that
$4,000 be used for the same purpose at
Delaware Bay.
si75.OCO FOR NAVY YARD.
II Secretary Daniels has his way, the
Philadelphia Navy Yard will be placed in
a position to build one of the battleships.
He recommends that Congress make an
appropriation of Sl5O.O0O to enlarge the
building slip at the yard. In addition, the
recommendation contains an item OF Sa5,-
600 for dredging that will be necessary be-
fore an enlarged slip can be built.
Congress will have to act promptly on
this matter II the Philadelphia yard is to
receive the contract for building one OF
the two battleships upon which private
bidders submitted bids in excess OF $780,
900. the limit fixed by Congress.
New York is the only yard now equipped
for battleshlp building. Secretary Daniels
is asking appropriations of Congress to
equip both the Philadelphia and Mare Is |
land yards for battlcship work.
CITY vITALLY INTERESTED.
Philadelphia Ia vitality interested in the |
new projects contemplated In connection |
with the expansion in the navy, neces- |
sary 20 carry out the preparedness policy. |
BY reason OF its location near the coal |
and iron fields its great abundance of |
skilled labor and deep water near at !
hand, experts In the Navy Department |
have declared that Philadelphia In among
the first cities to be considered for the
armor plant and experimental stations.
projectile plant also Is contemplated
and Philadelphia Congressman are work.
ing for this too.
In the estimates an appropriation of
81, ,2ll, ,7O2 is recommended for an armor
plant to cost s6635,l when completed.
The item for the projectile plant is s706,-
61l. II would cost N.4ll,222 when COM
pleted.
The recommendations authorize Presi-
dent Wilson TO select the locations for
both these plants as well as for the ex-
perimental station, Congress probably
will not authorize the President TO do this
and, as usual I'm such cases. will desg-
late the locations.
The experimental station TO be used by
the Board of Development and Inven-
ion is to cost 100000.
New mail conveyers, to cost $4,000
to cost 5000. and improvements
IN the mezzanine floor of the PhiladeI-
1hia postofiice also are recommended in
The estimates submitted today