Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1915-01-12
URGE IMPROVEMENT
OF THE Delaware
Congressman Moore Says
Philadelphia Has Suffered
By Neglect
DECLARE EXPENSE
is WORTH WHILE


contracts for coal for the army and
navy which should be awarded so
that shipment would be made from
Philadelhia, are hanging in the
balance and may not be made because
work on the Delaware channel has
been delayed and insufficient provi-
sion has been made for its continu-
ance.
Congressman J. Hampton Moore
made this assertion yesterday in the
House Of Representatives in a speech
criticising the appropriations of the
Congress for rivers and harbors inn
provements.
He told the House that the $780,
600 carried by the present rivers and
harbors bill for the Delaware river is
insufficient and means continued
policy of delay in completion Of the
thirty-fiye foot channel.
Coal orders, which may have to be
withdrawn from Philadelphia, Mr..
Moore said, amount to 100000 tons.
After discussing the importance Of
the Delaware river to the commerce
OF the nation and to the government
Mr.. Moore said
1T may be of no concern to the
war or navy departments that for
eign vessel navigated by a foreign
captain, carrying cargo to and from
the port of Philadelphia, shall run his
nose aground in a narrow channel.
but Il is important to these great de-
partments of the government that our
own vessels should be able to reach
our own coaling stations without him
drance or delay.
Testimony recently given before
the committee on naval affairs pre-
sents an unusual condition with re-
gard TO the matter of coal. In order
TO circumvent what was believed to
be a combination to control the price
of coal delivered at Norfolk, the Sec
rotary of the navy discovered a new
source of coal supply in Pennsylvania.
II could be delivered cheaper at the
port Of Philadelphia than elsewhere.
zone Of the great colliers of the
navy came up to Philadelphia and de-
parted with a load of this coal Now
we hear that channel depths are again
under discussion in the departments,
and that coal that should have been
shipped from Philadelphia may be
shifted to other ports at an increased
expense TO the government Is the
government to lose its advantage in
the price of coal and i'm the rates of
freight because the thirty-five foot
channel of the Delaware has not been
completed from Allegheny avenue to
the sea? II this is the penalty for too
much economy, what would be the
/ cost should vessels of the navy have
/ TO coal hastily for purposes of war?
"Out of the lump appropriation OF
100000 900 evolved from the appropri-
alton. only Sf00O,O00 was allotted to
the Delaware river. II was necessary
to take the maintenance cost out of
the sum and then use much of IL to
catch up with the work that mad fall
len back two months while the dis
cussion was on. Thus 100000 or less
became available for actual work on
the project until a new appropriation
is made II was a costly delay
plans Of the army engineers con-
templated appropriations at the rate
OF approximately S2.O0O,OO0 per an
mum. This would have been sufficient
TO complete the work in six years
That is what we expected and desired
but the S2,000.000 a year was not
forthcoming. and now we are told
that at the present rate of appropria-
lions there will be further delay ana
a Greater expenditure than was origi-
nally contemplated.
against this kind Of economy
earnestly protest. q,
"The Delaware river Is worth all
the government has spent upon It and
much more There is no other river
in the United states that equals II in
commerce and tonnage. Nor is there
another river so extending inland that
/ is Of greater concern to the army and
/ the navy.
Doing the best they can, with ap-
preparations thus far made, the engi-
neers report that but 20 per cent Of
the work of the new channel has beer
completed. II Is not fair to thus han
dicap so serviceable a port for a per
iod of years when competitive ports
along the coast have already attained
depth of thirty-five feet. The city
and State are doing their part e
care for the commerce of the port
and il is not unreasonable to urge the
! government to save it's own money
facilitate its own business and in
crease its own revenues by keepins
its own contract TO complete the thir
ty-fve-foot channel for its own USE