Evening journal., 1916-07-28
CANAL PURCHASE
Gets another BOOST
tcontinued From Firat Pagel

All WORK f0r IrOlecL
Congressman Dupre of Louisiana, /
Congressman Linthicum, of Mary !
land, Congressman Small of North !
Carolina. and Congressman Kettner, /
of California. we're among the men, !
bers of the party who were outspoken ]
in favor of the plan. Congressman /
Kettner. tempering his espousel how !
ever. with the remark that the com
munities to be benefited should show
an interest and a disposition to help /
before expecting Congress to take up
the proposition and put it through
Let the three States most vitality
concerned grant to the government !
free rights of way along both sides
Of the canal and show a disposition
to support the project and then | feel
certain that Congress would take the
necessary step. But Congress should
not take this step If the communities
affected do not show a disposition to
do their share he said.
Congressman H. Garland Dupre, of
Louisiana, said 81 gave my support
to the Chesapeake and Delaware
Canal project two years ago at a
time when l was not very familiar
with it, From practical observation
gained since and especially today
strongly affirm my former stand and
know now without the slightest doubt
that that stand was right II is a
matter that deserves the early atten-
ton of the government and should
not be postponed The country needs
this water route for its protection"
Congressman J. Charles Linthicum,
of Maryland said: Il have been close
ly associated with the Chesapeake
and Delaware Canal for the past six
years, as a representative of the Bal
timore district, / feel that It is a
matter Of great importance to the
Atlantic seaboard that this canal
should be widened and deepened, and
one that is highly essential and has
shown a number of Congressman the
great amount of freight the canal
carries and also the ease with which
suctional dredging can be accom-
plished The taking over and widen
ing of this canal will be a great
utility It will mean a new era OF
life TO this section of the country
Congressman John II. Small Of
North Carolina said "The import
ance Of the Chesapeake ami Delaware
Canal as an internal link OF the intra-
coastal waterways Of the Atlantic sea-
board on the score Of commerce to be
affected can be hardly overestimated.
The Delaware River is a bee hive Of
commerce and industry and is con-
nected with the Chesapeake and its
tributaries by this canal and this in
dustry should be broadened as much
as possible The present canal is in
adequate. both in depth and width
and especially in its twenty-four- foot
width locks which constitute an ac-
tual handicap 70 traffic. The last
report Of the United States Army en-
4 gineers shows them TO be N favor OF
the government purchasing the canal
at a maximum expenditure of S3-
100000 and in spending Ss,009,o0C
more in widening and deepening it
The commerce to be affected viii
more than justify this expenditure
There is no city on the Delaware thai
sbou1d have a more vital interest II
This proiect than Wilmington"
Congressman William kettner, OF
California, said THE project mas
merit. II would mean a saving OF
millions of dollars. II would build
up commerce and industry and would
be the means Of saving thousands oi
lives. But tAe communities TO DC
benefited must show an interest anc
a disposition to help before expect
ing Congress to take up the PROPOSE
ton Let the three States most vi
tally concerned grant to the govern
ment free rights Of way along bott
sides Of the canal and show a dispo
sition to support the project and ther
/ feel certain that Congress would
take the necessary step. But Congress
should not take this step if the com
munities affected do not show a dis
position to do their share"
Preliminary to the trip the gentle
men from Washington Inspected the
harbor, the terminals and the grea
industrial developing going on in Bal.
timore. Sparrows Point, where C. N
Schwab and his associates will spen'
between S30,O00,000 and S4O,OOO,OOO Il
extensions and betterments, wa
pointed out. These huge works, IN
enormous coal piers jutting out int
the harbor, and other evidences wer
pointed out as an unanswerable argJ
ments in favor of a deeper and wide
canal across the peninsula.
The existing canal, built in 1929 =
a cost Of 50 ,250,O00, contributed b.
the Federal Government and tn
States Of Maryland. Delaware an
Pennsylvania and individual sub
scribers, is about IA miles long, cross
ing the neck OF the peninsula at tn
narrowest part, from the hea
Of Chesapeake to the head of Del
aware Bay. II has three locks. an
because of that and its depth Of onl
ten feet, is of limited Commercial
value and OF scant importance TO
military purposes. The cost of ac
quiring the property by condemns
ton would be S2,514.0O0. and the COS
OF converting II into a sea-level cana
25 feet deep. would be a trife les
than s1O,000,000
Congressman Sparkman, chairma
of the Joint committee. was unable I
accompany the party, which was CON
posed of Congressman Small, OF Mort
Carolina; Congressman Dupre, {
Louisiana; Congressman Kettner {
California; Congressman Frear. {
Wisconsin. and Congressman Costello
Of Pennsylvania, all members of III
rivers and harbors committee; Cor
gresham ]. Hampton Moore, of Phi
adelphia; president of the Atlanti
Deeper Waterways Association; Cor
gresham Hurlbut, of New York
Congressman Linthicum of Maryland
Senator Salisbury and Congressma
Miller, of Delaware; George S. Wei
ster, director of wharfs, docks an
ferries of Philadelphia Joseph