Evening journal., 1916-09-16
Waterways
FAVORED By Daniels
Important From Military
Viewpoint, Declares Sec
retary of Navy
DELEGATES AT
THE MANY YARD

Inland waterways, as projected by
the Atlantic Deeper Waterways Asso-
citation, will add to the usefulness
Of League Island as great naval sta
tion and base for naval operations.
declared Secretary of the Navy Dan
iels and Admiral Benson, chief OF the
bureau of operations of the Navy De-
partment, at the fourth days session
of the association ct the Philadelphia
Navy Yard yesterday.
Earlier in the morning Secretary
Daniels, with Admiral Benson and
other naval officers. had been at the
navy yard inspecting the site for the
construction OF a 100000 drydock.
In opening his address Secretary
Daniels referred to League Island as
one Of the greatest yards in the coun-
try. He also referred to the building
OF the transport Henderson at the
Philadelphia Navy Yard, and intimat-
ed that even larger vessels might be
built there. He also spoke OF the
importance of the Delaware river as a
shipbuilding center and then told Of
what advantage the Chesapeake and
Delaware and the Delaware and Rari.
tn Canals would be to the nation.
Congressman J. Hampton Moore.
president Of the Atlantic Deeper Wa
terways Association, at the concu-
sion OF this address said that he
thought Philadelphia should regard
Secretary Daniels as a friend. as he
had done much for the Philadelphia
Navy Yard and that he hoped through
the secretary's efforts more would he
done
Upon arrival at the Navy Yard
from Camden on the steamship Queen
Anne. the convention was welcomed
| by Captain Robert Lee Russell, COM
mandant Of the yard. Just as the
vessel tied up TO the dock the dele
gates witnessed the manuevers Of
submarines of the fourth division,
submerging and rising and the fight
of hydroplane over the Navy Yard.
Of Benefit During Strikes.
Waterways would be of value TO
both the commercial and military life
in the case of a great strike. deolar-
ed Admiral William S. Benson. chief
Of operations. He continued:
Some of the canals which we
would like to use in time OF emer-
/
! time contracts and the railroads have
not kept them up or encouraged
their use. II would seem a wise mill
tary precaution also that railroads
leasing canals should be required to
keep them In operating condition un-
der penalty OF forfeiture OF lease.
"Our principal navy yards, private
shipbuilding plants, arms and muni-
tion factories, powder magazine, etc,
1 are located along or near the Allan
tic coast. A system of adequate in
ternal waterways connecting all
these activities would be of value be-
yond estimate.
"A system Of canals connecting the
various ports along our Atlantic
coast would facilitate and safeguard
the passage OF submarines, destroy
ers. torpedoboats, fast motorboats
ETC.. up and down our coast wherever
and whenever they might be needed
Delegates Visit Camden.
In the morning the convention went
from Philadelphia to Camden by q
special ferry. Upon arriving in Cam
! den they were met by city officials
and escorted TO the plaza in front OF
the ferry house. Mayor Charles II
Ellis welcomed the delegates TO the
city. and after telling Of Camden's
activity in inland waterways. OF hel
, various industries and municipal i'm
provements. he declared that Cam
den is the biggest little city in the
world" Speeches were also made by