Evening journal., 1917-04-14
REPORT OF SURVEYS
FOR Local Defense
lContinued from First Pagel

had arranged with the twelve motor
truck dealers in this district, represent
ing ii different makes of trucks, to
secure lists of the owners of all such We
hicles in the district, together with data
relative to weight, capacity, condition
and availability.
For the finance committee, Charles G.
kurtz reported that $500 letters had
been issued asking for contributions to
finance the work, and that since April il
when these letters were sent out the
committee had received 5000 in 30 indi-
vidual contributions. He reported OK
penses of S00.74.
For the transportation committee,
Chairman George w. Sparks made a
report of the condition. location and
capacity of the public highways and
bridges throughout Delaware. Includ-
ed in the repora was the statement
that all bridge-tenders had been arm
cd and sworn in as civil officers II
recommended strongly that the
br dyes and locks of the Delaware
and Chesapeake Canal should be
strongly guarded.
William B. Megear. for the water
transportation committee, reported the
addition of Clarence c. Killen to that
committee. He called attention to
the lack of protection to the Christiana
and Delaware Rivers, and advocated
motor boat patrol at nights, the clos
! ing of these waterways after dark,
and reported the offer Of the Pussy
and Jones Company to loan their pa
troll boat 10 the committee for SER
vice. His committee is now tabulat-
ing the wharfage, loading, crane and
storage facilities Of the river fronts.
He called attention to the fact that
the patrol of the Christiana was a very
broad subject and would cost much
money
Colonel Sparks. at this iuncture
wanted to know whether the committee
contemplates simply the securing of in
formation and holding it for requis ton
by the proper State or national author
I ity, or working out the lines developed
at the expense of the committee. or in
conjunction with tht Governor and Fed
cral authorities. Cha lyman Miller re-
piled that it was his opinion that tins
committee was limited in its activ tics
to the city of Wilmington. but that there
: was in this also a protection to the
entire State. lie said that the Cover
nor had not appointed any commission
/ under the very broad powers of recent
! eg'slation, and until this was done moth
! ing definite along that line could be
told. He called attention to the fact
that the waters of all rivers in the
: country were under the control Of the
War Department. and doubted if this
committee could operate u river patrol
without permission of that department
James Wilson reported that he had
asked the commanding general at the
Eastern Division If troops could be as
signed for the protection Of bridges
. here, and that he had been informed
that protection of municipal and county
property should be furnished by such
municipal ties as no troops could be pro-
vided for such purposes A resolution
was passed expressing the gratitude of
p the committee for the offer of the Pussy
and Jones Company.
David Snellenburg reporting for the
committee on supplies, urged strong
lie the districting of the State, and the
IS placing of trained agriculturists in
m charge of each district for the purpose
, of inducing every person owning
u ground to cultivate every foot of it.
N He urged that the most important
h phase of the present situation was the
conservation of food supplies, and the
= movement TO develop such crops OF all
II kinds as Delaware never saw before,
~ and which would be needed, and heed
~ ed badly, within the year He called
- attention to the shortage of farm help
:, and urged that recruit bureaus be in
!, stituted for meeting this emergency
-, by requisitioning help and apportion-
e ing it to various farmers. He also
n urged the establishment of central
. bureau. under State control, which
= would fix the prices of all foodstuffs
y in Delaware, both for the producer and
the consumer.
" HIS committee urged that every schoo
T.. child over IA years of age should b'
y called into service, after school hours
for their assistance in cultivation o
crops on vacant lots and back yards
49, and that the school year should termi
nate on June ! instead of June 80, TO
T. this purpose. lie also suggested the us
- of the Boy Scouts in this connection
=; The comm ttee urged the cultivation o
- all vacant lots by the municipality. Tn
" collection of cots and hospital supplies
4. the arrangements of fire companies f
~ cooperate and for transportation pur
~ poses in case Of accidents or emergencies
~ ETC. were discussed He called attention
~ over a m llion cans for holding their ont
-. put, and urged that some steps be take
's to assist in relieving this situation.
William d. Mullen reported the avail
able supplies in the matter Of Who'll,
sale groceries, and stated that thes
NJ firms had arranged to carry heavy stock
IT. in order TO take care Of whatever emel
'ts gencv should arise. lie stated that a
as present they could care for the Delmai
as via Peninsula. parts Of Maryland, Vii
.nS ginia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
uu On motion OF George Carter. secrt
IRE tary of the executive committee. III
nv subcommittee on SUPPLIES was directe
~ to make n general survey of the hos
p.tal equipment on hand with the di
ferent hospital organizations OF III
city. the Red Cross. the WOmen's RI
We lief Society. the hospitals and III
lilo like and report at the next meetin
of the committee when it could be d.
he cided Just what further hospital SUI
Ter plies were needed and the sub-con
he mittee might, If necessary, be autho
lied 20 obtain whatever was needed.
ill The subcommittee on air defen'
on reported that in its opinion this W;
a matter for the attention OF the nj
tional government alone. The on
ADEQUATE means of protection was 9
ths airplane station, and this would
re- maintained only by the governmer
.od because, IL maintained privately, q
,ov government would come along al
for commander the machines
49,