Smyrna times., 1917-01-31
FACTS ABOUT SMYRNA RIVER
CONTINUED FROM SECOND PAGE

ported to the Chief of Engineers does
not include the tomatoes and grain
transported out the Smyrna River,
aggregating thousands of tons annually
by tramp steamers that come to Smyrna
for cargoes. For example, the steamer
Vessels, owned by Capt. Vessels, of
Leipsic; the steamer Princess and the
steamer Denney Brothers, owned by
Denney Bros, Salem, N, j.; the
steamer Greenboro, own d by Capt.
W. M. Vineyard, Milford, Del, all
hauled tomatoes out of Smyrna River
and probably not one of them filed
report with the Chief of Engineers.
Besides this trade there are num-
erous boats. likewise not reported,
who carry out thousands of bushels of
grain annually to the mills in Will
mington, Del. and various points across
the bay in New Jersey. 1t would be
almost impossible to furnish com
plete record of the tonnage, because
there are so many outside boats not
reporting their traffic to anyone,
whereas the engineers office possibly
only gets a report from Smyrna Trans
poration Co. and Mr.. l.. M. Price.
There are three or four other boat
owners who may or may not report
their business, viz: Walter Donovan,
Bert Keyser, Frederick Lane, Walter
W. Stokesbury, all of Smyrna post
Office. who are constantly traficking
on Smyrna River.
1T is also proper to mention 35 OF
40 fishing boats employing hundreds OF
men in their crews, whose traffic in
the fishing business is also carried or
from Smyrna River. This business
is carried on by fishermen from Smyr.
ma, Wilmington, Chester, New Castle,
Delaware City, Port Penn, Penns.
grove, Woodland Beach, and so on,
all of whom harbor in and use Smyrnt
River in connection with this bust
ness.
Cheap Form of transportation
lone of the chief points to be borne
in mind is that these Delaware rivers
afford the citizens of our State the
only means of competition with the
railroad; as you are aware, they have
one railroad system in Delaware, viz
the Pennsylvania. The steamboat
lines plying on the various rivers il
Delaware afford this opportunity, no
only for competition with the railroads
but save our people thousands of dol
lars annually in the cheaper watel
freight rates.
"The Smyrna River is second in i'm
portance in the entire State Of Della
ware to the Christiana at Wilmington
1t serves the towns of Smyrna; Clay.
ton, Kenton, Cheswold, Hsrtley, ant
the adjacent rural country within {
radius of 8 or 10 miles. If this rive
did not receive Government sppropri
ations whereby it is kept free of shoals
etc ,all of this traffic would be forcel
to go to the railroad. not only to tn
great inconvenience of distance bn
also would be compelled to suffer tn
penalty of higher freight rates.
"The main point, however, is to hav
an accurate report of the tonnage
which above stated, the Engineer
Office never receives. / do not knoV
how much this unreported tonnag
would amout to.
''To show you how interested ou
business men are in the maintenanc
of Smyrna River navigation l nee
only point to the fact that committe
having the matter in charge ha
secured title to rights of way for pre-
posed cuts to eliminate crooked bend
and shoals in the river, and. as l III
derstand it the titles deciding thes
rights of way have been turned owe
to the proper Government officials. "
4 The Chairman. The question
on the amendment offered by tt
gentleman from Wisconsin. The que
tion was taken and the amendmel
| waa rejected.