Evening star., 1918-01-23
FOR USE OF CANAL
AS WAR MEASURE
Proposal for Government to
Take Over c. go. Water
way Finds Favor.
OTHERS ALSO CONSIDERED

Proposal for the operation by the gov
ernment of the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal as a war measure, made several
weeks ago by The Star in the interest
OF assuring to Washington and the gov
ernment an increased coal supply, which
has been incorporated in bills introduced
in Congress by Representatives Moore
of Pennsylvania and Zihlman of Mary
land and is now under consideration by
the director general of railroads, has
developed an agitation along the entire
Atlantic seaboard in favor of greater
utilization of canals for war purposes.
The Maryland legislature is consid-
ering joint resolution instructing its
delegation in Congress TO support the
Zihlnlan BILL and in Pennsylvania, New
Jersey New York and the New Eng
land states pressure is being brought
10 bear by commercial bodies to have
the government get the greatest possi-
BILE service out of the canals that con-
meet the tideWater with the coal fields.
Favored by Mr.. McAdoo.
Director General McAdoo is on rec
ord stating that he thinks faVorabiy
of the plan of developing the inland
WATERWAYS. and in Congress and else
where the impression is gaining ground
that the government will not be long
in making the widest possible use of
such facilities.
Manufacturing concerns, realizing
that the canals can be of immense
service to them if made to transport
more coal. are taking an active inter-
est in The matter. and publicatio
tleNuteEt
ests a'e exploiting the proposal. The
Music Trades. in the issue of January
10. publishes letter from John H.
Small. chairman of the rivers and har-
bors committee of the House. who. in
company with Representatives Moore
and Zihlman. recently made an inspec-
tion of several miles of the Chesapeake
and Ohio canal.
Il agree with you.'' states Chairman
Small. that the trend of sentiment
seems to be setting in favorably to the
terror waterways and canals, but, after
all. large public movements depend
upon the attitude of the public for
their success"
Another Canal Control in View.
Replying to Secretary Hoile of the
Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce as to
the desrability of improving and utiI-
ixing the Delaware and Hudson canal,
constructed in 1926 to connect the an
thracite coal fields of northern Penn
sylyania with the Hudson river, which
is now abandoned, Chairman Small
states:
Many thoughtful men believe that
we must revive canal traffic by acduir-
ing such old canals as are properly To-
Gated. and improving and utilizing
same and. in some sections, by the CON
struction Of new canals. 1t also ap-
pears evident that this revival of canals
must be undertaken by the public
Whether. in this case, it is most ap-
propriate for the states Of New York
and Pennsylvania to undertake the re-
construction Of the Delaware and Hud-
soE lanai. or the federal government, is
worth consideration.
No Reconstruction Work Needed.
AS to the proposed taking over of the
c. and .. canal by the government
which Mr.. Small favors, there is no re-
construction work to be done The
canal. which extends to the Cumber-
land coal field. is in good condition, but
lacks boats. All the government will
have to do to make this waterway
serve its needs and those of the public
At large will be to build boats or com
n1andeer them from other canals Rep
resentatiyes Small. Moore and ZihIman
who have inspected many of the locks
and obtained first-hand evidence of
conditions. declare the expense of the
taking over of this canal by the gov
eminent will be trivial compared with
the results that will be obtained in
increased shipments of coal