Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1918-05-30
FEDERAL
CONTROL Of C.& D.
IS VERY ESSENTIAL
President Of Philadelphia Bo urse
Back of Government
Purchase.
CITES HIS REASONS

Emil P. Albrecht, president of the
| Philadelphia Course, is an enthusiast
over the proposition Of the government
to purchase and operate the Chesapeake
and Delaware Canal. II you don't be-
love this, just mention the subject TO
| him.
Mr. Albrecht is a very busy man.
But he IL never too busy TO talk about this
connecting link Of inland waterways.
| To an Every Evening representative
| Mr.. Albrecht discussed the project nj
considerable and length there were so
many phases Of IT and the lnnumcrahle
| benefits that might follow the purchase
| Of this link that the Philadelphia re-
| GREETED that he could not 90 into the cub
| ject more fully
| lie believes that both as a wnr measure
and also as n means IN peace times Of
aiding transportation, the purchase Of
the Chesapeake and Delaware canal
would be Of extreme Importance To tho
nation
Because Of it's many larger and more
numerous industries Philadelphia is bound
10 benefit 10 a greater extent, but Will
nington Mr. Albrccht cites, would profit
In proportion IT, lts Industries equally
with the Quaker City During the
interview, Mr. Abrecht said
IMPORTANCE ~ PEhCE AND WAR
There is nothing Of greater import
ancc both from the standpoint Of war
necessity as we'll as IN connection with
the general problem Of transportation
than the carrying out by the secretary Of
war ri the authority vested in him by a
provision in the last Rivers and Harbors
bill, which authorized negotiations for
the purchase Of the Chesapeake & Del
aware Canal or in the event of failure
10 agree on price, 70 institute condemna-
ton proceedings.
This action IS an essential preliminary
TO appropriation by Congress Of the
amount Of money necessary to make the
purchase. Government purchase If this
canal would Ire big asset TO tho railroad
administration in connection with its
control Of the inland waterways OF the
country; and II ~ 4 matter Of interest
still further to the Navy Department on
account Of the use that could be made Of
il for shipping the smaller units Of the
navy between the navy yards at Phil
adeiphia and Norfolk
But aside from the military and
naval phases, the canal is valuable for
commercial purposes as has been shown
By various commissions from time to
Agnus commission, appointed by the
President in 1906, To investigate the canal,
advocated it's purchase by the govern
ment at total Of s2,5l4, $50.
COULD ENLARGE CANAL.
THE physical condition Of the route
Of the cnaal is such that its gradual
improvement from present small d.
mansions 20 larger ones could be readily
L L Z IL
who had gwen the subject close study
that the necessary action would have been
taken Al an early date so that the plant
used on the Parma Canal might be utilized
in its enlargement.
When the Senate committee on
military affairs was giving consideration
10 certain items in the Rivers and Harbors
bill that had reference TO the war situa-
ton. inquiry was made Of the secretary /
Of war a. to has opinion concerning the /
desirablllty Of acquiring both the Cape |
Cod ana the Chesapeake x Delaware |
canals /
Il understand that Secretary Bakers !
reply Was that he vas IN favor Of I'M |
mediate acquisition of the Chesapeake & |
Delaware Canal in accordance with the /
official recommendation that had been |
made, but as the Cape Cod Canal had /
never been the subject OF a special IN /
vestigation he was unable TO express a |
definite opinion concerning this water |
way. though ne would not object 10 be- |
ing given authority for condemnation /
proceedings if the desirabllity of same |
was left to his discretion.
According 10 the newspapers, the /
has now decided TO take over |
the Cape Cod Canal, and can see no |
reason why il should not proceed to take |
over the Chesapeake and Delaware |
Canal without further delay. While |
the terminal cities Of Philadelphia and |
Norfolk are interested. nevertheless cities |
in between would find government pur-
chase OF the canal Of equally great adj |
vantage particularly Wilmington, whose |
vast Industries would benefit largely, by |
her ability TO receive materials and ship +
products via this short line to the south. |
This advantage would not be only for /
the present il would be for al time to
come
Mr.. Albrecht Is member Of the |
Atlantic Deeper Waterways Association. |
a director of the Rivers and Harbors |
Congress and chairman Of the Joint COM
mittee Of PhIladelphla's commercial or
gam cations TO foster commerce via /
phi Ia IaIphio