Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-04
g,lsulas'Gs gxsuins s,tuTday nusay 1871
Wiimington's Harbor War Asset

III Deiawane's Congressional delegation
wants 70 perform an immediate and
effective patriotic service TO the coutry-
as we'll as to the State they represent
the opportunity is at hand. The Fed
rral government, having found that
the overseas shipping facilities of New
York, and some other seabosrd cities
as well, arc inadequate, in view OF the
harbor congestion, due 10 the tremen-
dous local, national and international
strain heing put upon them, IS casting
about for reief-for other outlets where
occanroing craft can be readily loaded
and unloaded and moved with facility,
and places other than New York are
being considered.
On all the Atlantic seaboard, where
Is there a more ideal location than right
here In Wilmington ? We know OF no
place better located geographically than
Wilmington for handling overseas traf-
D.. and il would seem as II our Congress
sional delegation, being Delawareans, and
knowing the facts Is we do, might at least
induce the Federal shipping authorities
TO make an immediate survey here and
ascertain whether or not early relief
at this point is possible. IL seems TO US
that it is OF course, developed ter
ninaIs are lacking but we have it on the
best of authority that they could be
constructed at minimum cost and with
No handicaps that would result IN irri-
tating delay. The natural facilities are
already there, with lot of natural points
IN our favor that our neighbors above
US on the Delaware river do not enjoy.
Wilmington is at the head of deep water,
~ith no serious Instructions between
the Christiana and the sea. while between
Wilmington and Philadelphia there are
numerous channel handicaps, including
annoying bends in the river, and, at this
time of the year. ice jams, due TO those
bends. that almost defyN the ingenuity
OF man 10 overcome. In fact, for days
81 a time, tins winter shipping between
Wilmington and Philadelphia has been
II standstill, while ice boats could have
had no difficulty in maintaining traffic
highway between Wilmington and the
sea, due 10 the wider expanse of water to
the south and absence of narrow bends
1t might be urged, also, by those who
fail to sec that the means would justify
the end-leaving out the patriotic phase
of the matter-that Philadelphia is
better prepared from a railroad view
point. But Is il While it is true
that Philadelphia has number Of we'll
equipped railroad terminals and what
may be termed belt line, serving all |
oi the trunk lines entering the city, |
nevertheless If has its own land and water /
local congestion 81 times that might give /
the oversea- s. lpping proposition an
element uf j. y. This is not SAID |
with de~ir, 4 any reflection on |
Philadelphia o. rs shipping facilities, /
for it no doubt could handle great deal /
more than it now has and could do it |
effectively and promptly, but still there |
are the obvious handicaps pointed out .
above, to say nothing of the time lost |
In running between Wilmington and |
Philadelphia, in proceeding to and from /
sea. This argument also holds good,
as compared with Baltimore, which is
much further from the sea
But, after all, it is up TO Wilmington
70 help in tins enterprise, even the
government looks at our natural facilities
with the same high regard for efficiency
chat we do, but it is unbelievable that if |
" ilmington could convince the govern |
uent that II hsd faith in its harbor pos
session, 10 the extent Of spending some |
money on their development, that they |
would be ignored In the nations program |
for finding the shortest, quickest and |
most efficient means OF handling this |
overseas traffic, when every hour in |
loading, unloading or transit counts, |
when hours multiplied mean ships, when |
hours and ships mean maintenance of /
efficiency for our armed forces.
Therefore, here is q proposition IN |
which il seems the government might |
be Interested for itself, and in which |
Wilmington ought To be interested for |
itself and for its country. Now is the |
time when these facilities, if we had them |
developed, would doubtless be. used |
by the government, for the sake Of ex-
pediency, if for no other reason, and when
their permanent use would quickly be- |
oone an established fact, especially as
The Delaware river is fast becoming the |
great industrial maritime artery of the |
East.
There are two things we would have !
70 do, build the terminals and arr.
for the rail connections. All of IT, .I1
hnee entering Philadelphia nrougb |
Wilmington, 80 it shou' 5e difficult /