Evening star., 1918-02-15
URGESD. c. TO BUILD
WATER TERMINAL
Representative SmalPs Views
in Connection With Federal
Control Of Canal.
OUTLINES THE BENEFITS,

Construction of a water terminal and
establishment of a great market ex-
change in Washington are proposed by
Representative John H Small of North
Carolina, chairman of the rivers and
harbors committee of the House, in a
statement today to The Star. He asks
the District Commissioners to consider
the project In connection with the pros
pective operation by the federal gov
ernment of the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal.
Representative Small recently accom-
panied Representatives ]. Hampton
Moore of Pennsylvania and Frederick
N Zihfman of Maryland on an inspec-
tion trip along the canal. as a result of
which he has formed the conviction
that this waterway may be made useful
as carrier of food as well as of fuel
1t is his belief however, that the
government should not prepare for full
utiliza ton of the canal until there is
reasonable assurance that the District
Will construct n water terminal. He
would have such terminal located on
the river and connected by a belt line
with all the railroads entering the city.
Traffic Possibilities Cited.
The Chesa peake and Ohio canal is
s1n interesting waterway with traffic
possibilities far in excess of its pres
ent use" said Mr.. Small. land The Star
has in a most intelligent manner pre-
8ented its merits from time to time.
The acute fuel situation during the
present winter. due to lack of trans
portadon facilities, has focused atten-
oon upon this canal as means of sub
stantia1 relief. The fact that this canal
connects the coal mines near Cumber-
ample supply of coal for the household
and industrial use of Washington and
also the activities Of the government in
this vicinity
the attention of the director general
of railroads has been directed to the
wisdom of utilizing this waterway, and.
II its physical condition shall demon
Strate it to be usable and a sufficient
number of suitable barges can be sup
piled, it is certainly worthy of the most
serious consideration.
Water Terminal Neglected.
MY main purpose at this time how
ever, is to direct attention to the in
difference and neglect of Congress and
the Commissioners of the District in
providing an adequate water terminal
suitably located upon the Potomac
river. in the city of Washington. The
government has spent more than three
millions of dollars in improving the
4OeShldS AANCi, ~ tHdt dt present IQcTc
Is q minimum controlling depth the
entire length Of the river and through
Washington channel of twenty-three
feet and of seventeen feet in the Vir-
ginia channel. Washington is III miles
above the mouth of the river and the
Potomac is one of the few important
rivers in the United States which have
been provided with so great a depth
Tor such a distance above the seae The
District of Columbia has contributed
nothing toward the utilization of this
channel except the construction of
three wharves on the Washington chan
mel at a total cost of $4,000.
IT may be conceded as an obvious
fAct that Washington cannot realize
the full benefits from further transpor-
tation upon the river. nor will it be
able to handle the coal which may be
brought down the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal unless an adequate water termi-
nal is provided. In my opinion the
government would not be justified in
preparing for the full use of the Chesa-
peake and Ohio canal until there is
come reasonable assurance that the
District will proceed Immediately To
construct a water terminal