Evening star., 1918-01-04

proper distribution OF coal in Wash
inston."
His letter to President Wilson on the
subject was as follows:
House of Representatives of the United
States, Washington. d. c.,
January 2, 1918.
Hon Woodrow Wilson, the White
House. Washington, D. c.
Dear Mr.. President: ferring to
your railroad proclamation OF Decem-
Der &C. venture to suggest the impor-
tance of including existing canals and
waterways capable of affording trans
portation to the government and the
people, that may not be owned or con-
Of the proclamation.
The Delaware and Raritan canal, for
instance. might be included. because of
its lease by the Pennsylvania railroad.
but l question whether such canals as
the Chesapeake and Delaware, the Cape
Cod or the Florida East Coast canal
would be-
1t has long been the argument of the
advocates of improved waterways that
instead Of competing with the railroads
they must necessarily become feeders
thereon. In other words. business Gre
ated upon the waterways is grist to the
railroads. The failure of those hitherto
in control Of transportation to recog-
ntZe this fact may. in part, account for
the recent railroad congestion. and the
consequent embarrassment of the gov
business.
Impressed with the Importance of
having the waterways in service for
commercial as well as for war pur-
poses. I take the liberty of inclosing
herewith a prospectus of the Atlantic
Deeper Waterways Association, which
presents in brief the present status
of the waterway agitation in the east,
very representative body of delegates
from the Atlantic coast states at the
convention of the association held at
Miami. Florida. November 27-30 last.
would be convincing as to the value of
improved channels for commerce and
for war. :.
The coordination of the railroad
service. now intrusted to Director Gen
eral McAdoo, with such waterway serv-
ice as is available, would afford imme-
diate relief in certain cases of freight
congestion. The deepening of channels
and the construction of terminals, so
that freight from water to rail or rail
to water might be facilitated, would
b-,-'' }5Fnd I'D corS.'r1e~ closer to-
gether and would undoubtedly expedite
the nations war business.
If this coordination of rail anG water
were made effective along the Atlantic
Seaboard-and l am speaking only for
this great coast-the tendency of GER
tain rail carriers to crowd out the
water carriers should disappear along
Will OtucT siiidli JtdiouSlfS ana COM
petitions that have hindered commerce
heretofore, and which, in the present
war emergency, have made trouble for
the government.
The act approved April %, 1915, un-
der which the President has taken pos
session of the railroads, is sufficiently
general in terms apparently 10 include
systems of transportation by way of
inland canals and waterways. the utili-
cation of which is contemplated by
Congress.
Such Independent systems as the
Chesapeake and Delaware canal Uimit-
ed in capacity and subject to con-
demnation by the government) would
if improved in accordance with the rec
concentrations of the United States
Army engineers, be of incalcula BILE
service carrying munitions for the
Army or coal and food supplies for the
people. If deepened and widened to a
of war along our coast, instead of be-
ing a barrier between the Philadelphia
and Norfolk navy yards. become of
equal strategic Importance to- the
United States as the Kiel canal is to
Germany.
This argument perhaps because of
the greater population and wealth in
volved. applies with still more force to
the proposed ship canal across the
state of New Jersey from the Della
ware river to New York bay.
May we not hope. Mr.. President, that
the taking over and Improving of these
long-neglected national projects may
be considered in the great transporta-
tion scheme you have undertaken,
Very truly yours,
(Signed) ]. HAMPTON MOORE