Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-06-25

men to the needs Of the situation. On
June the Attorney General met in coq-
ference with the War Department. offi-
discussing. And the District Attorney Of
Delaware has been asked for the status
of the condemnatory proceedings over the
canal.
I'VE are sending billions acroes the
seas to build canals and railroads, but we
cannot afford SS,OO0,OO0 TO acquire the
canal" Mr. Moore urged tho commercial
interests represented to get back OF the
Deeper Waterways Association and help
it in this fight to have the government BUY
the canal. He said that until this war he
had never favored government owner
ship of anything, but that now he would
support anything that would aid in the
war and give the proper support to the
President at this time.
WATER ROUTES SUPERIOR TO RAIL.
Congressman Small in beginning his
address said that he bad nothing personal
against the railroads of the United States; (;
that in his opinion they were superior
TO any in the world, but that water
transportation was superior To rail trans
portation of freight The water route,
he said, is cheaper and more expeditions.
The average speed Of freight by railroad
was 80 miles per day, while bnrges could
traverse greater distances in tho same
length OF time.
He considered like Admiral Benson
that the intracoastal route inland as the
second line of defense with the battle
ships constituted the first line. But
despite all Of the warnings Of the Deeper
Watcrways Association III the past eleven
years it had required a visit from u-bosts
TO give the occupants OF tins country an
object lesson
The great volume OF traffic in the past
wear has shown. he continued, how greatly
insufficient are tho railroad systems IN time
of stress That this country has ou,grown
tho railroad facilities and that the only
practical solution and outlet for the excess
freight is the water fcutes.
One of the reasons for the failure of this
country TO be prepared with n system OF
inland waterways for such contingencies,
he believed was because the railroads
have always considered The water routes IN
the role OF n competition or Il vassal. That
this bad always worked disadvantage 10
the inland water route proposition
PRESIDENT MIGHT AUTHORIZE CANAL PUR-
CHASE.
III WIS NfAb N''~'''~'
man Small. Il believe that the President
would be authorized to use The funds voted
him for war purposes 10 reconstruct the
canal and operate it.
"The director general of transportation
is n competent man, hut he unfortunately
is surrounded with aides who arr railroad
men who have always been taught 70
consider the water routes rs competitors
and II s a hard matter to even teach an
intelligent dog new tricks.
ain my opinion there ought 10 be con
ncctcd with the Railroad Administration
some man who can inteligcntly discuss
and arrange for water transportation.
Congressman Costello of Philadelphia
was introduced and said that what was
needed now, was for the business interests
along the Delaware river 10 get busy with
Congress and urge tho canal acquisition.
Congressman Edmonds chairman uf the
Merchant Marine Committee Of Congress,
was called upon for his views. lie pro
phceicd wonderful future for the Della
ware river section lie told Of the manu-
facturics that would dot the upper Della
ware and then referred TO the canning
plants that would spring up along the
canal in the Delinarvia Peninsula with
the first class operation of the canal
Ni3Npf ipcTNHN t iIPiit1i Sipht "
The need Of the Upper Delaware section
for the connecting link Of the Chesapeake
and Delaware Canal and how II would AID
MI sections along the Delaware river
Director of Wharves. Docks and Fer
ries George Webster Of Philadelphla, IN
q short address, urged the adoption Of a
set Of resolutions calling for all cities
along tho Delaware to hold public meet
ings to arouse the interest Of the com
in The project. The resolutions
were later adopted unanimously
Congressman Watson Of Bucks county,
Pa, and III charge Of the Bristol ship
Yards, said all ms sympathics and sup
port were back Of the canal purchase
project and related what immnse value
Il would be to the eastern ports
lamca kernane. secretary OF the Man
time Exchange, read letter from J. :
" Holton, president of the exchange,
advocating the proposition. The ideas
Of Mr.. Holton were printed practically
word for word in the Every Evening q
couple of weeks ago.
CHESTER WANTS THE CANAL BoUGRr
Mayor Mcdowell of Chester told of
the doubling of the population of that
CITY in the past two years and how the
industries of Chester would profit by the
acquisition of the canal and the establish
rnent Of the inland route free from sub
marines
William r. Tucker, secretary of the