Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-08
M'ADOO IS URGED
TO SEIZE CANAL
Chesapeake and Delaware
Called War Necessity by
Bourse Members
AID FREIGHT MOVEMENT
Improvement by U. S. Would
Relieve Railroad Congestion
Is Argument Advanced

Military and commercial necessity de-
mands the acquisition and Improvement
Of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal
by the Government.
This is the opinion Of William X
Tucker secretary Of the Board OF
ssTrade The submarine raid along the
coast and the eongested condition OF
railroads are the strongest arguments
in favor of aforementioned inland
waterways. according to Mr.. Tucker.
The Philadelphia Bourse is also strong
IN its belief that the Government should
/. acquire and improve the Chesapeake and
Delaware Canal
Members of the Bourse believe the
Secretary Of War should utilize the
powers vested in him by the recent
rivers and harbors bill and take I'M
mediate action looking toward Govern
ment acquisition of the canal through
condemnation proceedings. They say 1t
is necessary from a military standpoint
in addition to the commercial I'M
portance.
Would Have Helped Railroads
Recent embarsoes and freight con-
gestion would have been eliminated had
the action been taken when 1t was first
agitated." said Mr.. Tucker.
"Just al present the railroads are
overwhelmed with offerings of freight.
and subma rines lurking in the waters on
the Jersey coast are a menace to coast
wise shipping. The railroads would
have been relieved and the danger OF
coastwise shipping removed had this
canal been so improved at this time as
to accommodate schooners, barges and
other craft. Virtually all Of that coun-
try in the vicinity of the canal is at a
standstill through the inability OF con-
sufners to obtain raw materials In the
south and to ship manufactured products
to the south by water.
MANY of our shipyards and other
war industries have been held UP be-
cause of the slow movement Of freight
This also would never have occurred had
the canal been improved so as to take
larger vessels. Lumbermen in the
vicinity of Philadelphia have found II
almost impossible to get lumber from
southern markets. Repeatedly there
have been embargoes against Philadel-
phia, Wilmington, Carney's Point and
Chester. where great building opera
tions are under way. both for the Gov
ernment and to house the workers.
Never before has the need been so
great for an improved canal as a pres
ent. All Government commissions and
bodies who have examined this water
way have advised its purchase, anf
commercial men cannot understand why
Congress has not seen the necessity for
this action.
Great Defense Value
"Of course. I have only touched upoil
It from a commercial viewpoint, but high
navy officials who are recognized as
authorities have said that the canal
would be of immeasurable defense value
in case our shores were besieged by hos
tile warships.
There is nothing Of greater impor
tance both from the standpoint Of a wal
necessity as well as in connection with
the general problem of Transportation
than the carrying out by the Secretary
OF War of the authority vested In him
by a provision in the last rivers and
harbors bill. which authorized negotia.
tions for the purchase of the Chesapeake
and Delaware Canal, or in the event
OF failure to agree on price, to institute
condemnation proceedings" declared
Emil p. Albrecht, president of the Phila
delphia Bourse.
This action is a necessary prelim.
mary to the actual appropriation b,
Congress Of the amount of money re
quired to make the purchase Govern
ment acquisition of this canal would
be big asset to the railroad admin.
istration in connection with its contro
OF the inland waterways of the coun
try, and 1t Is matter Of interest still
further to the Navy Department on ac
count of the use thata could be made
OF 1t for moving the smaller units o,
tne navy between the Philadelphia ant
Norfolk navy yards"