Evening journal., 1918-06-25
WILL ASK Wilson To
TAKE {. { D. CANAL
Protected Water Route from
New England TO Florida
Is suggestion
LEAGUE OF CITIES
TO PRESS PROGRAM

hNer cities TO appeal 10 President WI
son to take over the Chesapeake an,
Delaware Canal as an emergency wa
measure was urged yesterday at
meeting OF Congressman, business mer
and commercial leaders OF this ant
other cities in the assembly room al
the Finance Committee OF Councils
Phlladelpaia. The purpose OF tho
meeting was 10 arouse an intelligent
pubic sentiment IN behalf OF the intra-
coastal waterways, as a protection Tor
coastwiSe shipping against the inroads
ana assaults OF German submarines.
representative John IT, Small OF
Nortn Carolina, ch3iyman OF the Rivers
ana HarborS Committee Of the House
o. Representatives, faihered the pro-
posal for the association 10 seek presi-
Dental aid in acquiring the canal Rep
resent9tive J. Hampton Moore. presi-
dent OF the Atlantic Deeper WATERWAYS
Association, also announced that n com
mlttee OF fifteen would be sppolnted
with delegates from Philadelphia. Ches-
ter Trenton, Wilmington, Camden and
other river cities, 10 take such action.
as seemed desirable.
Representative Small declared that a
man OF progressive spirit and attitude
toward The use OF waterways should be
member OF the United states railroad
administration 10 have the nnal word
as to the manner in which these should
be utilized. While Mr.. Small made no
specific accusations against the regional
directors of the railroads he said he
felt that their past interests and aflli-
ations did not make them entirely
sympathetic toward the intracoastal |
waterways.
j.: w. S. Holton, president Of the |
Philadelphia Maritime Exchange, Of |
fered resolutions which were accepted, /
declaring that as the development OF a /
chaln OF modern inside waterways ex-
tending from New England 10 Florida
had been advocated by the Atlantic
Deeper Waterways Association that the
Attorney General OF the United States
De urged 20 hasten legal proceedings
necessary for the condemnation OF the
Chesapeake and Delaware Bays In ac-
cordance with the River and Harbor
act OF August g, 1917.
William r.. Tucker, secretary OF the
Philadelphia Board Of Trade. proposed
that Endorsement be given the work
performed by the Atlantic Deeper Wa
ter'vsys Association and that a COM
mittee OF fifteen be appointed 10 Co
operate with the association IN It's ef-
forts TO bring about the desired re-
suits.
Director Webster. OF the Department
OF Wharves. Docks and Ferries, offered
resolutions that meetings be held in all
cities interested for tho purpose Of petit
tioning Congress for action along the
lines indicated.
Mayor Smith. OF Philadelphia. called !
the meeting for that city, but was un-
able TO be present, z. J. Cattell. Phil
sdelphia statistlclan, acting as host IN
his stead. Doctor Csttell outlined the Z
course Of the movement for deeper in c
land waterways. from It's inception by $
representative Moore and himself Q
eleven years ago. y
representative Moore, who presided, a
said that he had been lighting the bat L
lie for a higher appreciation Of water O.
ways Tor the last ten years aud had 81
preached its story as a war measure 81
turing that time from Maine TO Floride. p
There are two reasons" he con-
lnued, why we are here today. We n
leed the support OF you all and q greater (!
and the other is that y
here ever was e time when the people
n Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Delaware
md New Jersey should unite FOR COM
non protection now IS that time.
I'VE have shown for ten years how w
he Chesapeake and Delaware Canal IN
ould be put into seryiceabls use and to-
ondition, and the Government needs il ST.
oday. We said Il would be invalu- tO
BILE in case Of war and II has so a
roved" fo
Mr.. Moore detailed the trials and pa
roubles Of the railroads during last fOl
'inter's congestion. and said that in th
lant relief would have been forthcom-
lg II the waterways had been opened PO
nd in operation. Ad
when the coal shortage came upon oc
5 last winter" he added, land the 90
mes were congestcd and munitions ]
ere backed up against the port OF TIA
ew York the waterways would have Gri
LEASED all Of that congestion. on,
With our intracoastal waterways the
Iilized commerce would be safe every ha'
" from New Yorl, 10 Jacksonville and Can
ould connect Philadelphia and every we
her city on the seaboard In one in fro
soluble commercial link" 7
Mr.. Small said that Congress had not pas
ven the barges and towboats needed era
r coastwise commerce or paid enough ers
tentlon to the development Of water the
lys because It figured that the rail- ful
ads were sufficient for transportation pro
eds in this country. ed
And you business men here In Phil ent
elphia have been fituOusly enter OF
ming the same idea. lou have be- n
we'd that the railroads could handle hea
the transportation Of our products. ers
en- the railroad managers have looked Er
on waterways in the light OF COM bay
litors. They wanted them 10 be con- mot
lied, to be real vessais OF the rail- ami
IDS" mr..
lr Small suggested that II might BE- are
isiblo for the President 10 take out men
The funds voted 70 him for his war
st TO buy the canal IN condemnal
a proceedings. He also said that Di- a,
Tor General McAdOO might flnd S5.- e.,
600 out Of his funds to build barges oddr
t0Nboats which ectld be used TO ~.
eve the strain on ihe railroads. -H,o
Costello said It was ~ W.
Q FOR TIE Business bodies 10 get the
y ana stir Up Washington 10 some ware
on mat would aid IN establishing thirt
re OF Inland waterways along the and
board. Representative George w. mad,
1onds said that after the war nIste
gses Island would be The worlds son
est navy yard. Hog Island the great uree,
,shipbuilding ulsni, ana that the Dow,
prepare for the future was now. muni
3onel George a. Elliot7 spoke in be- tel Z
lDf WhmingtOn when that ,oity was per
ID upon. Colonel Elhott was about were
frs FOR train when called upon. samu