Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-03-04

The canalization of the Susque-
hanna river looks so good from an
economical standpoint that private
vey of the river with the thought
of asking the Pennsylvania Legisla-
ture for permission to deepen the
river for navigation purposes, Ma
jor William b. Gray, of the United
States Army, told a representative
delegation of Susquehanna Valley
citizens meeting at the Penn-Harris
yesterday.
Major Gray made the statement
in reply to a question as to whether
or not he thought the idea prac-
teal. But the Major said he doubt
ed If the Legislature would give
such a charter and that it would be
much better to do the work through
the Legislature or Congress, or
both.
1OO,OOO,OOO Tons of Coal
1t was brought out at the meet
ing that with the Susquehanna riv-
er made navigable it would be pos
sible to transport by boat from the
Pennsylvania mines 100, 100000 tons
of coal a year at a saving of about
81 q ton on transportation charges.
About 100000 tons could be de-
livered from the mines directly into
boats and the remaining 30,00O,OOO
tons by short hauls to the streams.
The entire cost of deepening the
river could be thus saved to the
people in one year. These figures
are the carefully prepared estimates
of state engineers who have made
study of the river and its possibili-
ties, and IL anything are conserva-
tive.
The meeting was addressed by
Major Gray, r. A. Zentmyer, chair
man of the State Water Supply Com
mission; Lyman H. Howe, of Wilkes
Barre; Edwin Charles. of Milton;
w. C. Forney, of Milton. and many
| others. Mr.. Zentmyer proved by
carefully worked-out tables that
| there Is ample water in the river
| even at the lowest stages to meet
transportation needs.
Major Gray outlined at length the
preliminary steps required and said
that the cost of survey would be
nearer a million dollars than the
s25O,000 provided by Congress He
had on display a big map covering
g quarter of one side of the big ball
room, showing the immense terri
| tory IOuCHeu ny tiS ptopOSOo an
provement.
Permanent Basis
The committee was placed on a
permanent basis. Eli II. Hershey
was chosen as chairman with power
to select an executive committee
and secretary. Congressman
Kreider sent letter regretting his
inability to be present, due to the
press of Congressional business, in
which he said in part:
IF you will allow me ] might
| suggest, that so far as the survey OF
the Susquehanna is concerned. ii
may be advisable for this committee
to take such action as will impress
upon the War Department. the fact
that the people of Pennsylvania and
the business interests are intensely
interested in this project, with the
hope that the provision of law au-
thorizing the survey of the Susque-
hanna, will be carried out as
promptly as possible. for it must
be remembered thtt the bill au-
thorizing this survey also authorizes
the survey of a number of other
projects of a similar nature and we
do not want the War Department to
make the other surveys first and
possibly exhaust the appropriation
before the item for the Susquehanna
| is reached.
1--WE should also impress upon the
| War Department that the federal
government, itself. has more than a
passing interest in this survey and
project. Inasmuch as we were sue
cessful in having the government
erect the warehouse of the aviation
section of the signal corps, and the
IL. Fx.. u. <xx.1w
master departments on the banks
of the Susquehanna river and
should we be so unfortunate as to
| become involved in another war the
! navigability of the Susquehanna
river would become a matter of vi
| tai and strategic Importance to the
government of the United States.
For it must be remembered, that
| not only are these immense ware
! houses located on it's banks, but
some of our largest establishments
manufacturing munitions of war are
also located here and, just north OF
| Harrisburg. we strike the tremend-
Gus and inexhaustible coal fields OF
Pennsylvania. all of which are mat
| ters in which the government, itself
must of necessity, be concerned.
| II might state that the present
| river and harbor bill will probably
become a law in it's present form.
The bill has passed the House and
| Senate and the conference commit
tee made it's report to the House
which was approved and the Senate
will, in all probability, approve the
same report. After which. 1t OF
course only. requires the signature
of the President.
"As soon as the bill is signed
probably before the end of this week
| shall make personal call on and
direct the attention of the proper
authorities of the War Department
to this survey and urge that this be
one of the first surveysfauthorized by
this bill. to receive attention."
| Strong arguments were presented
i hv mann hers. Cf the OIn Ilnn fs,...r.Fe