Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-09
MAYOR AGAIN ASKS
inland WATERWAY
Calls Convention of Association
to Meet in Atlantic City
October SD
Project IS VITAL NEED

Mayor Moore today issued the official
call for the thirteenth annual conven-
.tion Of the Atlantic Deeper Waterways
association. 10 be held in Atlantic City
from October 3 to 8.
In his announcement the Mayor said.
IN part.
Never has the soundness Of the plans
and projects advocated by this associa
ton received such general and conclu-
mve demonstration as now. when con
tinuance of traffic congestion and en-
barEoes on freight comnel shippers to
examine every facility Of transportation
and to call the waterways. so long neg
hcted. back into useful service.
- Our association stands for better
waterways and buster waterways from
NcS England to Florida linking together
all the Atlantic, 'ports and the great
river systems of the eastern seaboard,
already connected with the Great Lakes,
snd thence with the interior river sys-
tems from Canada to the Gulf.
Plans Have Been Approved
Our plans have received the ncccs.
sary approval of the army engineers
and have been partially matcrialized.
through favorable action by Congress.
IN their different sections. But the
Iunk-line system waits upon adoption
OF important links. notably that across
New Jersey, for which favorable legis
iation. both state and federal, is still to
be obtained.
"All this is large work and the cost
OF completing II must rise in connection
With the general reRdjustment of values.
We are facing a general revision of all
estimates before Congress for waterway
improvements; general rccalculation
oy the federal government as to the
wisdom of proceeding with projects
heretofore approved or awaiting an
proval: o revision which has led already
TO adverse reports on some projects pre-
viously recommended.
How far it is fair. in such recalcu-
lation, to consider only the general iu-
crease in cost, without allowing for
the corresponding increases in service
and benefits?
Factors for Rehabilitation
The revenues of the railways were
increased during the war and q large
further increase has just been author
lied and will be accepted by a public
which knows some increase to be neces
sary. The free service Of waterways
must be given.a correspondence higher
vhiuation. Inc question Is still the Serv-
Ice rendered in proportion to the cost.
Nowhere in the country more than
In the busy Atlantic seaboard states
is there evidence of industrial expan-
sion, growth of population, congestion
of traffic. all of which call for the scrv-
Ice Of waterways in increasing measure.
Nowhere are there better facilities now
existing In water terminals and connec-
tions, or greater possibilities for the
use of waterways, not only for the
movement of raw materials and low
grade bulk freight. heretofore suggested
as the natural elements OF water traffic.
but In the movement of high class
freight assured on the waterway or
delivery upon fixed schedule, difficult il
not impossible to maintain on the rail
way.
fThcse are factors that make for
favorable action and which must be
demonstrated to the engineers when the
new estimates are under prpparatio