Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-08-04

docks. The site is Just within the
Waterways Committee Of the Chamber
Of Commerce expressed optimism re-
gard.ng the project.
II. r. Bush of the same committee
in saying that IL did not matter wheth-
err the harbor was paying propo-
sition so much as the fact that It
would bring new interests here and
that many cities did not expect to
make money from such a project. de-
pending on Il 20 supply the stimulus
for new life. Mr.. Bush referred to
the Mayor and said that II was com
mendabie for him 10 express his view
on the harbor plan. That he was
sorry some people had given him the
cold shoulder because OF his action.
This led to Councilman McNabh
,rising in support OF the Mayor.
Il always hesitate TO override a
teto." said Mr.. McNabb II know that
he other fellow has his good reasons
N perhaps mine might not be right
fr. Bush explained that he did not
! rean that any III will had been ex-
dressed towards the Mayor but that
was simply the fact that many wer
20 deeply Interested in the harbos
project.
Willard A. Speakman. chairman o.
| the Harbor Commissioners thanked
the guests for their presence and CO.
| operation.
John c. Saylor told the meeting that
labor was solidly for the harbor and
/ would cooperate in every way.
Walt on Governments Word.
The conference that preceded the
/ supper talk was very educational and
/ interesting. Charles Warner a har-
/ Dor commissioners and its first execu-
| tive, and who with all due respect to
/ his colleagues. Messrs. Bancroft and
I Speakman. very well acquainted with
all details of the port plans was called
/ upon by Chairman Speakman to ex-
plain II. This was after A. ID. Warner.
/ Jr.. president of the Chamber OF Conn
/ merce opened the meeting. william
/ Megear, chairman Of the Chamber of
/ Commerce Waterways Committee was
not feeling wen and Mr.. Warner acted
| IN his stead.
After Mr.. Charles Warner had con-
Guided his explanation of the harbor
project. there was a symposium ques-
ton hour. During this il developed
that next Tuesday, the Board of En-
| gineers of the War Department will
meet at Washington to decide whether
the government shall dredge the Chris
tiana river. All assurances are to the
effect that favorable action will Ire
| taken.
As soon - this word is received il
j. expected that the commissioners
viii at once award the contract.
Wilmington labor will be EMPLOYED
on the work. between five and six
hundred being needed.
Wilmington merchants. If their
| figures for supplies are as reasonable
as those of other cities will be given
first choice. But they must bid as low
as others.
Perhaps of paramount Importance is
the fact that several steamship lines
have already applied for permission to
dock vessels here.
Railroads Back Plan.
One of the three railroads entering
this city has informed the Harbor
Commissioners that it will make ex-
tensive additions TO its tracks in order
To connect up with the port. All three
OF the railroads have assured the COM
missioners that they are back of the
port.
The warehouse of the new port will
have storage capacity for $4,000 tons
OF freight under cover and 5000 tons
in the open-a total of 81. 900 tons
This is much more than the average
port anywhere except New York.
1t IS around this storage capacity
| that the chief success of the Whining
ton port hangs. The great embarrass-
ment of other ports on the Atlantic
and Pacific coasts, Mr.. Warner said
was due to lack of adequate storage
| facilities. New Orleans with miles and
miles of piers has only four or five
days storage capacity, and the local
Fort will have a great advantage over
other adjacent Atlantic ports in stor-
age.
The local port has been arranged so
that vessels can unload and load at
the same time. Freight will be hauled
about by tractor and trailers.
]. II. TAFT, a Wilmingtonian. but
whose business for 25 years has been
in Philadelphia as general manager Of
the Furness- -Withe line, the large st
water freight shipping corporation in
the world, answered several questions
regarding the depth of the Delaware
river. draft of vessels and other de-
| tails with which he is thoroughly con-
versant. He said that II was seldom
that a vessel drawing more than 3f
feet OF water came up the DelaWare
That the average was between 20 ane
20 feet. So if the Christiana is dredge.
To IS feet at low water, this would
| give depth of 81 or 81 feet at high
water sufficient for all commerce here