Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-01-17
WiLFREp H. scHoEF
On the Port Of Philadelphia

On tne fOrt OF FNIaOSIpHld
CHALL the policy Of retrenchment certain
- to be adopted by the rivers and harbors
committee Of the incoming administration
affect the development of the port Of Phila-
delphia by delaying development Of the
thirty five foot channel?
Shall this policy Of retrenchment be done
with club. as was the case of the last
rivers and harbors bill?
Or shall it be done intellgently and after
due consideration Of economy without
waste?
These are the points emphasized by Will
fred H. Schof. secretary of the Commercial
Museum and consular representative OF Peru
and Bolivia.
channel was authorized years ago." Mr.:
Schof says. 1T should have been finished
at this time. Congressional delay and the
pairing down Of appropriations Is responsible.
The port of Philadelphia is going ahead
can 20 ahead-will go ahead in spite OF all !;
but the delay In finishing the channel delays
the development Of the port.
Port Is Rated Second
1.-THE port of Philadelphia is rated second
among all ports of the United States. It's
position is disputed by New Orleans and by
Baltimore. and figures are close enough to
give some basis for argument upon varying
interpretations of statistics. But the query
is not so much what last years traffic was,
but what it would have been and what it
could have been If the work on the thirty
FIVE foot channel had been continued ut the
rate as recommended by army engineers and
as contemplated when Congress approved the
proposition in 1910.
"If the work had gone forward through
the intervening years as was originally eX-
pected, the channel would now be virtually
completed instead of standing but 81 per
cent complete, as indicated in engineers re-
port recently sent to Congress.
'As the result IL ia still imDOSSiblp for
ocean going steamers Of the higher tonnage
to use the channel except under most favor
able tide conditions or but partial loading.
"Yet the congestion at north Atlantic
ports, notably New York, continues and the
foreign trade of the country must depend
more than ever on the facilities Of Philadel-
phia as n regular outlet to our best arkets
under normal conditions-those of northern
Europe; to say nothing Of many new trade
routes to be opened up by United States
shipping.
Delay in construction was due, of course,
in part to the war. That was an unavoid =
able delay. But before the war began the
rate Of progress contemplated had not been
maintained. and this was due to the action of
Congress upon the annual rivers and harbors
bills, Of which the Delaware river is one of
the largest and most important items.
Consideration Appropriate Now
THAT this existed during the period when
Congress was disposed to favorably consider
such measures makes II appropriate to con
slider the prospects under the incoming ad-
ministration.
'"The outlook is not altogether encourag
ing to those interested in the development Of
this port. Formulation Of the appropriation
bills naturally depends largely on men in
control Of various committees OF Congress.
After a long period Of such control Of rivers
and harbors bills by Middle West repre- :
sentatives. and during which period eastern
shipping had reason to feel its interests neg :
lected, there was q succession of years when
the craftsmanship Of the committee on rivers
and harbors was filled by eastern men.
Under Sparkman, OF Florida, and Small
of North Carolina-both good friends of the
port Of substantial progress
and waterways were constantly defended by
congressman like Costello. of Philadelphia ;
IInthicum, Of Baltimore : iIurlbut, of New
York, and Edwards, OF Savannah, in the
committee. and with Moore, Of Philadelphia,
on the floor Of the House.
There have been rapid changes in the
personnel of the House resulting from the
last two congressional elections when DO :
ltical control changed and the chairmanship
passed to Kennedy, of Iowa. of whose views
| on rivers and harbOrs matters it may be
| said, without fear Of criticism, they are at
least skeptical and often unfriendly. Under
| his chairmanship last year the House adopted
| lump sum appropriation of SI2 900. 600
| when the chief of engineers reported that
| ito prevent actual loss on existing works
| $2J 900 900 was needed.
''The Delaware river was one ot the i'm
! portant public improvements LED back b.!