Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-11-30
GREAT THINGS AHEAD
Men From Twenty State. to Discuss
q Canal Across New Jersey--Ths
United States Gave Them
S42,5OO, 900 Last
Year
By GEORGE NOx Mccain


by GEORGE NOx MCCAIN
GREAT things to, philadrlrhin will Ne
" afoot in Washington next week.
men will meet there TO discuss ways nnd
means for spending many millions of dollars.
First Of all. however. they will suggest
ways and means for Getting these vast sums.
At one Of their recent meetings they de.
vised plans for grabbing of S42. 2.5OO.OOO
from the Government.
"1lell. and. Mnria" dawes had put them
down in his budget Tor S13. son. .OOO.
.. The Appropriations Committee Of the
House Of Representatives. thought better Of
them tn ao and d. their work and Increased to
Then this body Of earnest and far.seeins
citizens for twenty States dug In" on the
question.
They decided that s42soo. 400 would be
Just about the right sum for what they
proposed.
IT was the very lowest amount the chief
OF all the experts who tad worked on their
plans said he could get along with.
ct course II was tremendous incrense.
Three times what the Governments
budget maker said they ought to have.
1t was fought bitterly In the House: but
It won out. because public sentiment was
behind 1t.
1t was carried nv over lOO majority. II
went through the Senate by two to one
vote. and was signed by the President.
The Mississipp, to Atlantic Internal
Waterways Congress Is the collective and
distinctive title thps. gentlemen have a..
sumed. 1t is four years old.
/: is their annual convention that will
convene next week.
NI1LL1AM II. STEVENSON. Of Pitts.
w brrch. is """Sidnn, Of this Congress.
Burd =. Patterson OF the same city,
fOrmpr1v Of Dottuyil1o ts uocrotoev
James r. Smith, of 81. Louis. formerly
Of Bedford County, IL president Of the
Mississippi Valley branch Of the organiza.
tion.
It will be seen THAT the three great
moving spirits Of THE very powerful organ.
izotion are Pennsylvsntans.
Philadelphia's interest is found in the
fact that the Inst appropriation. Endorsed
and forced through ny this inland waterway
organization. obtained for the Improvement
rcake and Delaware Canal about S7.OOO,-
eco
At least that is what these men claim
as part of their work.
Another part nf their erpnt general plan
looks toward a canal across New Jersey and
the reopening Of the abandoned Schuvlkil
Canal.
That means something for Philadelphia.
4 NY appropriation Tor rivers and hnrhors
"A in the expressive carnarnlar Of national
politics. IL known ns a ''Nork hill.'
The name Is derived from the tat pick
ings which such biz usually provides for
politicians and cont ractOrs.
Likewise because every Congressman
lnhors to 'brins home 'he bacon" in the
shape of n dam or n dredging scheme in the
stream nearest his district.
4 Western Pennsylvania Congressman
some years ago drew the ridicule Of the
=
The Kiskminctns River.
II is creek the size Of the Perkiomen
that drains into the Allegheny River above
Frreport Armstrong County.
The legend prevails in certain Southern
States that their Congressman used to
secure appropriations to drain ponds so that
the haunts of the festive hullfrog might be
NOR" easily approached.
The Rivers and Ilarbors Congress is,
however. engaged in n great work.
II demands more and better internal
waterways to relieve pressure Of traffic on
the railroads Of the country.
Instead of m"a>ly S42 SOC. 900. they
claim that the Government should spend
$3.50 100000 in sums Of S1OO, 900 900
annually for tn" next five years to produce
They produce figures. too, to prove their
| claim.
J IHIIIL the opening up, or building, Of the
w proposed inland waterways improve the
| trnnSportation problem and reduce freight
rates, will it reduce the earning power
! of the railroads?
Here is what these advocates say about it :
Since the close Of III" World War the
| railroads have received in gifts or loans
| from the Government about 81 .O0O 900 900.
About $4,000. 600. 600 more has come
their way in increased rates during the last
| three years.
Last month they had 10000 cars less
than the traffic of the country demanded.
| II is estimated that it will require about
$40 600. 900 coo to place the railroads and
their equipment in the best possible condi.
| ton.
If they had this money on hand now.
six years would be reHrir",l to spend 1t.
NJ the end of that time. with normal
growth of our population. tho traffic will
hc increased as to demand more great
! expenditures.
Tn" WATERWAYS advocates claim that with
s1uO 600 OOO expended annually by the
Government for the ensuing five years--and
| this is un"-"ghth Of III" sum received BY
tn" railroads during the las, four years--a
structcd thar will carrv 500 GOO, Geo tons
at a saving cf $500 600 600 10 the public.
That IS in direct freight alone.
Il will also cause the saving Of severa
billions Of dollars year in promotini
Increased prolnction and decreased prices
1t will help the railroads.
An IMPORTANT feature Of the work O.
"A this o-canlzation. 50 far AZ Pittsburpl
| and Wr.,orn PENNSYLVANIA is concerned. wn,
the securing Of about So 600 900 for tn,
imnrovcrnnnt of the Ohio River, and none,
sufficient for III" survey Of canal that vii
run lcngthwiS" of Ohio from Lake Erie t,
thr h4i0 River.
This vii, connect PITTSBURGH with New
York city by a direct and continuous water
waV.
The route viii be from New York vim tn
great Erie barge canal and Lake Erie, an
thence down the Lake Fri" and Ohio Rive
canal To the Ohio River nui Pittsburgh.
As a member Of this congress writes me
"With Philadelphia harbor full
improved. til" Chcsnp"nk" and Delawar
canal enlarged. the canal across New .Icrse
built and the Schuylkill Canal reopencd
all of which projects are contemplated |
the program Of the Waterways Congress
there would b" n vast increase in trait