Evening star., 1946-03-15
DC. Firms Cool 10 PIaI
For Deeper Channel
AS Arguments End
By Rudolph Kaufman II

The United States District en-.
gineer took under advisement today
arguments for enlarging the Poto.
mac River channel SO as to accom-
modate ocean-going ships, following
conclusion of lightly attended pub
lie hearing.
Testimony was given principally by
interests in Alexandria and Prince
William County, who seek improve
ment to the Alexandria water, front
and port facilities to accommodate
vessels requiring a channel depth
of IS feet.
At present the channel is "a feet
deep and 200 feet wide.
Ronald Orr of the Washington
Board of Trade Rivers and Harbors
Committee testified he had been un-
able to find any Washington firm
dissatisfied with the present channel
dimensions.
No Navy, Coast Guard nor Mari
time Commission representatives
were present, evidencing a lack of
interest on their part in the pro-
poSal
Tanker Benefit Cited.
The American Merchant Marine
Institute, however, in a letter in
dorsed the project without qualffi-
cation. The institute stated that
shipment of oil in To tankers, ex-
pected to carry 80 per cent of
American petroleum products ship
ped In American bottoms in the
postwar era, could come to Wash
lngton if a IS foot channel were
available. This would reduce con-
sumer prices of petroleum products
here, the letter said.
E. D. Gothwaite, chairman of the
Industrial Committee of the Prince
William County Chamber of Com
merce, said his county might become
a large-scale, heavy-industry area,
supported by raw material imports
from South America shipped up the
river, II the channel were enlarged
Mr.. Gothwaite said three heavy
industry firms, whose names he was
not at liberty to divulge, would like
to set up shop in the area from
Belmont Bay, down river, to Guam
t1co If the river channel were in
creased to accommodate ocean,
going ships.
Calls Plan Logical.
Describing Prince Williams plan
as a logical proposition" he said
1t would assist the country in pre-
serving its Merchant Marine by pro-
vldlng another railhead at a deep
water harbor.
Ships bringing South American
raw materials-he said he could not
specify what they would be-would
need channel 35 feet deep and
wider than it now is. The channel
now Is "a feet deep and 200 feet
wide.
Asked by Col. White if he could
provide more specific information.
so that any channel project could
be justified to Congress, Mr.. Goth
waite said he would submit figures in
a few days" after conferring with
IIle 1lrmS involved.
Prince William County's position
received limited support from Clar-
ence j. Robinson, president of the
RobinSon'S Terminal Warehouse Co.
IN Alexandria. Mr.. Robinson, who is
member of the Virginia State Port
Authority, said, however, the chan
mel might prove too crooked for large
ships.
Report to Be Submitted.
Mr.. Robinson said he would sub
NIT report on how many Ship
ments to Washington now have to
be reloaded into smaller ships or on
to railroads at Norfolk.
G. l.. Watkins, Alexandria CITY
Engineer, testified Alexandria needs
good channel for future develop
ment, but that he doubted if more
than 80 feet would be worth while.
u. G. Book, of the Alexandria Cham
Der OF Commerce, said his organ
lzatlon had not had time to study
the proposal thoroughly and would
submit its views in writing within a
snort time.
Chairman Mansfield of the Rivers
and Harbors Committee, asked yes
terday If he thought deeper chan
mel would permit reduction of the
cost OF gasoline and other crude oil
products, lumber and other bulk
commodities to Washington resi-
dents, said he thought it would.
Cites Transfer Expense.
AT present, he said, oil and gaso-
line are transferred to small river
tankers in either Baltimore or Nor
folk and any sort of transfer creates
additional transportation cost
He said he had no personal inter-
est in the project and had advocated
Its consideration because Washing
ton has no representation in Con-
gress to push rivers and harbors i'm
provements.
urkey Supper Planned
A turkey supper will be held at 4