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opened by Congress for commerce, because if there ever should be that war which all of us hope may never come to the United States, we will find ourselves the laughing-stock of the world for having driven our ships back into the Chesapeake Bay or up the Delaware Capes or into the port of New York with the thought that they can play strategy anywhere. They would simply be bottled up as completely as Cervera's fleet was bottled up at Santiago. There would be no way for them to get through, and then would come the enormous expense of doing very suddenly what should have been done 50 years ago, at the tremendous cost incident to pushing a project under pressure, and which while it was going on would humiliate us before the world.

Mr. Chairman, I will now ask you to listen to portions of resolutions adopted at the Savannah convention, the very representative body of which I spoke, which will be read by Mayor Ainslie, of the city of Richmond, Va.

STATEMENT OF HON. GEORGE AINSLIE, MAYOR, RICHMOND, VA.

Mr. AINSLIE. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee, last month the Atlantic Deeper Waterways Association held what struck me as being probably the largest and most successful convention it has ever held. I observed that this association has grown not only in size but in quality. A thing upon which they were particularly to be congratulated was the place of their meeting. They met in the home district of the honorable Mr. Edwards, where they were most delightfully entertained. At this convention certain resolutions, of which this is the complete copy, were adopted, and I shall not read them all to you, but only a part, and we are here to-day primarily to present these resolutions to your committee for its favorable consideration:

We, the delegates and members of the Atlantic Deeper Waterways Association, in eighth annual convention assembled in the city of Savannah, Ga., and representing every Atlantic seaboard State from Maine to Florida, hereby reaffirm our assertion of the great value and importance of a continuous inside water route along the Atlantic seaboard which shall connect the existing bays and sounds and link together the ports and navigable rivers into one great transportation system. Our statement of the economic soundness of this project, formulated at the organizing conference in 1907 and again at each succeeding convention, has been abundantly justified and confirmed by the Engineer Corps of the United States Army, which has jurisdiction over such improvements. Such portions of the system as have been completed are producing a large and increasing traffic. The high strategic value of the intracoastal waterway to the national defense in the event of war, which has been clearly stated at the preceding conventions of this association, has now been recognized by both our Army and Navy, and must be generally admitted by the American people as the present unhappy state of war abroad compels them to ponder more seriously their own position in the world's affairs.

We therefore confidently reassert that the Atlantic intracoastal waterway system as advocated by this association and recommended by the Army engi neers is a project which is economically sound, commercially necessary, and strategically invaluable, and we earnestly urge upon the Congress of the United States at its next session the definite adoption of the project and the appropriation of suflicient funds to enable the engineers to proceed rapidly with the work of construction.

Resolved, That we request of Congress the immediate acquisition, by purchase or condemnation, of the existing Chesapeake & Delaware Canal and the improvement thereof to a sea-level waterway, as recommended by the Chief of Engineers.

Resolved, That we request of Congress the immediate adoption of the project for a modern waterway across the State of New Jersey, connecting the Delaware River with Raritan Bay, and the enactment of such provisions as will insure the early acquisition of the right of way from the State, as recommended by the Chief of Engineers and pledged by the State statute.

Resolved, That we request of Congress the early completion of the waterway between Norfolk, Va., and Beaufort Inlet, N. C., as recommended by the Chief of Engineers, and heretofore adopted by Congress, and contemplated in the acquisition already made by Congress of the Chesapeake & Albemarle Canal.

The remainder of the resolutions applies to other links in the general project, and I will ask the chairman and gentlemen of the committee to observe that in every instance the links, as well as the whole project, have the indorsement of the Engineers of the Army of the United States; that we are asking for nothing that has not received the highest professional and scientific indorsement. Copies of these resolutions will be left for members of the committee. I thank you very much.

The CHAIRMAN. I will ask you to file that paper with the secretary of the committee.

RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED AT THE EIGHTH ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE ATLANTIC DEEPER WATERWAYS ASSOCIATION, HELD AT SAVANNAH, GA., NOVEMBER 9 TO 12, 1915.

We, the delegates and members of the Atlantic Deeper Waterways Association, in eighth annual convention assembled, in the city of Savannah, Ga., and representing every Atlantic seaboard State from Maine to Florida, hereby reaffirm our assertion of the great value and importance of a continuous inside water route along the Atlantic seaboard, which shall connect the existing bays and sounds and link together the ports and navigable rivers into one great transportation system. Our statement of the economic soundness of this project, formulated at the organizing conferences in 1907 and again at each succeeding convention, has been abundantly justified and confirmed by the Engineer Corps of the United States Army, which has jurisdiction over such improvements. Such portions of the system as have been completed are producing a large and increasing traffic. The high strategic value of the intracoastal waterway to the national defense in the event of war, which has been celarly stated at the preceding conventions of this association, has now been recognized by both our Army and Navy, and must be generally admitted by the American people as the present unhappy state of war abroad compels them to ponder more seriously their own position in the world's affairs.

We therefore confidently reassert that the Atlantic intracoastal waterway system, as advocated by this association and recommended by the Army Engineers, is a project which is economically sound, commercially necessary, and strategically invaluable; and we earnestly urge upon the Congress of the United States at its next session the definite adoption of the project and the appropriation of sufficient funds to enable the engineers to proceed rapidly with the work of construction.

Resolved, That we request of Congress the immediate acquisition, by purchase or condemnation, of the existing Chesapeake & Delaware Canal and the improvement thereof to a sea-level waterway, as recommended by the Chief of Engineers.

Resolved, That we request of Congress the immediate adoption of the project for a modern waterway across the State of New Jersey, connecting the Delaware River with Raritan Bay, and the enactment of such provisions as will insure the early acquisition of the right of way from the State, as recommended by the Chief of Engineers and pledged by the State statute.

Resolved, That we request of Congress the early completion of the waterway between Norfolk, Va., and Beaufort Inlet, N. C., as recommended by the Chief of Engineers and heretofore adopted by Congress, and contemplated in the acquisition already made by Congress of the Chesapeake & Albemarle Canal. Resolved, That we favor the adoption of the project for a waterway connecting Beaufort, N. C., with the Cape Fear River, N. C., as recommended by the

Chief of Engineers. This constitutes the link immediately south of that between Norfolk, Va., and Beaufort, N. C., which has already been adopted by Congress, and there are strong reasons why the construction of this link should receive early and favorable consideration.

Resolved, That we also favor the adoption of a project for a waterway connecting the Cape Fear River, N. C., with Winyah Bay, S. C., as recommended by the Chief of Engineers.

Resolved, That we request of Congress the early completion of the waterways between Winyah Bay, S. C., and the St. Johns River, Fla., as recommended by the Chief of Engineers and already in part constructed.

Resolved, That the unusual commercial importance of the East River, the Harlem River, and the Harlem or Bronx Kills, and their continued improvement to meet the insistent demands of the commerce of the metropolis, differentiate these in large degree from all other projects, and this association reaffirms its action at its last meeting and urges the further improvement of the East River, the Harlem River, and the Harlem or Bronx Kills, in accordance with the favorable report heretofore submitted by the Chief of Engineers.

Resolved, That we reaffirm our belief that the approaching completion of the New York Barge Canal will make of the Upper Hudson a freight transfer point of very great commercial importance, and that we, therefore, favor the fullest Federal improvement of the Hudson River as far as Troy Dam as may be required for the facilitation of the commerce by barge, coastwise and ocean tonnage, that will there be brought in close connection.

Resolved, That we favor the early improvement of the narrows of Lake Champlain, as recommended by the Chief of Engineers, in order to provide adequate connection through the New York Barge Canal with Lake Champlain and Canada.

Resolved, That we favor the extension of the intracoastal waterway from St. Johns River in the State of Florida, and express the hope that such extension along some approved route may receive the favorable consideration of the engineers.

Resolved, That we favor congressional enactment authorizing a further examination and survey for the extension of the intracoastal waterway in the New England States.

SAVANNAH RIVER.

This association has read with interest in the local press regarding the formation of an organization seeking the improvement of the Savannah River between the cities of Savannah and Augusta.

Resolved, That we commend this action as an example to the citizens of other seaboard States, to the end that all our rivers may be adequately improved, that lines of barges and freight steamers be established thereon, and each river shall become a feeder to the trunk-line waterway, and thereby contribute to the freer distribution of our products and the common prosperity of the country.

ANNUAL RIVER AND HARBOR BILLS.

Resolved, That the growth of the commerce of the country and increasing necessity for additional facilities of transportation, demand that Congress shall enact annual river and harbor appropriation bills, providing adequate appropriations for the completion and maintenance of projects already adopted and for such new projects as by their merit and importance demand favorable consideration and adoption: Therefore,

Resolved, That in the opinion of this association Congress should resume the enactment of annual river and harbor appropriations carrying the necessary funds for existing projects and the adoption of such new projects from time to time as are required to facilitate the transportation and distribution of the products of the country.

STATISTICS OF WATER-BORNE COMMERCE.

Resolved, That in order to determine the relative importance of harbors and interior waterways, and their inter-relation with the waterway system of the country, it is necessary that data be officially collected and published regarding our water-borne commerce, both coastwise and foreign. There is at present no satisfactory method for ascertaining this information, and with the excep

tion of a portion of our foreign commerce, all data regarding our water-borne commerce in the coastwise trade, is secured only from voluntary sources, and is incomplete and unreliable.

Resolved, That this association earnestly urge upon Congress the necessity for legislation providing for the official compilation of all of our water-borne commerce, properly divided as to classes and as to the harbors and interior waterways upon which the same may be carried.

PILOT CHARGES ON BARGES IN TOW.

This association is committed not only to the construction of the intracoastal waterway, but to the promotion of coastwise trade between different ports and rivers. It is conceded that much of this traffic will be carried in barges towed by tugs. Until every link of the proposed waterway shall be completed such fleets of barges under tow will use the inside route in part and the ocean in part, particularly between Northern and Southern ports. Under section 4444, Revised Statutes of the United States, such tugs or steam vessels having barges in tow are exempt from pilot charges imposed by any State in cases where the pilot of such steam vessel has a license under the laws of the United States. We favor the enactment by Congress of legislation exempting barges from all pilot charges imposed under the authority of any State.

Mr. MOORE. Mr. Chairman, Congressman Linthicum, of Maryland, is not only a member of this association but has a very firm grasp of the entire subject, and I shall ask you to listen to him for a few minutes.

STATEMENT OF HON. J. CHARLES LINTHICUM, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

Mr. LINTHICUM. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee, the people of Baltimore, one of the large cities along this intracoastal canal project, are very much interested in this subject. We are fast becoming a very large manufacturing center. I think during the past six months factories costing some $5,000,000 have been constructed in and around the city of Baltimore. We are closer to the West than any other Atlantic seaboard city, and have three large trunk lines bringing vast quantities of coal, grain, and other products to the city of Baltimore. We feel that if this canal is constructed it would be a trunk line from the North to the South; and all the rivers of the coast being tributary to this canal that we could carry products from the city of Baltimore along this great trunk line of canals into the rivers and harbors throughout the Atlantic seaboard. We feel that we can put the coal there cheaper than it can be carried from any other section; that we can reduce the price to the consumer by the handling of coal through this great canal. We are large manufacturers of fertilizer, clothing, cotton duck, straw hats, etc., things necessary to both the North and the South. We are shipping thousands of tons of fertilizer, and we feel that it could be carried through this canal and distributed much more cheaply than it is at the present time.

The grain receipts for the year 1914 were nearly 61,000,000 bushels and some 1,800,000 barrels of flour. We have over a thousand wholesale and jobbing houses in Baltimore, and carry some 300,000 accounts in the South alone. Baltimore capital invested in that section aggregates some $200,000,000. I say these things to show how necessary and beneficial it is to have the greatest access to these markets and that by cheap and adequate transportation.

The city of Baltimore is growing rapidly. It has a splendid channel of some 35 feet, I believe being one of the few cities of the world having a channel of that depth reaching to its harbor. We are doing an immense business. We feel that with this canal constructed Baltimore will become of much greater benefit to the cities and the people along the Atlantic seaboard by giving them cheaper things by reason of a reduction in freight rates. In Baltimore we have a number of barges; and I was told the other day that the Eastern Transportation Co. was now running barges, or had started the barges to the South, and they have just purchased many additional barges for their service. All of this business can easily be distributed if this canal is constructed. I am here for the purpose of saying that the people of Baltimore and the people of Maryland are deeply interested in the situation. They want to get to Philadelphia; they want to get to the New England States; they want to be able to carry coal and fertilizers to those various sections; they want to be able to bring lumber from the South and send back fertilizers and products from our city and the West. Baltimore wants to do that at the very cheapest possible rate, and that cheapest rate is certainly barge traffic.

At the present time we are very much hampered, as the president of our association has told you. We believe that this is a very important project, and our people are as a whole strongly in favor of it. I believe this whole matter had its inception through the Agnus commission, and ever since that time our people have been deeply interested and at work on this project. We do not believe the East will ever receive what it is entitled to until this great trunk-line canal is constructed from the North to the South, giving us easy transportation, safe transportation, and cheap transportation to all those sections along its line and into those rivers connecting with it. We have goods for you, and we want to be able to send them to you cheaply. We are closest, as I have said, to the West; we are the gateway to the South, and we want to do more business with this rich and thickly populated section.

I do not propose to take up much more of your time or go into it very deeply; I merely come here to say that the people of our section of our city and our State-are strongly in favor of this intracoastal system and want to see it constructed. They do not believe Congress can do any better work nor expend money to better advantage than construct this canal giving the Atlantic seaboard this splendid transportation and this magnificent defense in case of war. I thank you, gentlemen.

Mr. HUMPHREYS of Mississippi. Let me ask you a question. You spoke of millions being invested in new manufacturing enterprises? Mr. LINTHICUM. Yes.

Mr. HUMPHREYS of Mississippi. And I want to ask you about the location of those enterprises, and others located in Baltimore, as related to this waterway. Are they so located that they can conveniently and economically take advantage of the transportation facilities that would be afforded?

Mr. LINTHICUM. I am very glad you asked me that question. All of this improvement is practically on the water front, and I want to say right here that a large portion of it is at Curtis Bay, just

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