American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1823-05-23
This was rot, if am correct. the fsvorite plan o.

Ills proposition, and that which he recommended,
was 10 cut through from bay to the other about
the level OF Hood tide, having tide tock, at each
END which would make still water, and prevent
current in the canal, and having constant supply
OF water from either side having the ocean for its re-
servolr. This every candid and unpreiudiced man
must acknowledge would be the most permanent
and beneficial plan, that this great work could be
constructed upon land as It respects expeDce, the
extra expence OF deep cut would certainly be bal
lanced by the saving OF making seventeen miles Of
feeder, eighteen locks,--the purchase of one hun
bred acres OF reservoir ground, also eight nine
water rights on the White Clay creek and Elk
with their necessary contingencies, &c.-which ac-
cordng to Mr., Latrobe would accrue on the rout
supported by A. B.--this saving and the never fail
ing supply OF water which the lower route would
have, are advantages which cannot be balanced up
on any other route. would refer A. b. to Mr.
latrobe's estimate of the supply Of water from Elk
river.
In 1907 he estimated the daily supply of certain
part of the year at IA locks full, which he says
would pass sixteen vessels across the summit but
in the months Of July, August, September aud DC.
toher the daily supply was only thirty locks full >
which would be competent for the passage of only
sl% vessels across the summit, three each way, The
supply Of water from White Clay creek would be
very little more than half that much and from my
own knowledge of those streams for two years past,
there has scarcely been water sufficient during two
months of the year more, in either stream to turn
Ia mill--as 1t is we'll Known by all who reside near
White Clay creek, that the mills during last Au-
gust and September, compelled to stop or near
ly SO for the want of water,-they could not go
more than two or three hours in day. his A. b
must acknowledge would be but poor dependence
Tor supply oil water to so important VOL as this
land upon this depends its utility. But upon the
other hand there will be no difficulty upon this point
with the deep cut, or the route up St. Georges
creek. BY its never failing supply OF water every
thing is at once effected Expedition which is so
important, here effected, by the saving Of the te
,dous end troublesome passage of eighteen or TWEEN
lty locks; even calculating upon constant supply
lot water in the locks
As to what B. states to be his most weighty
objections that is the unprotected state OF the mouth
of The canal, by its entrance at Newbod's landing
and the difficulty that would arise from the shoals
THAT, as he says forming along that part Of the
riyer--he is certainly mistaken. ! ackno Wedge
that from Newcastle down into the cove shoals have
formed, but can assert it as fact that from at
least three iourths Of mile above Newbold's whar
Tor the contemplated entrance OF the canal into the
Delaware also down to Reedy points hard
mud batt0m, free from sand; as is stated by b..
and instead Of shoals forming it can be proven by
those who nave resided there, Tor ten years, and
hose who are better acquainted with that shore than
shore than there was ten years ago, and that the
main ship channel Of the river within four or
five hundred yards OF the shore.
And it respects the exposed situation of the
mouth of the canal, there be very little objection
on hat point, the Peapatch and Fort, distant
y about mile, and that directly opposite the
mouth OF the canal, would be safe and good har-
Dor tor the larger vessels -and harbor sufficient
ly large for all the small craft, could be made with
in the mouth of the canal
And as it respects the danger of The Delaware.
from the peapatch to the mouth Of Chrstiana creek
cannot conceive why there should be more danger
IN that distance OF about nine miles han there Isl
from the mouth of Chrstiana up las a boat TO a
void much exposure can run across under the Jer-
sey shore and pass up the river protected by that
shore, from northeast and easterly storms-and Il
would suppose; il boat would venture out OF the
Susquehanna into the Chesapeake bay and from
thence up the Elk river to the mouth of the canal
i'll Back creek, that they would not be afraid OF the
Delaware from the Peapaich Upland 1t is well
known that Back creek will form an excellent har-
Dor for the boats at that end Of the canal much bet
ter than il it were to enter Immediately into Elk
river, which would be the case with a. BIS iayorte
route. Perhaps A. BIS design is for the boats in
their passage through the canal 10 have il in their
power, to avoid the Delaware entirely by discharg
ing their cargo either at Wilmington or Brandy
wine mills.
A. b. also remarks on the Importance there is in
the direction that business takes from the beginning
acknowledge that it is all important but with
out there is permanent and easy channel ior its
passage, it will soon be diverted. This think
would be the case with The canal located on his
route depending upon so weak and uncertain sup.
ply OF water, as the Elk and White Clay creek
would afford, that at certain seasons there would be
uncertainty, and even al times total stop TO trade
through the canal, and consequently loss oil all con
fdence in the communication.
And as to the expense of this great work, one or
two hundred thousand dollars would be of little
sequence in the Dermanent location Of t--and feel