American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1823-05-06
From the National Gazette.

! In my formergessay, | offered some reasons to-
the opinion, that the interest OF the public at large
and that of Philadelphia in particular, will be sacr'
feed il the Delaware and Chesapeake Canal should
have Its termination our river, so low as the Pea
i Patch
I 1t extraordinary that the advocates Tor this plan
should advance as an argument in favor ofi short
ness in the supply of water from the Elk, and yei
wish to remove the canal from the only sources Of
! abundance which can be depended upon, viz the
Chnstiana, Red Clay, and White Clay Greeks, one
or more oil which, will doubt have to be resorted
ito, as the business OF this important pass increases
There 49, however, stronger objection (f possble)
than any have mentioned, to the route through ST
Georges Marsh and Dragon Neck. But as this
objection lies with equal force against the debouch
ment a, or near New Castle, my present obserya-
tons intended to point this out and to show thai
no other termination OF the Canal than into the
Chrisana river, will answer the public expectation
promote the general interest; meet the Just ami
'cipations OF the citizens OF Philadelphia
In order to demonstrate his position, will OBJ
serve -First--l is well known that from New
Castle ten or twelve miles down the liver, to plac
ION the Delaware shore called Reedy Point, sand
banks or mud fats extend with few exceptons) into
the river from five hundred to fifteen hundred ecl
1t my readers will take The pains to examine maj,
of the Delaware, they will perceive that the line
the shore from New Castle to Reedy point makes a
great curve; from New Castle to the mouth of Red
Lion Greek, 1t runs south-weserly, from thence to
Reedy Point south eastely. Thus forming large
cove or bay, into which the north easterly stores
pour all their strength. independently OF he afor
said banks and flats, ! would ask the intellige
reader, who is in the least acquainted with the force
and duration OF our north-rastery storms. whether
the shores oil such cove or bay can be propet
place tor the Acknowledgement Of a canal will ven
In azc ert hat tbe ~
species OF outlet before him. could hardly fix upo
one SO exceptionable ! Eve rational man as | cnn
celve, il he had no facts before hinr, would upon the
mere ground OF theory reject such scheme Blu
what are the facts Facts preferable 10 theory
but when tacts and theory go hand in hand they
must carry conviction rressllbiy, to every HuDrela
atced mind. Now everv merchant in this lily mu
know, that few years since, ships lay afloa at ans
oil the wharSes at New Castle, and might at tim,
oil tide DC oaded and dtrat, or come to end lis.
charge. Not one OF these wharves can now De ap-
preached by an oyster boat, uhiess The tide n i
The ship Gauges, one oil The largest vessels everl
owned in Philadelphia, took in her cargo at The
wharf now belonging to the roprietos oil the steam
boats this wharr has for several years been aban
doned and bridge extended from it to one OF III, |
piers.
The river, which from New Castle upward.I
tretches about north east course is continually |
making large deposits of sand and auviaI matter |
IN lis western shores. aud below the town this de
oosite forms the vast sand bank fats, that extend
rom the shore OF he cove so far into the river i
informed that the engineer last employed (Mr. Ran |
lel) aware OF this fact, and to obviae the difficulty
proposes by Keeping machine in operation, similar
o ne one used tor cleaning our docks to remove |
ns SAND ana other matter, as it may accumulate ~
wen IN theory this must be immlneny expensive |
1u what IS the iactF ! would request that inquiry
'e made OF those who furnish our city with sand.
Rhether the hole made in taking cargo of this ar
ieie from the sand bank is not completely filed by
ne action OF the succeeding tide Especially /
YOU'D appeal to the gentleman who furnishes floor
AND from Egg Island, whose captain has informed
ne that an excavation made on the beach on load
ng large sIoop, is completely filled by the opera
ION OF one tide, as II only shove-full had beenl
emoVed. The conclusion which forces itself on the
nind 49, that no ma, hne Of human inventions could
possibly preserve the mouth OF the canal Tree from
obstruction.
as there Is no part of the Delaware shore froml
teedy island upwards. so much exposed as fromI
We" Sas'ie TO The Pea Patch there is no part oil
'hat presents such InsuperabIe difficulties to the
of good harbor. By the plan pronosedl
o the board the engineer contempates an ARTIFICIAL
afoor parity III the river and partly in land But
ooK'ng forward only half century, and putting the
distractions and difficulties arising from the sandl
'aF OUT OF the question, how can such harbor ac-
ommodae and protect the vessels that must arrive
here from the Susquehanna and all othe streams,
which are tributary ot the noble Chesapeake as VIII
IS from the canal extending into North ca DINA,
md also those returning from our waters? It NAV
'e supposed that the New Castle peers viii protect
hem but the hope is vain. assert il as fac,.
shch VIII be suosanIiated by the masters OF all he
essels trading IN our rive that these piers are M,
'of ever nave been considered safe harbor Tor bay
rai in Cases OF neces it, they pass direct by. and
eek shelter and safety where they always find
he m lin the Christiana.
Secondly,-I will now state some reasons tina,
ppear to me conclusive, in favor of connet mo H.
proposed canal with the ChrIstiana ,oLo /, ~