American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1823-07-22
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- Mr. WILsoN.-ln your paper OF me ION per
ceiye that A. H. has made his second appearance
on the subject of the Chesapeake and Delaware Ca
nal Ibis first under the signature of Y 4. would
have Leen noticed il it had contained one single ar
gument in support of his q" deep cur scheme, and
although his second is equally destitute OF sound
reasoning, yet least he should suppose his essays
upanswerable by suffering them to pass unnoticed
| shall, as briefly possible, present lew facts
for consideration without having " devoted more
than usual attention to it," and at the same time
being free from any individual interest or local pre-
JUDGES.
In attempting to satisfy the objections to the en-
trance Of the anal INTO the DeaW are this writer
tells US that a circular basin is TO be constructed,
containing Z" 40 or so acres, one half OF which
tends the river, and presents to the force OF the
tide convex surface" sc. ! should think that a
basin Of these dimensions would not easily" salts
fy objections being able to discover the oh eci
Of it, should have been pleased had Il. taied
it, 1t will not be pretended that this basin will form
harbor for the vessels, &c. that navigate the ca
nal although possessing the cGpaciOaS area OF 40
or so acres!! Had this content been multiplied by
ten it would still be harbor much too small to pro-
tect the navigation oil the canal. But " every per-
son knows that strong and straight current OF wa
ter passing, there can be no alluvon deposite.' -
Here again A Z should inform US how I" strong
and straight current of water can flow into a cir
cula basin, keeping always in right line. Not
having devoted more than usual attention to- this
subject, have not the advantages OF A. ~ reflec-
ton 70 boast OF, but It appears TO me thatthis ca
7,aci3uS basin will create eddies that will bring into
ii such quantities Of allusion, as in very short time
Notwithstanding its ectent, will fill it Upon lit
tie more attention fancy A. Il. will not contend
that the extension Of stone walls several hundred
feet into the Delaware will prevent or lessen the
accumulation Of mud sand and the consequent
formation OF ,haals-for upon this hypothesis, the
erection OF piers at Newcastle, should have deep
ened the channel near them and the wharyes at that
place, ought now to accommodate our "a gun
ships-whereas the very reverse is the fact, and
the wharves, viii h the largest ships could for.
1neil4 approach, will not admit an oyster boat
except al high water
Bu leaving A. 4. tor the present, will call your
attention, Mr.. Editor, 20 few other circumstances
CONNECTED with the projected thorough" There
are four and one quarter miles oil high lands to be
cut through on this route, averaging So feet above
high water mark, and one mile of this distance is
more than 70 feet above the level of the tide In
cutting through this high ground it is evident thai
the slope on each side must be al very small angel
with the horizon for if this be not the case and
the sides OF the canal. perinted 10 be compa-
rayely steep, it may be safely asserted that he eff.
feet OF one winters frost will completely fiji the ca
nal with the dir forced from IFS Sides believe il
VIII Oe admitted by evelv practical engineer that in
making canal, there ae but few soils. that will al
low the angle of elevation oil the sides or slopes 10
De greater than go from the horizon. Let US now
see how much it will cost to remove the earth, not
by wheel so feet in diameter, nor by tapping quick
sand WITH tubes; these projects too wild for the
sob. sense OF the present day-but by referring 10
the only practical mode viz. that of digging
auppo the canal has to pass through the high
lands - miles-the depth ofthe cut As feet, and
IL Ieet wide Al bottom then take the angle al what
1t will have to be, $50 from the horizon tie whole
mass OF earth'to be removed, will be 6619 800 Gu
Die yards AID which it famed out at 10 cts per yad
VIII cost S5ol 980-a sum nearly equal TO the whole
capital and leaving every other part Of the work
untouched, VIZ. nearly Is miles OF canal two tide
locks and the basin on the Delaware shore This
oaslh IS estlliaedby some to cost 8l00,000-but I'M
The sounde' Judgment OF competent engineers and
practical workmeD, II cannot be completed for less
than go 70 100000 You perceive by the calcula
ton above hal have estimated the removal of the
dlit at 10 cts per cubic yard--but every man viii
see at once that It IS impossible to dig As feet deep
and remove the dirt at this price. Can we pet a
Cellar dug iot less Man doubLs this sum But in or
der to illustrate his part of my subject, will brief
" exhibit the estimate OF b. Ii. Latrobe, as stated
~ Er' Glpln's memoir His calculations are for
cana' 90 feet wide at the water line, 70 feet deep
&o5 eet wide at top and one mile in length. and the
estimated cost OF digging is S880,O0O--but the
o'a'eNheh1 ABOVE IS 2 teet wide at the water line and
jor one tnlIt at least it must be go feet deem and
~ feet wide at top and will of course cost about
81 per cent more than that of Mr.. Latrobe-ihus
masking me mt'e only Of the Thorough Cot" stand
al ? 'o2o'oOo-ahd 10 use the language of that ex-
Pe'eHSed engineer - one mile would more than ex-
haust he whole capital Of the CON any The diff
Iet7nce IN these Two statements arises from this cir
cams'ance. Mr.. Latrobe very reasonably estimates
the removal OF cubic yard Of earth at so cents i
isast am fully persuaded the good sense OF the
ol'ectorsw save Us from the delusion of this scheme
ou' we ave NFther told that this deep cut'' plan
con'emPiates the canal to be 10 Ieet deem. brIow