American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-06-20

exclusively. And f1rSt, shall note that there ar
reasons for surprising that great difficulties will oc
cur in carrying the canal through the ST. George
marsh although the contractors affect to speak ligh
of those they have met with. aud may yet ind Cant
that for obvious reasons) Yet if it shall eventual
ly be discovered that the solid bottom is at SO to II
feet below the surface it will be easily conceived tina
vas, quantity of earth must be laid upon the tov
ing paths, before they pressed do,0a to that sol
id bottom and until such is the it is not easy
TO see how the canal is TO be made nasigabe, while
the towing paths are continually sinking and pres
sing the contents of the marsh into the canat-which
il is understood is the case, il is at present
said that the mud IN the canal is in many places
pressed abore the original surface OF the marsh, aud
The towing paths are sunk until their surface has
become almost impossible in many places for carts
and horses.
That the bottom of the marsh may be at serenity
feet below the surface, am induced 10 suppose,
from the circumstance of the Government oil the
United States being obliged go to That depth with
their acel upon the " Pea Patch" opposite the mouth
Of the CANAL before they could reach any thing of
solid nature. The ravne in which the St Georges
marsh IS locaed--the writer conjectures was form
ed by the wash OF the country in successive ages
and will eventually be found 10 have been CARR,
down as low at least as the bottom Of the Uelauare
and afterwards filled up by the rubbish Of that river
II may be well now to notice the harbor to be
fnished-and Tor which the managers chose to
abandon the Chrisana- than which there is not an
equal harbnr the west side of the river from its
Cape to Philadelphia.
The artificial harbor or basin is to be formed in The
DetaNare. where the river is deep and about mile
and quarter vide, and below where 1t is near six
times the width it is believed In this situation, be-
sides the impulse OF a strong tide eb6 and food
that it will be subject TO, il must sustain the power
ppiIe hy ipbc
east aud northwest, as we'll as the drift of prodi
glous bodies of ice in the winter season, and
which scarcely any thing human can Withstand. - /
But IN addition to these, there is equally power
iu but silent enemy in the sediment of the river that
has formed the island opposite 10 less than single |
age-as The writer recoIlect when 1t had no ex (
stance abOre mater.
As we have now disposed of the lighter objections
10 this location, let US look to the deep cutting
such an attempt as has not been made in the fine.
rcaS except in Mexico, for draining the waters off
that clty--and its length is not great by some
bstes--though it IS said to have cost millions of
dollars, and the lives of many thousands Of Indians
"Ao were employed in the labor.
AT present the deepest cutting has gone down
ariy feet and they have yet hrtyto co. the mat.
FER now removing is sand so black that some of
the writer's friends who visited the canal, called it
mud-this however seems to be mistake, as have
is engaged in removing that article and he says
absolutely is sand although very black. have felt
q considerable apprehension that the oocer stratum
to be removed, will absolutely be mud of G. 8. or
10 ieet deep, perhaps more; and this seems in
degree TO be proceed by the color Of the sand that
has been menoned---as il is reasonable to suppose
that the agitation Of the water lrhile these strata
mere forming, had mingled the mud and sand to t
gether and if it will account for the color of
He snnd aforesaid If such has really been the a
case and it shall be found that the last stratum to
DC taken out Of the canal, is mud Of only ten feet
deep, land on the Pea Patch il was 20 feet and un
IItr the S.. Georges marshes it may be 60 feet
1eep il is worth while to inquire what is likely to
h the consequence of discovering such body
ri mud lying under the banks oil the canal, loaded
las they are by the prudigious weight OF earth pres
sng from above. Can it be supposed that this mud
will be in quipscpM state with such weight rest. !
Tag upon it Is il not reasonable to suppose :
ma, SO the black sand that now rests apon
az, IS removed, that the pressure OF the sides will :
force the mud into the canal, in which il will con .
hur 10 rise, until the banks obtain such inclna
ion inleam hat they will slide toward each other
ia both sides meet and shut up The canal wholly ,
II this should prove to be the case it would seem :
as i il would put stop to he project wholly--but
perhaps not, there is another plan worthy Of such
Caring projectors--by which, instead of canal :
They may have rtrer; but this | reserve until it !,
s ascertained whether Peninsula is based upon =,
aud, or upon black sand. neither of which il will ,
be admitted very secure foundations. The di ,
feetots have however, in this business acted in such
hSnntT az 10 merit some disappointment of their .
.iphbiown hopcs-as will perhaps appear from =
what follows. line for the canal on The upper route
was explored and located BY the company first .
Termed to execute this canal. Property was also I,
purchased to considerable amount, with rights OF :
water. al heavy expense: a feeder also, to bring
he water so purchased TO The canal was nearly ex-
ecuted, ard some heavy debts incurred for which :,
dae bills were issued, on which money was adyan. '