American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-12-29
CHESAPEAKE AND DELAWARE CANAL
To the Honorable Richard Rush, SecryIo,u 10 J,
Treasury of the United Sfates = y

The President and Directors Ut the Cbesan..h
and Delaware Canal Company, very resp.e,Imns
submit the following bret statement of The nroasay
and present condition OF the works and ina ~.
do with The greatest satisfaction, as demonsra,u5.
that their labors are at length drawing towards
succ csslul termination
| So much oil the wharf work of the Delaw.,
IIarbor had been directed to be built the nr.,sn,
season, is nearly finished: the south pier is No, vss
filled in but orders have been given 10 have il dons
forthwith. The drudging machine is advantageous.
ly employed in excayating the basin 1t will Short.
ly be removed through the tide lock into the cam,
to be used on the marshes This harbor will n.y.
cessaIily cost much more han if it had been con-.
slructed, originally intended, with banks Of earth
but it will be much more convenient, comn,odiou.
and secure. 1t will enclose an area of about s.y,,
acres.
The Delaware tide lock is finished. I, was fund
that the stone, which entered into lis formation
could not be wrought SO as to make neat ioint
though otherwise very suitable and as The bee,
water cement has been freely used in the eonsruc.
lion OF this lock- doubt can be entertained tina,
it is a substantial, durable piece Of masonry A
stiff clay, we'll pudd.ed outside Of the walls serves
10 give additional security 10 the work.
5 Sec. No. l and 2, are nearly finished A few
Cart loads of alth yet TO be removed and seine
J trifing work done 10 the swivel bridge al Newbods
when this part Of the caral will be completed and
navigabe.
| Sec. No 8. This has been. in some RESPECTS,
the most interesting. troublesome and expensive
. section on the whole line and from the dlfcu.,
which have occurred in the OF lis execution,
has caused much anxiety to the Board. II extends
about three ard hall miles Thu cugh the Cranberry
0 and ST. Georges marshes, from No. 2 10 the lett
: lock. The Engineer IN Chief, in late repor,
says" The ground on this section has generally
, been as bad nature ever formed 10 catiya canal
N e -,
ously indeed TO the excavation Of foot Of earth
and before the route had been finally settled boTiigs
were directed 10 be made here and elsewhere, 10
asc ertan the character OF the eaTth and the Board
i we're led 10 believe that stiff clay prevailed
through all these marshes, 10 considerable depth
brow wha, would be required Tor the bottom Of
& the canal; but as the work went On, and The true
) nature Of the ground was developed, il was seen to
be altogether unh. 10 enter into the construction Of
II the tow-puh no alternative therefore remained,
but TO incur the very heavy expense OF conveying
y solid upland earth from distance, for that purpose.
n The sinking u this heavy material has been very
% great, but in the UNMARRIED opinion Of the Engineer
; in Chief, and other emineny qualified individuals,
70 confirmed by the frequent personal observations
: and Judgment Of the members OF the Board, no
4 other means Of forming sale and durable canal
over these marshes could be pursued The tow
path has at length been carried along The entire
been finished but al very great expenditure Of
y money, and about five hundred thousand cubic
3 yards Of solid earth.
10 The actual contractors were bound TO have COM
ple,ed this section in July last bu, it is probable
y they will not finish il before next spring I'M
late communication from The Engineer in Chief he
,e remark. the subject Of This section. that muh
at has been said about the line being altered from The
$, iginal locstion. do Lot think II has been desa.
pt lt.d mint ri from The
=, ~ plan reported by Mr. Rsndel Many persons have
asserted, and perhaps believe. that by different
p locat Of the line, by cutting off the bale points q
Ne land that put into ihe marshes, the canal woulu
o. have been formed cheaper Alter much examina.
- ton and reflection upon this question oil location,
e perfectly satisfied, that the present location IS
he the best, taking INTO consideration the dfahsRe
its the free vent Of water for the side power II ever
used and The least injury to the country, on account
OF stagnanl water, prejudcial 10 health"
The lock at ST. Georges is going on vell.--lM
excasa alton has been accomplished the piles driven
the hoor laid, and about six feet Of masonry on
both sides finished. 1t is, however, probable lha'
from the near approach OF winter little more eau
n. be done until spring. n
III Sec. No. 4. This section extends from the ll''
all lock at ST. Georges three miles wesiwardy'
" through the mill pond. The embankmen, 70
B. Wilson's Point, is rapidly progressing and LOOKS
II, we'll About mile and fifty three chains OF ,hs
eastern end Of this section have been recently re'
Ii and will probably be finished in May next
IS The residue OF .his section is under contract !"
al other persons whose contracts are also oil very
cent dates.
n, Sec No. ). The eastern DIVISION u 'n's t;f
x Of which, as reported by the engineer in ehl'l,
sc about three hundred thousand cubic yards arc =
nj. to be e1cavated has likewise quite lately gone INV
r. The hands of other who arc proceeomh
he with spirit and good effect he western DIVISION
he OF this section remains in the hands OF the persO',
Ia who originally undertook ii, and who are ,te",
- men. They have also about three hundred WV
ers sand cubic yards OF earth to esca'ate III.
k.;I 49, l.,,G bach fnrg