American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1827-07-20

|
by which il has been attempted to support tSs ,'S
In pursuance Of authority vested in them bv q.
Stockholders, the board opened loan for ss one
dollars, on the tn day of Jul last; and ano.'v
for 100000 dollars on the 9th day Of January ON.
ceedlng and they have the satisfaction to s,y. f'.,
both these loans we're Immediately taken, on torm
believed to be advantageous to the borrowers ,Dd
the lenders the latter having the privilege, within
u given period, of converting these loans into soc
OF the company.
The receipts and disbursements of the last yea,
together with the present state Of the finances n
the company, may be seen by an examination #
the treasurer's accounts, herewith submitted.
AS the expenditures will considerably exceed
the estimate Of the examining engineers, il becom,
proper to notice some of the more prominent cuu,s,
OF that excess.
| The stouing of the entire slope under the SIM.
nit bridge. for the greater security of that cersu
structure, formed no part OF the original estimate
We're it deemed prudent 10 postpone that lob until
the opening of the canal should admit Of the mate
rails being conveyed by water, the expense woula
Of course be diminished but ms is unwise to trus
to contingencies the stone has been ordered Up BY
land, and is now carting to the summit
An item Of greater magnitude will be found in
the necessity which seems to exist for cartinc. in
like manner, the stone required to line tile sides If
the canal at the deep cut. The propricty of Iii.
measure cannot be doubted there appearing to
he no other equally effectua and practicable method
Of conquering the slips and quicksands; and &C.
cordngy. directions have been given to place
substantial stone wall Mt the bottom line in such
manner that the labour Of the mason NAV iorthvt
succeed tina: of the cxcavator. These slips and
qucksands present no objects OF serious alarm
the board; the, are Of no great extent and doubt
does not exist That they will readily yield to The
remedy proposed.
Expenses and losscs to no small amount have
been suffered, through the unfalthiulness and fall
ure of certain of the contractors.
The locks will cost upwards of 10000 dollars
more than the estimate, IN consequence principally
of their increased dimensions, to accommodate lie
bay craft.
!, The change made in the construction Of the Del.
aware Ilarbor, 10 render it extensively useful
and secure. BY the substitution Of solid wharf work
for eal then banks, will Of course in, olive additional
expense.
Tie Board has Likewise been compelled to pur
chase more land, and to pay more Tor it, than wac
at first app,chcndcd.
But the most considerable expense Of all has been
incurred on the marshes. II has been asceitaned
that this excess Of expenditure on this part Of the
work. will be more than 200,o00 dollars Thisey
cess is not, however. wholly attributable to the silk
ing OF the banks The original plan limited these
banks to the elevation Of twelve feet above the bot.
tom Of the canal but their actual height is fifteen
feet. The advantages of this addition are many,
Some Of them noticed in another part of this re-
port: to which may be subjoincd, that this very in.
crease is il Itself security to the banks, and will
guard the surrounding country from the evil effects
Of sudden swels and overIlowings Of the tide for
should the tide lock at any time be carclessly lf't
f open by The keeper, or meet with accident, It is
apparent. that with spring-tde OF thirteen iee
and banks oil twelve feet, the fiat country along the
line ct the canal would he inundated, and the bahks
themselves greatly abraded, if not swept away
and il has been discovered, since the commence.
ment Of the work, that the tides have occasionally
risen to the height OF twelve feet nine inches and
in one instance TO thirteen feet above tic bottom
line Of the canal. Hanks OF less than fifteen f.
will therefore neither answer the purposes Of the
company, nor give TO the nci.hborins inhabitants
that security to which they are entitled, and which
IS the desire Of the board TO assure to them. This
addtional head will add much to the water pow.
or OF the company. should ii become necessary lere
alter to use that power to pump water into tic
summit level at ST. Georges, TO save lockase water
there.
1t cannot be otherwise than interesting to the
friends and patrons of this great work. to state
another fact, not generally understood. me
whole line OF the canal has been constructed WIN
view TO the retention of ten feet OF water, IN
stead OF eight feet, originally planned and re.
ported, All the locks are built in conformity g
this magnificent scale. The Chesapeake and Der,
aware Canal is. therefore, canal OF ten lee!
depth of water.
i 1t must also be u the stockholders an interesting
object Of inquiry, to ascertain in what degree t'ey
may reasonably expect to be remuncratcd tor Tue
employment Of their time aud capital.
On this subject, it may be remal kcd, in the FIRST
place, that there now three lines OF packets
exclusive OF steamboats,, connected with the az
rect overland transportation 0! merchandise, DC
tween Philadelphia and Baltimore alone. viz. one
by way Of Wilmington, one by Newcastle ano