Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-02-06

foot to five or six feet. From all tho surveys
made Give sia } In 1922, the most eligible and
economical route was selected By the present com 4
pany the only deep water found close in shore
being within distance of eight miles trsm Reedy
Island. near Port Penn, TO a short distai,ce above
Delaware CITY. The foregoing is short history
OF the cana routes across the peninsula Of Mary
land and Delaware, running through period OF
some Rfiy-sIx years, from 1767 to 1923. Since the
completion OF The present canal, la lSaQ lhe ton
mage OF Its merchandise, and the mum Der Of vessels
aud STEAMERS have ever been on the increase, sub
iect TO interruptions Of trade by slips In the deep
cut, however, ut times, which have caused much
expense and d. lay. The time was when vessels
navigating the present canal were If forty fifty
tons capacity ana the average rates Of tolls recev
ed are tour cents per ton per mile and expense OF
moving SAID tonnage two and half cents per ton
per mile. Frum year to year the tonnage Of all
Kinds OF merchandise increased, large vessels were
constructed, an the rate OF toll charge decreased,
until 1855 new aud enlarged locks had to be made,
demanded by the necessities of the conIneIc Icial in
te rest aud pow at this time the yearly tonnage is
about 100000 net tons with average rate Of toll
receipts Of eighteen mills per ton per mile, aud
the cost Of moving the same, and one-half
mills per ton per mile During the past few years
the tonnage capacity Of vessels and steamers con-
tinues to increase, aud the demand has again been
made for enlarged capacity and facilities for pas
sage oil merchandise. AS iu the past, so now, the
demand must be satisfied either by an enlargement
OF the present canal route or the construction OF
new aud enlarged canal fof the passage of vessels
and steamers. u+|
This, therefore, is the form of The demand made
by the commercial in erests Of our seaboard CEN
tres. especially 30 from the city OF Baltimore
with its yearly increase of export and import tom
mage, it needs more direct water route to its east
ern home and foIeign markets. Give us larger
vessels and moro rapid and direct transit for our
merchandise in the city. Maryland has passed an
act tor the construction OF canal across the PEN
insula, TO the Delaware State line. Delaware has
aln PlniNr
strictions and conditions, over her portion of ter
ritory TO the Maryland State line, each of these
charters giving privileges widely differing In value
TO those most interested in them Why the grant
ing fsuch chauers, or rather the proposed con
structlon of o costly work, are questions not easy
of solution, inasmuoh perfect water comiuuni-
cation now exists between the two bays, and only
needs the proper enlargement at u cost OF about
81 600 900 to make it OF capacity TO pass the laI
gest class vessels or steamers-in W ord, ship
canal.
Two routes for ship canal have been proposed
south OF the present canal, but the one now in
has cost about a .000. 900, and 5000 900 are
necessary TO be expended TO make 1t of requisite
size, it is presumabe that any other similar WORK
increasing in length, as it necessarily musf The
farther down the peninsula 1t is located, would
cost at least the ($6 0000 000) or more In the
next place. as the artificial navigation increases IN
length will the time for the passage OF vessel;
| or steamers through Ii be increased, and though
the natural water Communication adj Dining there
to be shortened III a corresponding degree, still the
time is in favor ii the shortest ARTIFICIAL cur, tht
| average time for passing through the canal eeiue
from three to four miles per hour, the distance
| fourteen miles, and the time by steamer on the
bays or river being about ten to twelve miles pei
| hour.
From Baltimore to Cape May, via Chesapeake
and Delaware Canal, the distance is l20 miles, IL
of which Is artificial cutting; VIA the proposed
route of Sassafras river to Appoquinmink creek
Il 10 miles south Of Delaware City, the Distance !;
1 10 miles, with 20 miles of artificial cutting and
with very shoal water on the Delaware sids
for a long distance out from shore. Where hmt
is gained in the miles shorter distance OF natu
raj navigation, 1t is lost in the six mile OF increas
ed artificial canal. In fact, there is nothing gain
ed but much to be lost-millions OF capital WI
any one invest in such project, with rivel par
! allel to and only lew miles from ltf shoult
the present canal be enlarged to ship canal, Will
locks of $50 10 400 feet in length, and an average
depth Of water to pass the largest steamers ant
vessels, the millions Of tons Of merchandise nov
yearly seeking the Eastern markets, by way OF TN
Chesapeake Bay and Cape Charles, from baiti
, more, would then pass almost directly EASTWARD
tue l20 miles across the States Of Maryland an'
Delawsrs 10 market at a saving of three hun
! dred miles. So likewise south from Philadelphia
8 to Baltimore, and points on the Chesapeake bay
| The revenue TO be derived from such tonnage
say at i've mills per ton per mils-would secur
the interest any necessary expenditure requires
G for the enlai cement One improvement natural
begets another The collier system for the Cum
| berlapd coal would follow, bearing to Easter
ports the immense production of those mines, par
y of which now seeks a market through the prese0
{ canals in steam -towed barges. Colers OF l,5O
: tons capacity would multiply, until from yearl
tonnage of COO 900 tons the increase would be
millons, and at such rates OF toll charge as 10 e1
clude the expenditure OF the millions OF capital l
the construction of a ship canal south of the on
now existing. Pro BONO PUBLlco.
|