Middletown transcript., 1875-01-02

Ill q, 1919
For Tie Transcript-
Maryland and Delaware Ship Canal
Mr.. EDIroR I'm your issue Of the
18th inst. there is an admirably writ
ten article from the pen Of our old friend
Samuel Townsend. in reference to the
proposed Ship Canal across the penin-
sula, as an answer to letter on the
same subject from the Hon. r. John
son. Though given in his usual happy
style, he certainly shows up the picture
with great faithfulness. Mr.. 7. might
have added to the list Of obstacles IN
the construction Of such a gigantic work
that Of the mud and sand flats on the
Delaware Bay, though last not BY any
means the least Of them in fact they
are the most formidable of them all.
From Reedy Island 10 Cape Henlopen.
there exists line Of these shoals or
bars running out from the shore line
the distance of mile or more and in
NO place less than 200 yards. with .
depth of water from foot to ten or
twelve feet at mean tide. As early %
1857, the subject Of cross cat canal
was talked Of and number Of surveys
made, the FIRST from Duck creek to the
head Of Chester river. In 1859 state
ment was presented to a. committee Of
Philadelphia merchants. and followed
by survey with remarks upon another
route from Bohemia river to the Appo.
quininiuk creek after this the Elk
river route was surveyed. From the
surveys made, some thirteen in al, |
think the present canal route was
adopted as the best and most economi-
cal Of construction, especially on ac-
count Of the deep water to be had on
the Delaware front. All the company
reports l have with maps and surveys,
also excerpts 10 reference to the several
surveys, these include the Chester. river
and Sassafras river routes. the oEec-
tions made to-these being that the arti-
6cisl cutting vas too long, az incseass
Of end Is miles respectively overAthe
present canal, and without in any great
degree lessening the depth Of the deep
outing or prism. thus: Chesapeake
& Delaware Canal, length IA miles,
deep cutting 3 milee long and 76 feet
deep to water surface Sassafras route,
length Is niles. deep cutting II miles
long and 72 feet deep to water surface !;
Chester river route. length S5 miles,
deep cutting Fl miles long and 81 feet
deep to water surface.
From the 5 or 6 surveys mdde in
1922 by the present company. the most
eligible route was that from Back Greek
to point on the Delaware opposite the
present Fort Delaware on the pea
Patch" island.
To insure the uniform depth Of Is
feet, as proposed for the new canal, the
river must be drsdged out for the dis
tapes Iof more than mile from the
shore line and Kept open the year
through, or, in lieu Of this, two enor-
nous piers must be constructed extend
ing out the same distance to protect the
artificial water way. The cost ef<such
would be equal to the cost of the pre-
sent Chesapeake & Delaware Canal,
nearly 81. .600.0 Mr.. T. has not
called attention to the continued yearly
trouble and anxiety sntailed upon the
present Canal Company, in keeping the
deep cut in good navigable condition,
and for vessels drawing 9 feet Of water.
The original prism as I have stated
being 76 feet to the sater surface, add
to this 80 feet Of sspoil bank" banks
formed on each side Of earth carted from
the original cutting. and add the depth
of water in canal 10 feet. We have .
total Of 116 feet in height from the
bottom Of canal to top Of banks or coon-
try surface. The prism Of the canal
proper is 66 feet at surface, As feet at
bottom. and in some portions Of the
deep cut $50 feet across at the top.
In order to obtain the Is feet depth Of
water, and width Of 100 feet water sur
face it would require as Mr.. T. OBJ
serves, at least 1000 to 1900 feet width,
in my opinion very much more. unless
protected by heavy whar6ng on each
side Of the canal prism for the whole
underlying strata is in a. treacherous
condition, composed as it is oil. peat
mud and quick sands all down the great
back bone ridge Of the States.
Probably no canal in this country
has had SO many obstacles to contend
with as the Chesapeake & Delaware
Canal. The same Typographical diff
culties extend down the Peninsula, only
becoming more difficult of management
the farther south you 60. There is
but one way to meet the question which
has been raised in our sister city of
Baltimore for its seaward bound ton
mage. that Of making the present canal
Of such capacity as will pass all the
freight in large class steam vessels. 1t
is probable that not more than 100
large steamers 60 and return between
Europe and Baltimore during any one
year. As for making through cut from
bay to bay, it cannot be done. there
must be one or more locks to any canal
between the bays But why spend
$40, 900. 900 for new canal, when the
enlargement Of the present one would
cost but $4,000, 900? 1t can be SO en-.
larged without obstruction to naviga=
tion Of single day. Construct one
lock at the mouth Of Back Creek and
one at Chesapeake City. also at St.
Georges and Delaware City. thus max
ing two tide levels and one summit
level. The requisite depth of water
can be obtained by raising the present
level surface 2 or 3 feet and dredge 10
or IL feet below the bottom Of present
canal.