The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-13
CONFEDERATION OF OUR COAST.
Limited Chain Of Works Necessary to
Complete the Route.
ADVANTAGES IN PEACE AND WAR.
The Battle Of Rival Links Before the
National Legislature.
MOVEMENT OF CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES
WASHINGTON, May IL,

MUILMENI UT UUNuhENNlUNhu UUMMlIIEEN
WASHINGTON, May II. 1878.
Two propositions are before Congress directly
and the other indirectly-for the construction OF
ship canal parallel with and the Atlantic coast
capable Of enabling vessels OF and bodies Of men
10 be thrown from ono point to another beyond the
reach OF both the vcsstudss Of tho and the inter-
ference hostile feet AS will be seen By what is
told further on the CONGREGATION OF coast permits
the creation OF interior water way extending from
Boston to the Gulf Of Mexico by which an army and
navy could both be moved up ana down from one
place TO tho anticipate and reps inc attack
descent Of any hostile force approaching from the
Atlantic Ocean. The chain OF works to accomplish all
this begins with short canal to connect Cape Cod
Bay with Long island SOUND whence inside commune
cation already exists far south the Cape Fear
River BY means Of the Raritsn Delaware bays and
canal, the Delaware and Chesapeake Canal, Chssa-
peaks Bay, Elizabeth RIVER and finally the sounds OF
North Carolina glance at the map shows, extend
Ing all the way down the coast from Cape Hateras.
series Of narrow lagoons capable by easy dredging
and IN occasional easy cut or canal, Of being made
continuous water way and prolongation Of the exist
Ing system, which would allow vessel 20 pass from
Cape Cod 10 New Orleans without ever entering the
Atlantic Ocean.
INSPECTION
Since the dreadful disasters involved In the loss Of
The steamers Huron and Metropolis tho attention Of
Congress has bcsn called afrssh TO tho Importance OF
such channel OF internal communication, and, In
pursuance OF invitations extended by certain reading
citizens OF Norfolk interested In the accomplishm
OF the project the Secretary OF the Navy and repre-
beatatives OF the committees on Commerce, Canals
and Naval Affairs were 10 proceed 10 Norfolk,
and thence 10 the SQUADS OF North Carolina,
TO inspect scene aud connections OF the Dismal
Swamp and the Abemare and Chesapeake canals
which form part Of the proposed grand ship canal.
Outside Of the military and naval character
Of tho proposed water way ths attention Of Congress
has been invited the ~ Of such interior
channel OF communication - Adding out TO our ex-
tene'v" cossting marine practicable for all pur
poses Of the coas,iug trade, and insuring II sale
transit from New England 10 the Gulf without Running
the risk Of the Jersey and North Carolina capes
EAkLY REPORT.
This subject has attracted attention from an carly
period OF our history AS early IA 1907 report OF The
ol that year. contained tho foll0wfng:-
The map the United States w they possess
na .isIs from storm: and
extremity 81 us"rs.. !; prasipniy not solely inter-
q. Harlan % D.sval. me psnin.S. osiyssa
which divides the Chesapeake from Absmare sound il
81 ~ sss
aud canal also believed 20 be pracsicabe. not. per-
haIbor 81 Boston to .h.t q Rhode Island.
srn about wen.y.wo miles length making altogether
vessel entering the first canal in the h.rbor Of
sHs srosr q Now YORK. reach Bia".wsH on
rens.n on the ao that river 10 ussns
or swe.stis sus through the tniId canal 70 Elk iver
s INA woad Sy The fourth ss
North Ca-olina from the last place tho
aggssuahs ana BY cutting
sssner Cape Diver ANA ,henee BY AZ open but
short and direct along the soas: tina. chain
tion connuedto stelays, along the coast Of south
ments on tue utility Of tue WORK in poses o. Tor tho
OF merchandise or the conveyance Of
On another page or the report is tho follow
ing
Tho shortest Communication between tho Chesapeake
Of the tide OF North !vssp ivsr which empties Into
marie either ksmpsvio Great Bridge of
te tide Of two different branches Of the south branch OF
Hampton Roads with james River Ches .psake.
said to Do favorable.
FACTS AccoxPLIsHKD
iurtncr examination Of the records for tho pur-
pose OF seeing what lines were projected and carried
shows the following canals having bcen built
Beginning AZ The port vi New York. Delaware and
Rritan Canal forty-tnrco miles In iength, unes that
port with Phaacpnia on the Delaware. and tho Ches-
apcako and delaware Canal, fourteen miles long,
which the Delaware River Win the chesapeake
Bay. Proceeding down the Day TO Norfolk tho canal
routo Is Resumed by two canals different routes
Aibemarie Sound, one, tho Dismal swamp Vauai,
twcntynne miles long, ana with sevon locks, and tho
other tho Abemarlo aud Chesapeake Canal, fourteen
miles, with one lock. All the along the coast,
locks OF Uniform length-viz, DO ieet vbio tnose Of
Lhe Dismal swamp Canal are ninety Jour iceL IL 10
less 30 ieel long, "A iect and drawing not
exceeding sovca cet of waor can 70 BY tue inland
route IRON Now YORK TO Painco sound.
The last Congress authorised q survey TO DO made
with WOW oi extending even this long line OF inter-
navigation still iurtncr southwark, ana report
made BY General A. A. Humphreys, Chief OF Engi-
ncsrs, United States Army he assigned the duty to
Colonel S. T. Albert United States Civl Engineer Tho
latter officers report Is IN elaborate anu interesting
paper, giving the result Of his survey OF two possible
Fl. foutes-namsly, one beginning ~ Bannermans
BRUCE. on tho northwest branch OF tho Cape Fear
River, and passing near Unsiow Court ouse an Ter
minatipg Al Siocum's Greek, three niles IRON the
Neuse River, anu tho other route called the line,
following Tho sounds and shallow wators from Beau
lort, N. u, 10 the Cape Foar along the coast.
COLONEL ABERr's REPORT
Colonel Abort says that except between the Neusc
and tho Cape Fear rivers and between the Cape Fear
Ind Waccamaw rivers (niIysix and half miles) and
between Wnxan Bay and the Great Pee-Dco River
iforty .lye miIes) nature has already established n
navisable channel These breaks ~ The limo are tho
Only obstacles TO continuous navigation between
ahd Erie Canal from New YORK Bay. Toe CONNER
oral advantages, ho says, VI such accommodation are
undoubtedly great anu must grow 10 Importance with
the growth VI the country
But he says again, 10 q defensive measure and
means vi transporting troops provisions und maicri
ais OF war, tho advantages of such CON unicaton
cannot be overcstImatsd.
Mr. Marshall Parks, President OF tho Aibemaris and
Chesapeake Canal Company, 10 now IN Washing ton,
aud has presented to Congress memorial setting
forth plan which offers line Of Interior navigation
for vessels less than one thousand burden from
Norfolk 10 Beaufort ". y. his line be proposes 10
extend 10 Florida by connectng the natural streams
by short canas, should Congress w,sh W suthorze
construct,on. lie says that the wants OF commerce
would not yet JUSTLY even tho expenditure Of the
small amounts nccessnry tor us construction
vate enterprise but Tor military aud naval purposes
IL viii oaer times oil peace chan mel for
torpedo boats aud light draught MONITORS FREQ from tho
dangers OF the coast.
CONGRESSIONAL AID WANTED.
The two propositions Tor Congressional aid Tor this
project embrace the rival Virginia canals already
SPOKEN oi-namsiy. the Dismal swamp Canal aud the
Abcmaris and Ohesapeaxc canals. tho D,smal swamp
Canal owned " the extent OF twonths capital
stock w the United States. Another two-niths,
originally held by State Of Virginia, sold
80, ,ou 900 and hong In inc nriyaia