The New York herald., 1879-11-01
MARYLAND SHIP CANAL.

REPORT OF HON. WILLIAM KIMMEL ON THE
PROPOSED ROUTE OF THE NEW cANAL-ITs
USE IN NAVAL WARFARE AND COMMERCIAL
ADVANTAGES AN APPROPRIATION OF Thirty
SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS NEEDED.
icy TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
BALTIMORE. Oct. 81. 1879.
Hon. William Kimme member of Congress from
the Third district of Maryland has prepared re-
port to the House Committee on Canals and Rail-
ways on the proposed Maryland and Delaware Ship
Canal. Colonel Kimmel was appointed by the COM
mittee to which the matter referred sub
committed ascertain the suitable route for the
proposed canal and its cost From Colonel Craighill
who surveyed and estimated the various routes.
Colonel Kimmel obtained facts and ngures which
to base his report. The report will recommend the
route across the Peninsula leaving the Chesapeake
Bay at Queenstown. Nd. and running across to
Lewes. DEL, dscharging into Delaware Bay five miles
above the Delaware Breakwater. The length of the
canal by this route will be 81 miles. 1t will be 300
feet wide and 25 feet deep. and capable of
enable two of the largest steamships sailing
vessels in tow to pass each other with
ease. There is natural waterway, the
entire line being excavated In to objections
the report states that the canal is to be used by day
night and will have toll charges. 1t is pro-
posed to have no locks other than tide locks The
report recommends an appropriation of $37 OOO 900.
which Is flowing margin or $6.OOO,0O as from
close and authentic calculations it is believed the
canal by the route recommended be built for
$3l 100000. The advantages to foreign commerce
apparent. Vessels bound to any European port
north of the Mediterranean Sea by going through
the canal, 225 miles. which would otherwise be
consumed in sailing down the Chesapeake Bay and
around the capes This would make the trips Of the
regular foreign lines of steamships nearly two days
shorter, and would in similar manner expedite
irregular marine traffic The most important
feature OF the report is that 1t recommends that the
canal be built under the supervision of the War De-
partment to serve the combined objects of harbor
defence and aid to commerce. Colonel Kimmel.
while serving the Naval Committee obtained
idea of harbor defence, which he bases this
part of his report. 1t argues that in the naval
equipment OF this country there should be two
classes of vcssels--one for "harbor Defence" the
other, commerce destroyers." The of the
canal. in of foreign naval war, would be mani
fold. Any vessel which of sufficient size to carry
gun could be utilized in defence Of the coast ad
jacent to the Delaware and Chesapeake bays by
of their ability to retreat from heavy foe
by running into shallow water. Heavy war vessels
could also pass through the canal from
one bay to the other. 1t is shown.
cusively, without further details, that
with the advantages OF the two great bays and the
canal the ports OF Philadelphia, chester, Whining
ton. Baltimore, Washington. Norfolk. Richmond
and adjacent places could be easily protected. 1t
is also shown that in case the outlet to commerce
by way of tie Delaware Bay Is blockaded vessels
from the ports named find egress by way OF the
Chesapeake Bay. Colonel Kimmel feels confident
of success in obtaining the passage Of the measure