Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-03-14
rns AssA WOMAN CANAL.


Ibe Ray.
Editor Gazette d. Journal: was some
what surprised in looking over your
paper of Thursday last TO see In the
account OF legislative proceedings that
bill appropriating ST. 500 for the Della
ware Bay and AssRwoman Canal had
passed tho House.
You state further that the above route
is to be by way OF Lewes creek II
seems strange that body Of men such
as compose the House should have passed
bill which is Objectionable to all per-
SONS interested, except the residents OF
Iewes. In fact, as the bill now stands,
no one else vou!d be benefited even II
such route as you speak of, should be
possible. do not think Mr.. Maull can
find IL men who are 81 years of age
men who hsTeresided along said route for
number OF years and who are acquainted
with Lewes creek, its changeful nature
and the difficulty OF keeping IL open
| lowing to constant drift of sand from
the beach on the seward side)-who will
say that canal by way OF Lewes creek
could be kept open for two years, and,
there are very grave doubts, owing to the
quieksands, as to the possibility of aaid
route.
II 10 generally understood that canals
are for the purpose of opening up Sec
ton of country which otherwise is unoon-
nected with markets, to benefit the
farmers and land owners of o certain
district.
4 Mr.. Maull certainly has not the large
land owners nor the majority of them
with him, not even 10 Lswes and Reno
both, his own hundred, not speaking of
4 nd hfIs
which can be and should be benefited by
another and much more feasible route.
The route by WHY of Lewts creek has
never been selected by the United States
government and how can our Legislature
appropriate money for route which has
never been selectedp They do not know
whether the right OF way will cost 8 l 500
or $5, 600. The Senate should call halt
on ouch appropriations until they find
out what the people want and should see
that the money goes where the majority
want 1t and where the principle, "the
greatest good for the greatest number" Is
exemplified.
There is route shorter than the one
via Lewes oreek, and through section
of country much needing it, where there
10 no more 200 yards of upland cutting
and the peopls owning that land willing
to give the right of way, while land
owners along the Lewes creek ro0te will
demand damage and If Mr.. Maull says
there Is only one mile of upland cutting by
the latter route, no can get about 900 feet
more In mile than men we'll acquainted
with the route can. The above route
will benefit more than four times the area
Of the Lswes creek route. including the
three hundreds of Lewes and Rehoboth,
Indian River and Broadkiln. speak Of
Love creek route, which follows the
boundaries Of the three above mentioned
hundreds aud which strikes the Delaware
Bay at Green Bank, crossing the Lewes
creek at the mouth of the Canary creek,
just north OF the town limits.
cast no blame on Mr.. Maui nor any
Of his fellow members but, why could
not this bill, which is of interest to the
inhabitants of q large part Of Sussex
county ard which involves the improve
ment Of thousands of acres of land, be
printed and distributed, so that those in
terested might have some idea of the
steps being taken, instead of being kept
in the dark, and Micawber- like, waiting
for something to turn up"
, On the Love creek route there are be.
tween so and 60 farms, ranging in size
from 100 to 400 acres, while there are
not more than "baker's DOZEN on tbs
!. Lewes creek route, and ID joins only the
marsh land of half of theEe.
! hope it is not too late for our farmers
, to be heard aud for the Legislature TO be.
come better informed and take steps In
the right direction. have understood
[snd by the way, from citizens of Lewes
= who acknowledge Love creek route to b,
the route, although, of course, they
! wished the canal to be by way of Lewe
: creek) that Captain Dsssy, ex.member O
. the House, and who was the origina
!. champion of this canal, favored the Low,
: creek route in preference to the Lewe
: creek route, as he thought the latte
. might not prove a success.
i. March 9Th, 1889. SUSSEX FARMER.