The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-19
THE MARYLAND SHIp CANAL.
The Various Eou'es Suggested for This
In."ly Revived Eatcrorise.

I.n."ly Revived Enterprise.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 1.-THE project OF cut
ting a waterway between Chesn peake Bay md
Deiaware Bay il u very old one That 1t should
be revived ut the present time. which is cor
tainly not the most favorable FOR an enterprise
so costly. Is u tribute to the expectations
formed OF its success from a business point
OF view. The main object. OF course. Is TO
bring Baltimore nearer tho Transatlantic
steamer route. There would be n very great
saving also in the distance by water ho-
tween Baltimore and Philadelphia: but that
alone might not be sufficient to Justify the
undertaking. although X the project o a ship
canal across New Jersey should ever be car
rled oft the advantage OF the Maryland canal
to Baltimore might then be still greater
At one time It was urged that Congress
should grant n subsidy to this canal on &C.
count OF it's uses as IN interior coast-line de-
fence and the facilities it would afford for
transferring war ships between the Chesa-
peake aud the Delaware Eny according as
either should be tho made the noint OF naval
attack BY an encmy. The answer has been.
however. that 1t would be cheaper and better
for the Government to eSpend money In forth
Tying both bays against attack especially as
tho ends of the canal would have to be pro.
tectcd any way in such plan. Each bay
should be supplied at least with torpedo de-
fences covered by the guns OF powerful forts.
and this could be done at n small rart OF the
cost OF building the canal At all events. the
prospect of the Governments constructing
the canal has long been so faint that its pro-
posed revival at the present time is as COM
mercial enterprise.
Chesapeake Bay and the Delaware River
have for n ore than three score years be en-
connected. as is we'll known. by shallow
I,
reIIers and schocners pass. This canal cost
only S2.22J.OOn and it Is one argument for
Federal appropriation now that one-iitth OF
the whole amount was given by the, United
vunin. roo. 900 by Maryland. S25. GOO hy Della
ware. and the remainder from private sources;
This canal was first operated July !. 49,. and
has ever since been in use.
A little more than twenty years ago the
Maryland ind Delaware shin Canal Company
was chartered. but it accomplished little. 1t
proposed. as was understood to construct II
canal across the peninsula by what is known
Of june Jun eI il. Isas. Authorised a survey Of iIo
peninsula for routes. and such a survey was
made during the latter part Of that year under
the personal supervision OF Mr. \. II. Hutton.
Major ". l.. Craghi.l mnde report ON 1t,
which WAS laid before Congress.
were the Chrrmnk. Wye. Queenstown Centre
vile. Southeast Creek. and Sassafras. This
last was derlared by Mr.. Hutton to be the
Quire the maintenance OF very costly ap-
proRches and also the overcon nc OF very ser-
Gus obstacles il itwns to be used in winter. Tho
Centrevii!c and Queenstown routes were said
to lie the most direct ami tn rank second In
point OF time. hut TO cost much more than
OTHER routes. while also having expensive ap-
rroaches to maintain on The Chesapeake side.
and to be liable, like the Sassatras. to 0bstruc-
rank ed third in time Of transit and second in
point OF chearness. while its especial advan-
tion by ccnnd economy in the maintenance
OF approaches,
con alteration are the Sas.afras. the Choptank:
and n sou,herly one which would start at
some point not far from opposite Baltimore
ware Brea kwnter. thus making the ocean nd
vantagcs the primary ones 10 he considered.
The Sassarns route. sixteen to seventeen
s%Or0.u0O ana tho lime OF transit would be
but fifteen and half hours. Its comparative
would Utilize the Sa-sairas River The Chop
tank. which s the southern route. would be
over thirty-scven miles long. requiring nine;
atriG o the ocean at lewes. 1t has two FORMS
one costing SU,5uOUuO. and the other, which
900 II IL thought that this might lie better
han the Sas-atras route, not only because 1t
T"nd peGndr s MSTn w 'ns Z.
lrss in danger OF block ing by the Ice. The
third route SPOKEN oi above would he about
would cut of much distance. but The question
whether the tolls would nay the interes, on It's
great cost and us mnintema name Is serious
the ohjcrtion Of the ice. perhaps it would
have been selertod Tor its cheapness But
u rs 1 ~ nH sra.Sns lii once n,rod ID s"
into CmngrcsS provided that the canal should |
IS r Feet 'G below moan low water and ia feet
wide ut low water level. with locks 80 By 600 |
fsn IN the Is T 1aai 7u h, for vessels
purely ns n commercial project other measure
Inents might prevail