The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-04
An Inland Coast Waterway.

| Senator CHANDLER has introduced into
Congress an important project for the con-
struction Of an interior coast line Of water
| ways extending from Massachusetts, Bay
to the Gulf OF Mexico.
1t would begin by cutting through Cape
Cod at Sandwich 80 gaining sheltered &C
cess to Buzzard's Bay for vessels plying
along the coast Long Island Sound would
afford sufficiently protected approach to
New York harbor. Proceeding thence
through Raritan Bay and the Raritan
River. ship canal would be cut
to the Delaware River, probably deep
ening the canal which already exists
for shallow boats. as this latter is short
and could be utilized. From Delaware
River the route would continue to Delaware
Bay. whence another canal would be cut
across to Chesapeake Bay. also perhaps
utilizing existing conduits. Striking down
Chesapeake Bay. the route would cross
southeastern Virginia and North Carolina
from Norfolk harbor to the Atlantic. south
OF Cape Hatteras. by following either
the Dismal Swamp Canal or the Abe
marie and Chesapeake Canal. or possibly by
digging new one. The series OF sounds
along North Carolina could be utilized, and
next artificial connections would secure a
further sheltered route In interior waters
from Morehead City to Cape Fear River
Then run through the open sea might be
taken. but another series Of sounds and
bays on the southern coast of South Caro-
lima and Georgia would take the route to
Florida. where a long canal would be re-
Quired across the peninsula. Thence the
existing series Of bayous and lagoon could
extend the interior route. II desired. along
the coasts OF Louisiana and Texas almost
or quite to the Rio Grande
The first point to attract attention in this
project Is its enormous cost. which would
mount into scores or even hundreds Of mil
lions. The proposed canals through Cape
Cod. Maryland. aud Florida would alone be
prodigiously expensive. But in order to
suggested that 1t would have inestimable
advantages for the defence OF the seacoast.
As to that point. however there Is proba-
bly, a misapprehension. The value OF such
a waterway on its commercial side is to be
ascertained by computing its probable cost
and Its prospective uses in coastwise navi-
CATION. That is purely business matter,
and from time to time individual links in
the proposed route have been undertaken
as commercial enterprises with private
capital. But 30 far as strategic value IL
the main purpose served would
be that of transferring portions OF the navy
from one port to another. according to the
exigencies OF defence. The vessels of this
sort to be considered are the harbor-dcfence
the battle ships. and the torpedo
boats. AS TO these last. they could he less |
transported by rail. on suit |
able trucks: and astill better plan would |
be to furnish to each port its sup |
ply Of torpedo boats. which arc yes
sells Of small cost. AS to the battle |
shps. their deep draught would not al
low them to pass through the waterways
IN question except at enormous cost for
or dredging them. And besides.
lighting ships are expected not to require
sheltered routes, but are to make their way
'n the open sea and to fight the enemy
wherever found. They are built to defend
,he seaboard. not to seek to be defended by
t. The harbor-defence monitors are of
lighter drau2ht, but in their case also it
would cost less to construct them and lay
hem up In ordinary. one or more for the
iefence of each great port. than to build
his series OF waterways.
Doubtless the coastwise trade might be
Iided in time Of war by shelto rod route.