Democratic messenger., 1894-08-18
The Inland Waterway.
POCOMOKE RIVER ROUTE
BY SNOW HILL.
THE SHIP CANAL.
Proposed ROutes-O Highly
Commended by II Govern
mcnt Engineer.

proposed Canals ON the Peninsula y
is the subject of an article by Mr.. A.
Stierle, assistant engineer, which ap-
pears in the August number of the
Maryland Farmer, Mr.. Stierle saws i'm
the article:
81 have the pleasure. by the direc-
ton of Gen. VIM. L. Smith to give
herewith few data with reference
to the inland waterway between Chin
colleague bay and Delaware bay. An
annual history of this work, since its
inception. is given in the reports Of the
chief OF engineers, United States Army
which can he had gratis of any repre-
sentative in Congress.
..Since 1885 Sl43,75O have been
appropriated for the work and nearly
that amount has beenexpended. Two
years ago connection was made
across Il neck of land situated between
the head of Little Assawaman bay ON
one side and Whites creek, tribu-
tary of Indian River bay ON the
other side. by the excavation OF cut
twenty teet wide ON the bottom to a
depth Of four feet below the level of
the bays, which practically gave a
northern outlet for the lower bays at
Indian River inlet, Delaware. There
are, however, many shoals vet in the
Assawaman and Isle of Wight bays
over which boats drawing more than
three feet Of water cannot pass.
Rchob0th to Delaware Bay.
"Since last summer operations have
been in progress to open navigations
between the upper shore of Rehoboth
bay and the terminal point in Della
ware bay by excavating a cut similar
to that described above, but having a
depth of six feet. This cut crosses the
main land, commonly called Rehoboth
neck, in the eastern portion of Sussex
C unty, Delaware. The cutting there
is very heavy, and on account of the
small appropriations little progress
can be made each time funds become
available for the work.
The prospects are that it may be
several years yet before the water in
Rehoboth bay flows to the northwar'l
into Delaware bay, instead, as now,
into the ocean through Indian River in
let.
"But for the fact that Indian River
inlet is badly obstructed by extensive
fiat shoals as its junction with Indian
River bay and Rehoboth bay, the
lower bays could be put into a condi-
tion to make this inlet available as an
outlet for all vessels of light draft
coming from below, as far south as
Chincoteague bay.
Currents and Depths.
ut has been noted since Indian
River bay and Assawaman bay have
been connected that the prevailing
current is from the former into the
latter. and only during exceptional
storms the order is reversed.
This means that the pent-up water
in Indian River bay. coming in through
Indian River inlet during high tides
seeks nm outlet in another direction,
the cross section OF the inlet ut low
water being too small to let out the
sane amount of water that came in
during the proceeding high tide
Some salt water is thus forced through
the new canal into Assawaman bay
which must gradually produce some
change in the vegetable and animal
lite OF there waters.
1T is supposed, however. that when
the outlet into Delaware bay is com
pleted, the surface of Rehoboth and
Indian River bays. which is now
about two feet above mean low water
in the ocean, will be much lowered
by these new ducts at the extreme
and opposite end OF the bays, and thai
ultimately Indian River inlet will
after the natural securing force which
now keeps it open is drawn in another
direction.