Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-12-27

regularity to economy"
France expended on rivers and canals,
between 1914 and 1887, 1887 ,430, 600 1t
was reported there in 1887 that of 1856
waterways or parts of waterways, 10
that were in close proximity to railroads
had tonnage of more than 100000
mlle'tons. That is, for each mile of
length 10000 tons of freight were
carried. "This shows" the report con-
tinues, "that waterways, by increasing
traffic, are auxiliaries rather than COM
petitors of railroads, and that in procur-
ing for manufacturers cheap transporta-
ton Tor coal and raw material, they
create freight whose subsequent trans
portation gives profits to the railroads. :"
The tonnage between Chicago and the
east in 1878 was 1,979,G00 tons for the
canals and 2,S91,057 tons for the rail-
roads. In 1881 it had increased to 2,7sS,-
740 and 1882 tons respectively.
During the first season afterthe canal
ization of the river Main, 10 Germany,
the freight traffic on the river increased
go per cent and that Of the two parallel
rallroads-one along each side--30 per
cent.
Other examples might be cited to
prove the community of interests be-
tween railroads and waterways, but it is
beyond the limits of this paper.
Agitation has been going on during
the past two years for an extension Of
the waterway between Chincoteague
bay and Delaware bay in several direc-
tons; thus taking away its local char
acter and embracing other, larger and
more distantly located interests OF COM
merce and navigation. One plan is to
continue its present general direction
along the coast towards Cape CHARLES,
through the many inland bays south Of
Chincoteague inlet, and an order for u
preliminary survey of this undoubt-
edly valuable addition to the water
way is now in Congress. The other
and more, important plan is to con-
meet the Pocomoke river with Syne-
puxent bay by a canal somewhere
above Snow Hill. Md, preliminary
survey Of which has been made, recon-.
mending the improvement TO Congress
as entirely feasible and worthy. 1t is
expected that accurate estimates, based
upon the permanent location of the line,
will be submitted to Congress next
winter. The connection between the
waterway and the Pocomoke river will
be of incalculable benefit to the coast
wise trade carried on by small vessels.
II would form valuable link in the in
land waterways planned and already
partly completed along tA9 Atlantic
coast between Florida and Sandy Hook.
The mouth of Pocomoke river is located
about midway between Cape Henry and
Baltimore; the whole Of Chesapeake
bay and its tributaries would therefore
contribute towards the commerce that
would pass through this waterway.
ltlhas also been suggested that in the
matter Of ship canal between Balti-
more and the sea this route might be
considered. Such a canal, II feet deep
and 40 feet wide, made up the POGO
moke river to Snow Hill, thence across
the country, 6 miles, into !SynepuXent
bay and up along the route of the inland
waterway to the Delaware Breakwater
harbor, which is the objective point of
several of the most fayorahly considered
routes previously recommended by Col.
Craighill, would cost, roughly esti-
mated, about seven and a half million
dSllars. True, a canal along this route
would be 10 miles longer than the
million dollars. ar 81 Mills ISnlre, ~ :,
the Sassafras route calrnlated IN Get
eleven and a-ba;f milliSn Soi1srs. onJ
about7t miles longerthantho Ract Graal-
route following the nrnsent Dnioyyoro 4.
Chesannase canal tho ost;,,,ats -
which Is lower Than anv ~ tha ~, 90
seven and n bolf miIlinn Soriars. 80 =
would still be ia miias shartar az os' -
ward hound vessels from, pa1tir, ~, thS,,
the present route bv the canos aHd
NAVIGATION within II w"nIa r prei he
interTunted during thn winter h., ~
The distance conld no shn,to1ad so,,
eral miles nv lorntin,r M o,,tIat
Indian River inlet instead If at tho
delaware Rraal.wstar mn, ,,,i,'is. ~
ouire the construction ~ .nhtfant;aI
protective works M an additional cnst ~
probably one million aGIIarS. M ~,
same w,,rks will no necaesarv ~ ~
Break water where tiIe - fant ,n,bs
noe is now nearly mia hara,,J ~ :
shelter az thc nrcssnt y1,rlys II I,a;a,,
River Inlet we're imnrovod ma nrataa,aa
bv suitable ictties which w@nlgG i rao,';ra
NJ gre,f lsnaih "a raaob H., ~
there womb he M diftierlt, e ,,,,il
tanning A deem channel 5etWaen ,harn
and out Of the two large reservoirs.
't,j,l, III. ~, - ~, 49, 'ay :
go ,.n +"'toM hech
A0iilinS lilo ellttance'
tornst y, all a+ta,,tin,, - ',i"5 ~ - -,
ad,,a,,t.,ras ,,hioi, ~ " I,t go Hupeilol
for ,ho n,Ititn,'ra ia, ,.anN iou's I
ofTar If divartaJ fron - =" m3u:a