The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-01-15
OUR INLAND WATERWAYS
The Proposed Great Inner Water
transportation System.
FROM BOSTON TO THE GULF.
The Atlantic States and Coast Cities
Deeply Interested. Active Move
ment TO Secure the Success
of the Scheme. Or.
Miller Interviewed.

For many years Commodore Mar,
shall Parks, of this city, who was
30 long connected with the canal
systems connecting Norfolk with the
great swamps and rivers of North
Carolina, has been warm advocate
OF the construction of direct inner
waterway from Boston to the Gulf,
and he has time and again pointed
ont the advantages that would ao-
crue from such u system, not only so
far as our inland commerce was CON
cerned, but also in respect to the
great advantages secured
IN CASE OF WAR
with foreign countries. Active steps
are now In progress to carry to sue
cess the completion of this scheme.
The city OF Philadelphia some
months passed an ordinance appro.
priating $4,000 for preliminary
surveys, maps, &C., Of the proposed
enlargement of the Delaware and
Raritnn canal, leading to this end.
New York city has also taken nc.
ton and Baltimore Is likewise agi-
tating the subject.
DR.. l.. Wilmington Miller, of New
York City, was in this city yesterday
in relation TO the subject. He has
written very extensively for the
Northern Press and Magazine in
advocacy of the scheme. The In
land Waterway System will comprise
communication
ALONG THE SEA COAST
Tor Boston or Bhrnstable Bey to
Narragansett.and Buzzard Bay. from
the Rnnta River to Chesapeake Bay:
from the Chesapeake Bay via Norfolk
to the Albmarle Sound; thence to
Cape Fear River; thence to Charles.
ton, Savannah and to the inland
waters of Florida to the Gulf.
DR.. Miller called at The VIRGIN.
IAN yesterday. He stated that the
Board of Engineers created under
an net OF the last session of Con-
gress, and thereupon appointed by
the President, have settled the much
mooted question of the most de
eirable route
FOR SHIP CANAL
across tho Maryland. Delaware Pan.
1nsula III favor of the existing line.
or Chesapeake and Delaware Canal
This emphasizes the Importance of
continuing this interior, strategic.
defensive line across the plrdle of
new Jersey, aud so uniting the
waters OF Long Island Sound, the
Hudson River and tho Lake system
with those OF the Delaware aud
Chesapeake Bay.
Philadelphia. he remarks, has al.
ready entered upon thorough in.
vestigation of the practicabll,ty of
this portion Of the route to stjnn.
late the commercial activity of the
entire coastwise traffic by opening
additional through routes for the
dense population tributary to those
waters.
The short cut to the sea from
Philadelphia lies up the Delaware
river TO Bordentown; thence to the
mead OF Raritan Bay, and from
mere across the alluvisl depression
which bow unites the prehistoric IN.
suiar lowlands to the rocky uplands
OF New Jersey. And as the upper
delaware river extends ia this
airecsion IN an air line for a dls.
tance
L
1t constitutes the line of least -.
distance.
In 1880. work mas commenced IN
the present Delaware and BarIten
Canal. Commodore Robert s.
STOCKTON was the master spirit. II
was iortty-four miles in length, and
9eceived feeder from the Delaware
hiver, which was twenty two miles
90 that to day its draueht ia seven
ieet and it's surface width eighty
feet. sN'J
The present Delaware and Cbess.
~peake Canal was built in 1929 and
enlarged in 1864. The canal proper
Is thirteen and quarter miles lone
ana runs from delaware City, on
me Delware river to Chesapeake
CITY, which is situated on an estn.
asy Of Chesapeake Bay. The depth