Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-04-23
PROPOSED FREE SHIP CANAL
A Bill Providing for Its Con-
structlon Introduced.
THREE ROUTES DESIGNATED
VIII Connect Chesapeake and
Delaware Bays.
An Appropriation of One Million Dollars
for Beginning Work on tho Project
Effort to he Made to Secure Favorable
Action by the Present Congress.

Washington, April Is. Senator Elk
ins to-day introduced bill in the Sem
ate providing for the construction of the
Maryland Il Delaware free ship canal.
The bill, except that it specifies that one
OF the three routes shall be taken, ia
about tho same measure that was in
troduced in the 4Sth Congress and
fayorably reported. IL authorizes tue
Secretary of War to lay out and con.
etruct a canal through the States Of
Maryland and Delaware to connect by
the most practicable and convenient
route the waters of the Chesapeake
| and Delaware bays. The canal is to
DO not less than 1000 feet wide at the
bottom and 17S feet at low water level,
with locks GO feet by 600 feet in tho
chambers and sufficient to allow the
passage OF vessels of tho largest size
now in use in ocean traffic.
The Secretary OF War is authorized
to enter upon any lands in Maryland
or Delaware to make necessary exami-
nations and additional surveys. and to
enter upon and appropriate TO the use
of the United States any lands needed
for the construction of the canal, locks,
Lighthouses, bridges and other needed
structures
Section of the bill provides that the
Secretary of War shall appoint COM
mission to select the most desirable of
free central routes, known as the South
creek route, the Centreville route and
the Queenstown routo, and the So
lection shall be made with due regard
to permanency of its construction and :
its greatest advantages for military,
naval and commercial purposes. The
hill unaai Hau ha In NH i,h IN
Secretary OF War shall secure the land
needed for the canal by purchase, vol
untary conveyance from the owners or
by condemnation, provided that the
latter be procured in accordance with
the laws of the States in which tho
property may be situated.
Work on the construction Of the
canal, it is directed, shall be COM
menced as soon as practicable. and in
order that it may be ready for naviga-
tion at an early date the Secretary OF
War is directed to detail a sufficient
number of skilled officers OF the engi-
neer corps OF the army to superintend
and direct the work.
The Secretary is further authorized
to place the work of constructing the
canal or any portion Of it under con-
tract, in which case he is directed to
invite proposals and to award the con-
tracts to the lowest bidders.
The bill provides that the canal shall
be constructed OF. substantial material
and in good wOrkmanike manner, and
shall be kept and L.aihtained in good
order and repair and condition for the
free use and navigation thereof, and
when thus completed the canal shall
be military, naval, postal and public
highway connecting the waters OF the
| chesapeake and Delaware bays and
shall be established as such to the
United States and the people thereof
forever, and no obstruction shall be-
placed therein which shall impede or
interfere with the uninterrupted navi-
| cation thereof.
The Secretary of War is given power
to establish all needful rules and reg
ulations, not inconsistent with the laws
OF the United States, concerning the use
and navigation of the canal, and to
| private penalties for the violation Of
these rules and regulations A copy of
the rules in to be filed in the Office of
each of the clerks Of the district courts,
respectively, for the district of Mary
land and the district of Delaware.
An appropriation of $1,000, 900 is
to be made to begin work of the
canal.
An exhaustive report on the subject
submitted to the last Congress by the
Secretary of War gives detailed infor-
nation of the cost Of the canal and the
amount of work to be performed. Sena-
tor Ellsins will endeavor to secure
favorable action on his bill at this $685.
sion. The project has been go we'll con.
sidered by the army engineers and by
former Congresses that all necessary
information can be obtained by members
of either House from tho numerous
published reports upon the subject. :,