New-York tribune., 1901-03-24
PLANNING A SHIP CANAL.
THE CHESAPEAKE AND DELAWARE AS A
LINK IN a GREAT INLAND WATER
WAY TO THE SOUTH.

inland waterway which viii be Of inCalculable !
importance TO the States Of New-York Penn I
sylFania Delaware. Maryland Virginia and
North Carolina After many years Of agitation
this first step the appropriation by Congress 4
or the SUM IF $1,000 for securing an estimate |
CT the cost of national ownership Of the Chesa- !
peake and Delaware Canal. as 4 link in this
great system, deep internal waterway seems /
at last likely Of fulflment. When this proposed /
channel for vessels Of heavy draught becomes an !
accomplished fact. the two other links needed |
IN the chain, that between the Delaware and |
Raritan rivers. and that between the Chesa- |
peahe Bay and Albemarle Sound. in North Caro- /
Nna Will undoubtedly follow as natural conse- /
quences. and the East will have a great COM !
mercial highway protected from the effects OF |
storms and from the danger OF an enemy by /
water
In the last session Of Congress this initial /
step met with a rather hard fate. but il is /
thought that there will be difficulty in push /
ing il through the next Congress. In the House |
OF Representatives the subject was taken up
by the Committee Railroads and Canals. and 1
the members Of that committee were favorably /
impressed with the idea II was decided in COM
mittee to favor the appointment of a commits /
sion II three 10 investigate and report upon the
cost 10 the national government of securing the
Chesapeake and Delaware Canal now owned
by the State Of Maryland the State Of Delaware, !
the State Of Pennsylvania and certain individ- /
I44s- ana also 10 report upon the cost OF deep
enlng this waterway 70 from twenty-seveE 10 /
thirty feet. and widening = SO that it might be
available the largest class Il coastwise yes
sells and the warships # the American navy
Major James ". Denny Representative in the .
last House from the Nth Maryland District. .
who took great interest in the proposed canal. (
says that the members Of Congress We're IA
vorably imqress4i with the plan. and that. in |
his opinion, it Is certain II fuIhlm-nt at the
coming session.
1t simply remained in the committee the last
session for TIE reason that there lack Of
time" he said but there i plenty Of vitality
in the project"
IN the Senate the subject. couched practically .
in the same terms the bill prepared by the
House committee, was brought forward by Sen
ator Louis +. McCoElas. Of Maryland. and was
ircorporatcd in the general River and Harbor
bin The story OF The talking To death II this /
measure II the last hours Of The session Is too :
wei known 10 reeite. At the next session the
Maryland senators and members If the House
are expected u come forward for the bill. and
as sUch legislation would be the first step % a
waterway that would be much for he benefit .
OF Sew-Tork. Pennsylvania, Delaware. Virginia .
and S0rth Carolina of Maryland. hearty ,
support is expected from the Representatives u .
those States ana no general opposition is e AIRED
Major Denny has long been enthusiastic over /
the possibilities # such q commercial highway. /
1t would o.. when c5ulpletei,' he says, an /
artery for the seaboard commerce. and big
ships could constantly pass through in safety 4
without fear Of sudden storm. New-York. Phila- 1
delphia and Baltimore would brought into /
closer community in their commerce, and il |
would rebound 70 the benefit of all n times Of !
national danger il would be Of ne greatest i'm
portance War with such power England /
might az any time involve the tlockading Ct our /
coast cities. Were fleet driven by superior /
forces into the Delaware. he Chesapeake into |
NeW-York. with the canal open the ships could !
pass from point 10 another and the feet /
Of the enemy would have TO be divided. The
American forces could then take them divided /
and defeat them by section. Even the
whole seaboard blockaded commerce could con- /
tirue 70 float through the canal without inter !
ruption- II IS plan which should appeal 10 all
the patriotic ana those who would the COM /
rnercial possibilities Of the country Increased %
The proposed link connecting the Delaware
River with the Raritan River has already been !
surveye 3. and from time 10 time there have
been efforts push II 70 CONDITION. The con-
Meeting link at the Southern end would prob /
ably De by way OF the present Dismal Swamp
Canal, from which waterway might be So
cured from the Chesapeake TO AIbemarle Sound, /,
in North Carolina.
The Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. which