Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-11-28

| this time had the Democrats remained
| in control of Government affairs. Much
| work was done on the canal, but there
is still great deal to do, and we trust
a sufficient appropriation will be granted
by the next Congress to complete this
moss valuable work. Wilmington. Del,
Erery Evening says on this subject:
The project to convert the Delaware
& Chesapeake Canal into a ship canal
having been revived it might be of in
terest to recall some history connected
with project of similar magnitude in
the lower part of the Peninsula. This
is what is known as the Inland Water
way, and it's purpose is to connect ASA
waman. Sinepuxent and Chincoteague
Bays, by series of canals, thus making
a waterway along the ocean, but inside
of series of islands and peninsulas
which line the coost, Some of the work
has been done, but it is halted because
of the fact that the Government has
not given sufficient financial encourage
ment in recent years.
An obstacle was encountered at the
point where the line of the canal crosses
the right of way of the Delaware. Mary
land & Virginia railroad. branch of
the Pennsylvania, near Rehoboth, but
the solution. it is understood. depends
entirely upon the government. A com.
mission has awarded damages to the
extent of $37, 343 So and it now remains
with the government as to whether this
money is to be paid.
The late Gen. w. F. Smith, in his an
nual report for 1900. as United States
engineer in charge of the local district,
made an exhaustive report on the project.
According to his report, the original
plan. based on survey made in 1884,
provided for channel 70 feet wide at
the bottom and six feet deep below mean
low water in the Delaware Breakwater
harbor connecting the inland bays be-
tween Chincoteague Bay and Delaware
Bay. the,northern outlet to be at or
near Lewes. The length of the pro
posed waterway is about Is miles, and
the cost was estimated at $350,000.
This. project was modified in 1892, the
width of the proposed channel having
been reduced to 20 feet at the bottom.
A cut has been made four miles long,
20 feet wide at the bottom and four feet
deep below the mean level of Assawam-
an Bay across the neck of land lying
between little Assawaman Bay and
Whites Creek, tributary of Indian
River Bay, and three temporary wooden
bridges built over it
A cut 20 feet wideand SIX feet deep
below datum (mean low water at the
Delaware Breakwater) has been made
from that depth in Rehoboth Bay to a
point 1900 feet south of the Delaware,
Maryland & Virginia railroad crossing
at Rehoboth, a distance of 5000 feet,
and another cut in continuation Of this,
extending to the railroad reservation, a
distance of LIPS feet. to depth of two
feet below mean low water level, and
north of the railroad crossing cut
was made to point 1000 feet north of
the boundary of the railroad track. Of
this latter distance the lower 800 feet
was excavated to a depth of 9la feet and
the remaining 300 feet to an average
depth of Is feet above datum, the depth
of cutting in the first, averaging approx
imately 17ls feet and in the latter about
eight feet. All slopes of excavations
were made to along the lines deter.
min ID by the final width of the base Of
the proposed cut and the configuration
of the ground.
The cut between Assawaman Bay
and Whites Creek was made and the
three bridges built in 1891. The re-
mainder of the work described was done
between 1888 and February 1896.
The amount expended ON the project
to June 30th, 1899. was $167. %, and
the condition of the work, when exam
iued in 1896, was as follows: The cut
made between Whites Greek and the
head of little Assawaman Bay to the
depth of four feet had shoaled consider
ably. at the northern end to eight-tenths
of foot and in the middle portion to
two feet. The frst-named shoal is the
deepest portion of the cut, where the
sandy side slopes, bare of all vegetation.
fall in considerably during heavy rains.
The depths in the cut through low or
marshy ground had maintained them
selves very we'll. The cut made to a
depth of six feet from Rehoboth Bay
along Miller's Greek toward the high
ground back of Rehoboth, during the
working season of 1894, was in fair con-
dition, except the formation of slight
shoal in line with the bay shore. which
was evidently cansed by wave action.
The river and narbor act of June 3rd.
1896. appropriated $4,000 for continu-
ing this Improvement. to be used from
Delaware Bay to Indian River, but it