Smyrna times., 1904-01-13
DELAWARE AS A COMMERCIAL CENTRE

AS A COMMERCIAL CENIk
Local Interest 10 the Movement to Build the
Delaware Chesapeake Ship Canal and to
Complete the Assawaman Canal.
Delaware, as we'll as other states, is
interested at the present time in the
building of ship canals, which will not |
only be of inestimable value to the !
commercial interests of all states bor-
dering on the Delaware and Chesa-
peake waters, but would be an impor-
tant project in case of war. A great
impetus was given to the building of
this canal on Friday evening when
the Board of Trade of Wilmington
gave banquet in the Peacock Build
ing, at which 200 or more invited
guests sat around a beautifully deco
rated festive board. 1t was a notable
occasion. Federal Judge George
Gray presided, and addresses were
made by Charles Emory Smith, An
thony Higgins, Alfred o. Crozier and
others. The plan of widening and
deepening the Delaware and Chesa
peake Canal so as to admit of the
largest vessels afoat was fully ex-
planned in the excellent addresses
made, and the delegation from Con-
gress, including representatives from
all the bordering states, with the ex-
ception of Pennsylvania, were much
impressed with the importance of the
project. Commercially it was found
that by shortening the distance be-
tween Philadelphia and Baltimore,
Wilmington and all Delaware would
derive much benefit. This canal will
reduce the water distance between
Philadelphia and Baltimore from over
four hundred miles to about one hun
dred, saving thirty hours. Baltimore
will then be nearly two hundred
miles, or twenty hours, nearer by
water to New York and Liverpool.
AS it is now a battle ship or large
freight steamer at one end of this
route must now go over four hundred
miles, out on the open ocean, past
two dangerous capes, to get to the
other end, thirteen miles distant. The
cost of the enterprise has been figured
at $S, 900, 900.
The AssawamaG Canal In Sussex County.
In the lower part of the State bust
ness men are strongly advocating the
early completion of the Assawamar
Canal, the work on which was started
about fifteen years ago., but on &C
count of damages awarded the Penn
sylvania railroad for a right of way
not being paid, has never been com
pleted. There was a special meetins
and banquet of the Lewes Board o
Trade Monday evening when the mat
, ter was taken up before a large atten
dance of senators and representative
from Delaware, Maryland and Vir
gina and the outcome will probabl
J be that an appeal will be made to Con
gress for the necessary appropriate.
} to finish the construction of tn
a canal 1t is claimed it will open up
: fertile section of the country ant
that not only Sussex county, but tn
: entire Maryland and Virginia Penir
, sula will be greatly benefited. Th
Assawaman Canal is the projected il
3 land waterway connecting Delawar
b. Bay at Lewes by series of canal
q with the Rehoboth Bay, Indian Rive
/ Bay, Sinepuxent Bay and ChiucC
4 league Bay. The original plan {
9 project for this important waterwa
Y and outlet from the easterly side {
It Delaware in Sussex county and thos
g sections of Maryland and Virgini
e bordering upon Sinepuxent and Chi
l. colleague Bays, contemplated the col
Y nection of Chincoteague Bay with I'll
q other bays and navigable streams /
!, canals as far as the southern part
e South Caroline, thereby making
l. navigable and protected waterwf
IS from Georgia to the Delaware Bay.
rs viii Take $2IS,503 to Complete COustructiO
The entire length of the Assawami
Canal Is 70 miles, of which 81
,e through several shallow interior bay
a. cut off from the ocean by narrow stri
% of sandy beach and soil, leaving on
l. sixteen miles Of canal construction
,e be done by dredging. The estimat,
" cost of completing the canal. as giv'
a. by the two government engineers
.e $1S1, $50, to which amount must
ie added the award to the railroa
i making total of $218,593.
10 FARMERS TALK OF SUGAR CORN INDUSTI
D. Movement for Lsrge Canning Factory Ia Ky