The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1906-07-28
Force Could Be Thrown From One
Bay To The Other, Making Com.
pIefe Blockade Difficult

Bay To The Other, Making Com
pIefe Blockade Difficult
The consideration which will control
in determining whether the Govern
ment will construct great ship canal
connecting the Delaware river and
Chesapeake Bay will be the defensive
value of such waterway from mill
tary point OF view.
The appointment of survey COM
mission to report upon the feasibility
of a route for the canal does not com
nit the Government to the construc
tion OF the canal nor necessarily imply
that material results will follow the
work OF the commission, though it is
anticipated that this commission will
present the question clearly and for
chilly when its examination is COM
pleted and report made. The matter
has been pretty thoroughly gone over
several times without result beyond
the recognition of the feasibility and
general deSirability of having the two
bays connected with an inland water
way 1t is recognized that the cost
OF this work will be heavy, and very
substantial reason for it involving the
interests OF the national Government
will have to be clearly presented in or
der to convince Congress that the eX
penditure must be made. The conSid-
Grafton OF merely the interests OF com
mcrcc as confined to the cities particu-
larly interested will hardly be strong
enough to compel action by Congress
involving good many millions OF dol
lars.
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The cruise oi the Oregon at racing
speed from the Pacific to participate
in the naval operations at Cuba during
the Spanish American war. served bet
ter than ANYTHING else to convince Con
grcSs oi the deSirabilitv OF the canal
across the IStnmus OF Panama While
watching the course oi the Oregon
and waiting her arrival in Cuban wat
crs the national Government hourly
dcplorc the absence Of an isthmian
canal. and the Oregon became the
most powerful advocate OF the great
work which is now in progress.
The question OF whether Baltimore
will be benefited or Philadelphia will
be benefited bv the construction OF
canal connecting the Chesapeake with
the Delaware Bav is not apt to i'm
press Congress as being OF more com
manding Importance than the expendi-
ture OF money in a multitude OF little
public buildings or river and harbor
improvements affecting a great many
districts. 1t is on cthing to determine
which is the most practical route for a
canal and another to secure the appro-
priation for the construction of canal
bv anv route. however economic and
feasible. The consideration OF vital
importance TO the Government is whe-
ther the existence OF canal will be
OF great. military advantage in case OF
war. The entrance to Delaware Bav is
practically without defense. as is also
the entrance to Chesapeakc Bav, A
superior naval force Representing for
eign powers might blockade the en-
trance to each oi these bavs, and while
it would be hazardous for foreign war
vessels to attempt aggressive opera
tions within the waters of either the
Chesapeake BAY or the Delaware Rav,
they might bottle ND an American fleet
in each bav. rendering them ineffective