Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-06-23
The SHIP CANAL COMMISSION
CONGRESSIONAL Record. June 2oth.

Congressional Record. June 10th.
Mr.. Burton Of Delaware Mr.. Speaker,
am directed by the committee on rail-
ways and canals to move TO suspend the
rules and pass as amended House Joint
resolution ID. J. Ros.2D authorizing the
President of the United States to appoint
a commission to examine and report upon
route for the construction of a free and
open waterway to connect the waters of
the Chesapeake and Delaware bays.
The joint resolution was read, as fol-
lows:
Resolved, &c, That the President of
the United States is hereby authorized
to appoint a commission, consisting of an
officer or retired officer of the Engineer
Corps of the United States Army, an
officer of the United States Navy, and
one person from civil life, to examine and
appraise the value of the works and fran
chises of the Chesapeake & Delaware
Canal, connecting the waters Of the Chesa-
peake and Delaware bays, with reference
to the desirability of purchasing said canal
by the United States and the construction
over the route of the said canal of a free
and open waterway having a depth and
capacity sufficient to accommodate the
largest vessel ahoat at mean low water.
Said commission, TO the extent that the
same can be done from the surveys here
tofore made under the direction Of the
War Department and within the limits
of the appropriation herein made. shall
also examine and investigate the feasi-
bility, for the purpose of such a water
way, of the route known as the "Sassafras
route" The said commission shall make
a report Of its work, together with its con-
clusions upon the probable cost and COM
mercial advantages and military naval
uses Of each OF said routes, TO the
Secretary Of War, who shall transmit the
same to Congress at its next session. The
sum of $4,000, OF so much thereof as
may be necessary, is hereby appropriated,
out of any money in the Treasury not
otherwise appropriated, to pay the ex-
penses Of said commission, including such
clerical assistance as may be deemed
necessary by said commission, and such
reasonable compensation for the services
OF the members of said commission as the
President in his discretion may see fit to
allow
The Speaker. Is a second demanded 2
Mr. Clark of Missouri. demand a
second.
The Speaker. Is there objection to
considering a second as ordered ?
There was no objection.
The Speaker The gentleman from
Delaware is entitled TO 20 minutes and
the gentleman from Missouri is entitled
to % minutes
Mr. Clark of Missouri. ! should like to
have the gentleman explain briefly what
this bill is, and about how much this is
to cost
Mr. Burton Of Delaware Mr., Speaker,
this is joint resolution reported by the
committee on railways and canals by
unanimous vote, authorizing the Presi-
dent OF the United States to appoint a
commission TO make an examination and
report on the basis of surveys that have
already been made and are now of record
in the War Department, and the sum Of
Sl00 600. or so much thereof as may be
necessary, is appropriated for the use Of
that commission
Mr. Clark OF Missouri That is right.
Mr. Garrett. / did not catch the read
ing Of the resolution Does il provide
what officers shall be appointed to make
this examination
Mr. Burton Of Delaware. Il provides
for one officer from the Engineer Corps
Of the army, one from the navy, and one
civilian engineer These three are to
constitute the commission.
Mr. Garrett Will the army and navy
officers receive any salary in addition to
what they are receiving at present
Mr.. Burton Of Delaware think not
Mr.. Garrett And the appropriation is
$4,000, or so much thereof as may be
necessary
Mr.. Burton Of Delaware Yes The
first survey for a canal 70 connect the
waters Of the Delaware Bay with those Of
the Chesapeake was made by Augustus
Herman. in the year 1870, for Lord Balti-
more, and another was made by Joshua
Gilpin in the year 1904
This survey was probably made after
the State Of Maryland granted a charter
to the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal
Co. in the year 1899
Whether the route Of the present canal
was the only one surveyed by the early
work or not I am unable to say. but since
that date a number of other routes have
been surveyed by the government, look
ing to the construction Of a waterway
between the two bays as a part OF q
system Of coast defence. These were
known, respectively, as the "Sassairas
the "Chaptunk River and the South
east" route. which contemplate a con-
struction by way Of the waters Of the
Broadkiln, on the Delaware Bay near
the new harbor of refuge, with those Of
the Nanticoke River, ON the Maryland or
Chesapeake.
1t will be seen that the United States
government has from It's beginning seen
and from time TO time talked Of and
surveyed and examined into this matter.
because whenever the possibility Of war
occurred the urgent necessity for such a
connection became apparent. speaking
from memory ] think il was President
Madison who recommended in one OF his