Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-06-21

Washington June 2i.-Steps were
taken yesterday by the House OF Repre-
sentatives toward the construction of a
ship canal connecting the Chesapeake
and Delaware Bays The Mudd resolu-
tion authorizing the appointment OF a
commission 60 ascertain the actual value
OF the works and franchise of the Chesa
peake 4 Delaware Canal Co.. with a view
to their purchase by the government,
and TO estimate the cost of a ship canal
between the two bays was passed by the
House under a suspension of the rules.
Representative Burton of Delaware
made a speech explaining the purpose of
the resolution and the importance OF the
project There wns no other discussion,
and the measure was accepted without
division.
II provides that the commission 10 be
appointed shall consist of an engineer
officer Of the army, an officer of the navy
and person from civil life, all TO be
selected and appointed by the President
They are to ascertain the value Of the
present Chesapeake and Delaware canal
and 70 estimate the cost of deepening and
widening this so as TO accommodate the
largest vessels at all times The COM
mission is authorized to consider several
routes. so as TO utilize such rivers as the
Choptank, the Sassafras and the Wye, al
emptying into the Chesapeake. Ten
thousand dollars is appropriated to pay
the cost Of the survey.
The resolution is expected to pass the
Senate before adjournment.
Respecting the Importance Of the
project, the report Of the committee on
railways and canals contains this state
ment:
1T will connect the two great estu-
aries. which, with their navigable tribu-
taries are said to have shore line Of
$500 miles, with more than 10000 regis
tered boats handling the present COM
merce thereon; and, situated midway
between the North and South ON the
Atlantic coast, IL will comprise the neces-
sary connecting link 10 accommodate
both sections with % short and cheap
route for the exchange of their products
"Ihe vast number of boats now em-
ployed. in these waters indicates an
enormous commerce, which should be in
creased by the removal of the obstructive
barrier and the construction of an open
and free ship canal under the control Of
the United States. IL viii give the
markets OF the North the benefits of
earlier produce and fruit from the more
temperate climate localities of the South
now barred out largely by inability to
stand the rail transportation rates, thur
stimulating production in the South and
cheapening the cost Of living in the North.
"lt viii facilitate the movement of
Southern lumber and aid Northern build
ing operations. New England is the lead
ing market for coal reaching tidewater
on the Chesapeake. The round trip from
Baltimore to Boston by way of the Nir-
mi trt g.. "a 80
IS about 400 miles farther than il will be
by way OF the proposed ship canal, an
important matter, especially for coal
vessels.
"rhis, Of course. lays an additional
burden upon New England industries
Ninety-seven and iifty-siX one-hundredth.
per cent of the .T3l 500 tons of Goa
shipped annually from Baltimore /,
northbound, and would 60 through tia,
canal and 1913 per cent of the .790.47g
tons from Newport News is also north
bound Boston alone gets about .500.0O(
tons OF this coal. Insurance rates OF
vessel and cargo are said to be douhl,
on the outside route what they are on
the inside.
"The commerce Of the Delaware 4
Chesapeake, registered and otherwise, ha,
been estimated allthe way from 80, 900 OOI
" HNNNV'VN tVi0 ahhuAlls iNch in'
lowest estimate is about five times tha
Of the Suoz Canal and much larger than
the tonnage OF the entire annual ioreigi
commerce Of the United States Tn
lsthmian Canal Commission estimate,
that the Panama Canal. now 20 be bull
az cost approXimating 5000 00O 600
would have carried a tonnage in 1899 O
only 4574 .S52 tons.
For many years a persistent fight ha
been made TO interest the national govern
ment in this canal. The action in IN
House is the most advanced step tina
has been taken. This canal, which
owned by private corporation extend
from Delaware City 20 the Elk River, a
aim Of the Chesapeake Bay.
Cost of a deep-watcr canal has bee
variously estimated at from s. 600 600 I
$40 OOO OO0