East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-06-26

In asking fot an appropriation of
$40 900 for the expenses OF 4 COM
mission 10 resurvey and estimate the
cost Of enlarging the old "Sassafras"
canal connecting the Delaware and
Chesapeake bays, Congressman Bur-
ton. of Delaware. gives some interest
ing statistics on this old canal, one of
the old artificial waterways in the
United States.
II is proposed by the Burton bill
for congress to purchase this canal
for the government and enlarge it to
admit the largest vessels afloat.
NJ. Burton gives the following in
terestiHg history of the canal:
The first survey for canal to con-
meet the waters OF the Delaware Bay
with those OF the Chesapeake was
made by August Herman in the year
1870. for Lord Baltimore. and another
was made by Joshua Gnpin IN the
year 1904.
The survey was probably made after
the state OF Maryland granted a char
ter to the Chesapeake & Delaware Ca
nal company in The year 1879.
Whether the route OF the present
canal was the only one surveyed by
the early work or not 1 am unable to
say. but since that date 4 number of
other routes have been surveyed by
the government, looking 10 the con-
struction of waterway between the
two bays as a part of a system of
coast defense. These were known.
respectively. as the "Sassafras." the
"ChaptuTk River" and the South
east" route, which contemplate a con-
srruction 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 Mary
land or Chesapeake.
II will be seen that the United
states government has from its begin
ming seen and from time to time talk
ed Of and surveyed and examined into
this matter, because whenever the
possibility o. war occurred the urgent
necessity for such connection became
apparent. Speaking from memory, I
/ think it was President Madison who
| recommended In one of his mesa ges
( TO congress that such a waterway be
constructed. In all probability he was
led to see the need of such a thing
I by he war Of 1912.
The work of construction of the
| present Delaware & Chesapeake canal
was begun on the 18th day Of April.
1924 under the direction OF Silas E.
Weir. whose services terminated with
/ his life on the 14th day of MAY. 1928.
He was succeeded by Robert NJ. Lewis
under whose supervision the work was
completed.
The water was turned into the ca
nal On the 4th day of July, 1928. The
| opening up of the national enterprise
was the occasion Of grand celebra-
ton on the 18th of October in the
same year.
The length of the canal is 13 SIS
miles.
Width at water line. Sc feet.
/ Depth of water, 10 feet.
Width at bottom. IS feet.
Length of locks. 100 feet
l Width of locks, % feet.
The total cost of this work was So
100000 of which amount .S45O. 900
was paid by the United States govern
kment. 100000 by the state of Penn.
tsylv2ria. $4,000 by the state of Mary.
land, and 5000 by the state of Del.
aware. The remainder of tho cost
was contributed by the citizens OF the
three states above named
The total number of vessels passed
through the canal since its opening
is about 10000 The total tonnage
of merchandise about 46, 900. 900 tons
) The distance from Philadelphia tc
Baltimore by way of the capes o.
Delaware and Virginia is about 42G
miles. The distance by way of tht
Delaware & Chesapeake canal is bu
about 10S or 10 miles.
By way of the canal a steamer car
} cover the distance in from 12 to Il
hours. and is always sure of maxim.
about the time given.
BY way OF the capes it would require
from 40 to 4s hours, and to make tina
time would have to have favorabl.
weather.
500 Reward. 500.