Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-06-23

messages to the Congress that such a
waterway be constructed. In all prob
ability he was led to see the need OF such
thing by the war of 1912.
The work Of construction of the present
Delaware 4 Chesapeake Canal was begun
on the 18th day Of April, 1924, under the
direction Of Silas +. Weir, whose services
terminated with his life on the l4th day
Of May, 1923 He was succeeded by
Robert NJ. Lewis, under whose super
vision the work was completed
The water was turned into the canal
on the 4th day Of July 1929 The open
ing up of the national enterprise was the
occasion Of a grand celebration on the
18th of October in the same year.
The length Of the canal is l3 SIS miles
Width Of water line, 90 feet.
Depth of water 10 feet
Width at bottom, SO feet.
Length Of locks. 100 feet.
Width Of locks p feet
The total cost of this work was 81, $50 900
Of which amount $3.50 600 was paid by the
United States government, 100000 by
the State OF Pennsylvania $50, 1000 by
the State Of Maryland, and S25 900 by the
State Of Delaware. The remainder of
the 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 to Balti-
more by way of the Capes of Delaware
and Virginia is about 425 miles. The dis
tance by way Of the Delaware & Chesa-
-. N.r.I = kt,t akIttt TnC - IN ill
BY way Of the canal a steamer can
cover the distance in from II to Is hours
and is always sure Of making about the
time given.
BY way Of the capes it would require
from 40 TO AS hours, and 10 make that
time would have to have favorable
weather.
The one route is attended with little OF
no danger, while the other is subject to
all the dangers and delays incident TO
navigating the Atlantic coast and the
lower bays.
To transfer naval fleet from one bay
TO the other by way of the canal it would
take less than a day, without any danger
Of exposure TO a hostile navy.
To transfer the Same feet by way OF
the capes il would take at best two whole
days, with the probability Of encounter
ing the enemy, who would naturally be
on the alert for such a movement for
concentration.
The cities Of Philadelphia, Pa, Will
mington, Del, and Camden, n. j., at the
one side 10 protect and the cities Of Balti-
more and Washington, the capital Of the
nation, and the Naval Academy on the
other, it certainly does look as il this
great nation should prepare for an
emergency which might arise at any time
The advantages Of such a waterway 10
the commerce Of the country is beyond
my ability TO estimate, but that its COM
mercial value would be enormous no one
would dare deny
Its value as q part Of our coast defence
would be greater than four additional
battleships, while its cost would be but
little more than one.
The Speaker. The question is on sus.
pending the rules and passing the bill
Mr. Mudd. ] call the attention Of the
chair to the fact that there is a committee
amendment.
The Speaker The chair is informd by
the clerk that the joint resolution has
been reported as amended.
The question was taken; and two-thirds
voting in the affirmative. the rules were
suspended and the joint resolution
passed