Evening journal., 1906-07-18
TO REPORT PLAN
FOR SHIP CANAL
CONTINUED From First PageJ

anu lut UthUulNb OF NAANh Dh n
route portion OF which runs along
the sassafras River. The plan TO con-
struct the latter-named canal fell
through years ago after several hum
dred thousand dollars had been ex-
pended In digging. but those who We're
behind the plan have never given up
hone, and now are making every effort
to interest Congress. The Chesapeake
and Delaware Canal. though shallow.
is but IA miles long, containing three
locks and besides the regular line Of
steamers between this city and Phila-
delphia. is used by thousands Of lumb-
er barges plying between the latter
city and Virginia and Carolina ports
Scope Of Commission.
The resolution under which the APP
pontments were made prescribes that
the commission shall consist OF an
omcer OF the Engineer Corps OF the
United states Army an officer from
the United States Navy and one per-
son from civil life. II Is 70 examine
and appraise the value OF the works
and franchises Of the Chesapeake and
Delaware Canal with reference to the
desirabllity Of the purchase Of this
canal by the United States and the
construction over the route OF the canal
OF an open waterway with a depth
and a capacity sufficient 10 accommo-
date the largest vessel afloat at mean
low water.
The commission Is also to examine
by aid OF surveys already made the
route known as the Sassafras route
and one OF the central routes connect
ing the bays known as the Queens
town. the Centerville. the Wye River
and the Choptank routes. OF these
latter II Is TO select for examination
the one which. upon preliminary In
qulry. appears most suitable.
For the expenses OF the commission
$4,000 or so much thereof as may be
necessary Is appropriated by the reso-
luton.
The project OF making a deep-water
connection between the Delaware and
Chesapeake Bays has been under con-
sideration ever since 1912. II was then
recommended by President Madison
and has been under agitation from
time TO time ever since. It's most re-
cent revival has been largely due to
the efforts of the Wilmington Board Of
Trade. The present resolution was Of
fered by Mr.. Mudd during the last
Congress. but In the winding up Of
business Il failed to receive considera-
tion. Mr. Burton, OF Delaware, has
this year made u his principal busi-
ness In Congress TO push the matter
and arranged during the first session
with Mr. Mudd 20 have it offered
again. II was reported promptly and
unanimously by the Committee on
Railways and Canals.
II was passed by both houses dur
ing the closing hours OF the session.
In discussing the project Mr. Burton
said;
While this should be a national
movement, because its objects are OF
national Importance Il is well IN this
connection to point out a few Of the
advantages OF this project which
have most at heart for this ship canal
is OF importance not only to Delaware
and Maryland and Pennsylvania. but
indirectly to the whole country.
This proposed connection win. II
made a free. open waterway large
enough TO accommodate vessels OF the
present day, make one OF the greatest
avenues for transportation that this
country affords. II would put Balti-
more and Philadelphia within 100
miles OF each other by water. furnish
channel through which millions Of
tons OF coal could be transported from
the coal fields Of Pennsylvania and
West Virginia 10 the sea, and in case
OF war with foreign nations would be
a better means for the protection OF
cities Of Philadelphia and Baltimore.
and especially for the capital OF the
nation. than would four added battle
ships. which would cost four times as
much money as would this waterway
While Il would serve as a means OF
defense IN case of necessity this canal
would al the same time be worth mill
lions a year TO the commerce OF the
country. BY means OF this connecting
link between the waters Of the Della
ware and Chesapeake Bays naval
fleet could be transferred from one to
the other In one-fourth OF the time
Il would take to go around the Capes
OF Virginia, and this could be accom-
plishcd without exposure Of our war
ships TO the enemy which might be
lurking outside"