The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1907-01-19
SHIP CANAL
LOOKSPROMISING
Chesapeake And Delaware Route
Chosen By The Commission Ap-
pointed By The President

he chesapeake q Delaware lanai
Commission OF which zen. Felix Ag-
nus is the head, has recommended the
present canal route as the site OF the
proposed government ship canal to
connect the Chesapeake and Delaware
bays and places the value of the prop
erty at SASH, ,2So7o and suggests the
early purchase OF the present canal by
the Federal Government. The opinion
OF the Commission is unanimous as to
the choice between the present and the
SasSairaS routes. The latter would not
only be much more expensive to build
but much more costly to fortify as it
would require the removal OF the Della
ware defenScs which now protect the
present canal.
The conclusions of the commission
are as follows:
l. In the appraisement OF the Chesa
peake and Delaware Canal, the Com
mission believes no higher value than
S2,5I4.2So. 70 should be paid.
,. The purchase OF the present canal
is desirable and the construction over
the route of free ship canal is justi-
fed by the demands OF commerce and
by military and naval considerations.
g. The SaSSairas route is entirely
feasible, but more costly than the
Chesapeake and Delaware Canal or
Back Creek route.
J. The probable cost OF a canal on
the Sassairas route is $23o7I ,S64 by
poquinimink creek.
5. The commercial advantages would
be practically the same by both the
SaSSairas and the Chesapeake and
Delaware routes.
g. The military and naval uses of
| each OF the two routes would be ldent1-
| cal, except that the selection OF the
| Sassairas route would necessitatc the
| removal OF the present dcicnSes OF the
Delaware, cntaiIing an expense of 81
| 10000
7. The Commission believes the pres
cnt Chesapeake and Delaware Canal
route d be better because for a ship
canal ii would be cheaper, because it
offers equal commercial advantages,
because being defended it has an addi-
| tional advantage OF cost OF S2,I5o,ooo,
because it has fewer bridges and be
cause it is a developed property, pos
scSSing earning capacity.
The building OF this great waterway
| will mean more to our community that
will be comprchcndcd at first thought.
| Not only will it be OF incstimable value
in the matter OF building up commerce
but will develop our resources and
| greatly enhance the worth OF all prop
crty along the line OF the canal. As
the distance between Baltimore and
| Philadelphia will be shortened 323 miles
and facilities afforded for the passage
oi the largest ships ahoat, there is no
computing what the tonnage traffic
NAV amount to.
The estimated cost oi the project is
over $2o,oooooo and what the spend
ing OF that much money in the com
munity through the canal passes means
can hardly be appreciated without stop
| ping to consider. II the recommends
ton of the committee for the govern
ment to buy the old canal property al
the valuation set upon it, is acted upor
by Congress, it will mean a great deal
to the present owners OF the stock a,
it gives them practically par for theil
holdings.
Immediately upon the submission o
this report. by the Commission, Con.
gresham Sydney f. Mudd introduced
a resolution in Congress, authorizing
the Government to purchase the pres.
ent canal at the figure named in the re.
port Mr. Mudd is determined to
HreSS this resolution and expresses the
hope that it will be adopted by the
present Congress.