Evening journal., 1907-01-14
SUGGESTS PURCHASE
OF D. & C. CANAL
1contInued ErOm rIrsl rage.,

Continued From First Fage)
Of cost Of s2,15O.OOO. because it has fewer
bridges. and because it is a developed
property possessing earning capacity.
Following IT'S conclusions is this SUCCESS
ton from the commission:
THE government may see fit to pur-
chase the present Chesapeake and Della
ware Canal and deepen It gradually. This
seems 70 be the course advised by those
who have appeared before the commits
sion or communicated their views TO it.
While the terms of the joint resolution
do not direct the commission TO express
It's conclusions upon this phase Of the
subject. yet the sentiment is so strong
and proceeds from such respons Bile
sources that the commission suggests the
advisability Of acquiring the Chesapeake
and Delaware Canal at an early daee, il
practicable. and II this can be done at a
cost not exceeding S2.514, 2S970.
at the various hearings before the
commission there were many argumencs
for a canal Of much shallower draft than
those estimated for in this report such
a canal would unquestlonabiy be Of enor-
nous value in experimenting the proposed
barge canal from Beaufort. n. c., to Nor
folk. Va, now under consideration ~
Congress. Tho immediate advantages of
these interior facilities to the coastwise
trade which could be obtained at com
paratively small cost have been recog-
nized by the commercial interests Of the
country and by reports made TO Congress
and have been constantly emphasized in
the Investigations Of this commission for
the deep ship canal. The matter has been
urged upon the commission 50 insis'ently
that the commission feels the obligation
TO give it more than a mere mention IN
sts report.
1.-THE present Chesapeake and Della
ware Canal is the most important link
in the proposed waterway from the Gulf
TO the city Of Philadelphia for barge traf-
fic, and its purchase and improvement
by the government would be a benefit Of
extraordinary value"
35- Foot Deep Canal Desired.
The commissions estimates for a 25-foot
canal accepting the draft of the largest
ship aioat as 80 feet. A full-depth width
OF $50 feet was adopted as a minimum.
This was widened to 200 feet in marshes
and mud flats and to so high as $50 feet
on curves. the idea being to produce a
canal that would permit uninterrupted
navigation in both directions. Much at
tention is devoted to the discussion Of
slopes. The commission favors a tide
level canal. and says that nothing but
that would be justifable. Complete esti-
mates are made for the maintenance OF
the canal and it's lighting so as to permit
navigation at night. and its operation in
Guiding the removal OF distractions from
ice and other problems It finds first
cost for maintenance Of S7o2.5O0. and the
annual expenditure thereafter Sl4s,N~o'
The estimate for the ship canal OF % 'ef'
depth over the present route OF the Ches-
apoalxe and Delaware Canal is as foiloWs'
Land and Land Damages, Based Upon
Strip 1000 Feet Wide.
High land sOs acres, at $3.50 per 400. ,-o a,
Marsh lars ad lano' 400 acres 80. 75.OoOOi
pe' EXCAVATION.
Dredging 6O0-foot channel from
mouth OF Fairlee Greek 70
mouth OF Elk river 20,524,4lO
cubic yards, at II cents per a., 90, ~
cubic yard e.. &C.. .....s. z'ooo' lol-v
Dredging 200-foot channel from
mouth OF Elk river to Chesa-
pcake City. 10O55,000 cubic
yards. at "a cents per cubic .--.. ~
! yard 80. &C.. &c.. &C.. ...... l4Ji,tO3V
Dredging and dry excavation
from Chesapeake City to point
II. 1850 feet cast Sl75,o50 cubic
yards, at IS cents per cubic 49,. d.
Dredging and dry excavation
from above point to point
q $40 feet farther east, 2fl37.-
$50 cubic yards, at 16 cents per $500.
Dredging from above point TO
| Delaware river "A 500 cubic
yards, at IL cents per cubic
yard ......-.... Si4oeiUtOV
Dredging from shore of Della
ware river to present channel,
4,15S750 cubic yards at IL
cents per cubic yard ....... 61s, $50
feet, at $3.50 per linear foot. 100000
Special revetment TO hold flow
ing sand in deep cut ........ 100000
Jetties, 1000 linear feet, at $50
per linear foot ..... .. .... 10000
| Railroad bridges, one .......... 100000
! Highway bridges, six .......... 625.OO0O
| Maintenance plant .............. 702, 5000
! Contingencies and engineering,
at 10 per cent OF above. 1,G46,O o
Value OF works and franchise. 25l4,2 sg z
4otdl 80. 90. 80 ........-...... s2l, Cpl 1913 q
Estimates are also made for a sO-foo
channel for which the cost would be re
duced TO si7.Sl2.O647O
Commercial Advantages.
OF the commercial advantages OF IN
ship canal the commission says:
THE distance from Baltimore to Phila
delphia will be shortened by s23 miles
from Baltimore 10 the mouth Of the Della
ware Bay by 1s4 miles.
1.-THE history Of this canal project acros
the Maryland and Delaware peninsula ma
been a constant emphasis Of its advan
tage to commerce.
''At each Of the public hearings in Bal
H.. NlrLl...i....Lr.. I.I.ll.