Evening journal., 1909-11-18

/ make these references, not for pur-
poses Of comparison. for comparisons arc
odious; but for purposes OF iilusti alton.
We share fully In the wishes Of the people
Of the West that the difficulties OF their
problems may be successfully met, but !
point to them now in order TO n'ane clear
that from such difficulties our coastwise
problems are largely, II not entirely, free.
Here. along the Atlantic Seaboard, we
have extensive estuarles. now The arteries
OF q mighty commerce. destined never
10 be less, but ever 20 grow. that only
need 70 be connected BY artificial water
ways, cheap and easy OF construction,
and an capable OF being made at the
tideWater level. Narrasansott Bay, Vine
yard and Nantucket Sounds. Long Island
Sound. tho Delaware River and Bay, the
Chesapeake BAY. and Aibemarie and
pnmico Sounds, are natures great ghts
20 This Eastern coast. An that is required
10 fully unlock their commerce, TO fully
develop the exchange OF those products
which each 90 badly needs from the other.
IS 10 connect them. the one with the
other. and in a continuous inland line
| from Boston 20 Beaufort and further on
to Florida as the engineers may report
10 be practicable and profitable
Tho same problem is found on q smaller
scale IA the Adirondack Mountains. and
the Maine woods, wnere tho sp)rtsmar
or tho tourist can travel from ono end to
| tho other. shifting from ono stream and
its lakes to another stream and Its lakes
/ by tho guide transporting his canoe
across theshort interl lenirg carry" T.ese
canals Will cost relatively little to con-
siruct or 10 maintain.
Force moves on the line OF least re-
sistance. and the ease OF our problem Is
apparent from what has already been ac-
complishod. Congress has already adopt
ed the project Of the canal from Beaufort
TO Norfolk (which Is now under construc-
+ tion. though at an inadequate depth Gen.
/ Mackenzie, the late Chief OF Engineers,
placed tho cost OF sixteen foot canal,
where needed from Beaufort to Norfolk,
ot Si0,0000OQ. The cost Of their malnten-
ance should be at a minimum, as they
are far removed from any source OF silt
Tho Cape Cod Canal Is IN course or
active construction by o private COM
{ pany with ample capital and resources.
{ Tho engineers advising this project
must ho free from fear of obstruction by
sandbars forming across the mouths.
either in nuzzard's Bay or Barns.able
Bay. Should the canal, IN tho end. be
abandoned from this cause, It would make
tho New York. Boston and Brockton pro-
ioct from Narragansett Bay to Boston
Bay the only availnble route.
faIf. 80.
chain is the canal across New Jersey.
from Delaware Bay 10 Rarltan Bay.
Necessarily. its construction win take
much time and money; how much Of
each. we win better know when we have
Tho engineers report Of the survey now
being made.
Gives Some Figures.
This leaves as Tho one subject OF press
ing demand for initial action by Congress
the canal connecting the Chesapeake and
Delaware Bays. An approximate estimate
of its cost, under varying dimenaions has
been furnished 90 the chief OF engineers
on Railways and Canals by Major Flag
ler.
J. s5 feet canal win cost $S0OoOOOO.
O. 25 feet canal win cost St4.s0O0oO.
3. 10 feet canal VIII cost (of full wldth)
yi2O000oo
a. 1o feet canal VIII cost Cof diminished
widlh), sio000ooQ.
These estimates include in each case
tno cost of purchasing the present canal
at u price OF S2.JO0O0o.
For a canal Of l0 feet depth. with suit
able surface widths for the i6 feet depth
but with wooden rovetmont along one
bank 10 permit easy removal IN case Of
future operations for widening the canal
at the surface suitably for s5 feet canal