Democratic messenger., 1909-02-13

| The bill was introduced by Orlando
Harrison, also a member from Worces-
ter. and now president Of the company,
And Mr.. Carey. who then happened
to be member of the Ways and Means
Committee. tackled on to the bill in that
committee an amendment which pro-
vided that whenever the Sinepuxent
company raised the sum of 81, 500 and
had contracted for the building Of the
inlet the State was to give So, 500 to-
ward the completion of the project, re-
ceiving in return 10000 acres of the
bay, while the company retained 20. 600.
The manner in which this amendment
was put on and then put through was
unique in the annals Of the Legislature.
1t thoroughly committed the State to
the plan, and finally, when Mr.. Carey
had the appropriation bill signed by Mr..
Warfeld, the then Governor, there was
joy in a large section Of Worcester
County.
The Sinepuxent Inlet Company then
started in to raise the money for the
inlet, so as to avail themselves of the
States appropriation. And then came
the blow. William Shepard Bryan, then
Attorney General of Maryland. declared
that the bill was unconstitutional mas
much as it asked the State to make an
appropriation for an internal improve
ment, which is prohibited by the Con-
stitution.
Under Mr.. Bryan's advice, the State
Comptroller declined to pay over the
money. The law was submitted to
other well-known lawyers, who main-
tanned against Mr.. Bryan, that it was
constitutional. and for awhile it was
proposed to test the question in the
courts. Eventually, this was decided
against, and the company determined
to go ahead on its own hook.
1t did. Mr.. Harrison as president,
DIR. z. p. Henry as treasurer, and Mr..
Carey as a willing helper, started to
work. Major C. A. F. Flageler, U. S.
A., went over the plans and the grounds.
and recommended in the strongest
terms the project as a feasible and
practical scheme. He likewise recon-
mended Dodge & Day, firm Of en-
gineers, to build the inlet.
About this time another blow befell
the company. Senator John Walter
Smith withdrew his name absolutely as
one Of the incorporators. and because
of the criticism leveled against him de-
clined to take share of stock in the
company. He has not now any con-
nection whatever with it.
Considerable money was raised
from other sources. Dodge & Day were
engaged. The contract was awarded
and plans drawn up.
Then the dirt-or rather the sand
began to fly. Two and half miles be-
low Ocean City, where the beach is
narrowest, at place called Cofiin's
Point, the cut was begun.
A big steam dredge and q large steam
scoop were installed. They have been
at work for months.
Much Of the inlet is completed. The
whole bay is being barricaded. Piles
IL feet into the bottom have been driven
from shore to shore.
These are connected by mattresses of
brush tightly bound together with cop
per wire. Through this smaller sawed
piles have been driven, and the whole
thing is being done on the soundest and
most modern of scientific principles.
An angular cut is being made in the
beach so as to provide deep canal for
the flow of the waters Of the bay.
Eventually the barricade that now
runs to the angular cut will extend to
the ocean. The inlet when completed
will be from half mile to mile wide.
This angular cut is within 700 feet of
the surf bank and through it the waters
of the bay run. After this has es-
tablished deep channel the cut will be
continued to the ocean.
The greater part of the work has
been already done. BY August it is ex-
pected the inlet will be through. The
big suction dredge is daily at work and
the sand is being scooped out with a
rapidity that astonishes the natives.
This suction dredge cost the company
So, 500, and it is now about at the end
of its finances. Convinced of the con-
stitutionality of his plan. Mr.. Carey
has interested the Shell Fish Commits
sioners in the scheme and has secured
an Endorsement of the plan from them,
DIR. Caswell Grave stating that he
wishes it success and Mr.. Swepson
Earle, the engineer of the commission,
making the following statement:
Consider that the contemplated in
let will be success. The Sinepuxent
Salt Water Inlet Company will haye
about Is. 900 acres of the barren bottoms,
which will leave more than 40, 900 acres
of barren bottoms. excluding the ]. ZOO
acres of natural oyster rock. It Is con-
servative to estimate that the majority
of this bottom (barren area) will be
oyster producing If taken up and planted.
The upper section of Chincoteague Bay
could be devoted to seed oyster culture
and the planters in the lower bay could
buy their supply at one-half the present
cost without leaving Worcester County.
Under the foregoing conditions the
State should make every effort to Sc
cure an inlet as a substantial revenue
could be expected even at rental Of
81 per acre.
One of the great advantages of the
bay as an oyster-breeding territory after
the salt water has been let in is the fact
that it is a thoroughly protected body
of water, from which the oysters or
CLANS can be taken at any time and any
season. Storms and weather will not
affect the planters there, and the convic-
tion Of the men behind it all is that it
wil!-prove the ideal oyster-culture loca-
ton of the world. DIR. Caswell Grave,
in letter to Mr.. Carey, says Of the
plan: