Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-05-27
Tho Cape Cod Canal.

ing engineer OF New York City, in a
recent address before the Boston
Chamber of Commerce, told the bust
ness men of the Hub great deal
about the Cape Cod canal which they
did not know. Mr.. Parsons is of the
opinion that the building of the canal
will materially stimulate the commerce
of Boston and that it will afford
means for concentrating naval forces
at Boston, Newport or New York
without the danger of encountering
the forces of an enemy in the open
sea.
According to Mr.. Parsons a canal
across Cape Cod was considered short
ly after the arrival of the Pilgrims
was seriously discussed at the END OIL
the seventeenth century, was surveyed
in 1776, was urged By the secretary OF
the treasury in 1909 and In 1928 was
surveyed by the United States govern
ment. All of these plans were for
small canal with locks. and in the
opinion of the speaker the limited
capacity contemplated would restrict
the use of the canal to vessels so small
that they could not safely navigate the
waters of Massachusetts and Maria
gansett bays. Thus the project. as
originally mapped out. was doomed to
be failure at the outset.
In 1870 it was discovered that locks
we're unnecessary and that it would
be possible to build d canal large
enough for ocean going vessels. Ten
Years later work was started by prl-
vate company but the company failed
Twenty years later. or in 1900. char
ter was granted to the present COM
PAW calling for a canal 100 feet wide
at the bottom and Is feet deep at low
water. The company is now planning
for a more elaborate canal than the
charter provides for, in that there will
be three passing basins 200 feet VIDE
and a long stretch 300 feet in width
az the Barnstable end. The approach
canals in Buzzards and Barnstabie
| bays will be from go to 300 feet vide
and will have mean low water depth
of 26 feet. All bridges over the chan
mel will be set upon foundations deep
enough so that it will be possible to
| excavate the channel to 80 feet to make
| il available for the use of battleships.
Work has progressed so well that there
is every reason to believe the canal
will be finished in the fall of 1912.
This new waterway will enable COM
panies engaged in water transporta-
ton between Boston and New York
to maintain a schedule as regular as
that of a railway. 1t has been DEM
onstrated that railway companies en-
gagged in the transportation of heavy
freight must maintain regular traffic
in order to make money and in order
| to serve the shippers to the best ad-
vantage. Water transportation, with
l
sary for companies engaged in the
business to own and maintain large
equipment in order to provide for de-
LAYS and loss caused by storms. This
| is especially true of companies oper-
ating barges, tow boats and freight
steamships out of Boston to the south
| maud N. tbo,, ara pow mpplle TO
| sail around one of the most dangerous
points on the Atlantic coast When
the canal is ready for business the Wa
ter transportation companies will be
able to reduce their equipment, or take
on more business. as the most danger
Gus part of their trip will be eliminated
! TO Mr.. Parsons mind the building
of the Cape Cod canal will undoubted-
" stimulate commerce of Boston as
it will increase the Importance of that
| city as distributing point for New
England 1t is impossible for the
| railroads to handle the raw material
such as coal and cotton for the New
| England mills at a sufficiently low
rate. IT these mills are to maintain
their standing against southern com
petition. they must receive their raw
material more cheaply. 1t is evident
that the city of Boston will be mater
tally aided by this project and it is
strange that it has not been completed
before.