Evening journal., 1912-12-27

fIo IfluHlNk OF NIidt -ht iAhi we
Fay from somers Point I'm Atlantic
county. 20 Beesleys Point In Cape
Iay county.
Roth have been discussed for years
Is South Jersey and both are OF state
wide Importance.
Part 1.
ATLANTIC AND DELAWARE Ray
CANAL.
The cutting of a canal TO connect
the waters of Delaware Bay with the
Atlantic Ocean. thereby eliminating
the dangers TO freight boats, proc
duce boats. oyster boats and pleasure
craft incident TO trip around Cape
MAY Is logically the result of tho
building of the state Inland Water
way
The opening of such q passage viii
completely rcvolutionize the economic
value of the Waterway, converting IL
from a route now available only for
pleasure craft. or possible passenger
boats into a water highway OF great
commercial Importance
The state Inland Waterway repre-
sents an expenditure of nearly half a
million dollars II has a depth of g
feet at mean low tide and a width on
the bottom of 100 feet No bridge
can be built across Il unless equip
ped with draws and every new bridge
must be al least l3 feet above low
water The Waterway Is being built
to connect Bay Head with Cape May, a
distance of about 1l6 miles linking
the seaside resorts together, and its
construction by the State Las resulted
in adding millions of dollars Of ratable
values 10 former worthless marsh and
meadow lands.
n. now, this splendid artificial
waterway shall be connected with
Delaware Bay and the Delaware River
(tho State5s great natural waterway
Ohe States great natural waterway
would reap a tremendous advantage
in common from a commerce now de-
nied them.
Dangerous bars and treacherous
shoals an the mouths Of the various
inlets on the coast are n menace to
the navigation of the channels leading
from the ocean 10 the present >tnto
Inland Waterway The canal on the
other hand. will afford safe passage
regardless of weather conditions and
convenient access by the logical back
door route" to every resort on the
coast
Towns such as Trenton, Salem
Burlington Bordentown. Bridgolon
Mulvllo and Port Norris. which arc
manufacturing and producing cen.
irca could ship hay, grain, feed
lime lumber. brick cement produce
osatera etc direct 20 the coast re.
-f0ffs including Atlantic City Ocoaf
ity. Sea Isle City Avalon, Ston'
Harhor. wildwood and Cape May. eacl
IS consuming point
A lowering of railroad freight ratol
4o water rate basis would be inev
Stable The reduction In The ircigh
~ coal and lumber from Philadelphia
rnl Camden would alone be am i'm
monsc item.
The Atlantic and Delaware Ba'
Canal should be "A sea-leVcl canal al
Delaware Bay and The Atlantic Ocoai
8ro TO an inicnts and purposes, "a
the same elevation The elimination
Of locks would reduce the cost of con
btruction and facilitate transit
The extension of the existing Capl
Nav Court House Canal 20 Delaware
BAY by means of hydraulic dredging
fihc cheapest method of excavation
known Is generally regarded mos
fayorahly. as 1t would entail the leaa
work. third of The length of th'
canal being actually dredeed an'
open 20 navigation today.
This canal IS 100 feet wide and j
10 / 8 feet deep and is l-2 miles u
length including the outlet through
Scotch Bonnet TO Great Channel A
present the canal ends almost at th'
edge of the meadows near Cape Ma.
Court House.
This route crosses Cane May count
al its most central point No boat
bound fOr any resort would have q
double on their course altcr paslin
through the canal Craft destined io
Atlantic City or Wildwood would fin
a equally as convenient for ono "a
the other a glance at the map show
how desirable this route rs.
The construction OF this canal o
on extension Of the State lnlNn
Waterway system Is entirely prnpc
md wholly justified on the grounds ,
public policy The canal need not D
more than ten feet deep and 100 ie,
wide at present except at point
where bridges are necessary. Her
the width and depth should be of Oh
maximum required in the future.
The need for such an artery Of con
merce which will serve the tocmin
summer population OF the New JersC
AOdNl IfrOIln 10 NlH'Nls AN~Nd0 ti
State Inland Waterway because II h;
no connection with Delaware Bay,
useless TO the builders. merchants an
consumers OF the coast.
The canal should be a free can
and II Is not proper that Il should
left for private capital to build. IN
State alone should do this work b
cause every county on the Atlant
Ocean, the Delaware River and q
Raritan Canal will be directly ben
fitted by It's construction, while evel
county and community In the sta
will derive the advantages incident
the immense increase In taxable pro
crty which the construction OF h
can3A viii bring about The rou
ca,lineS above has been surveyed al
d Ironounced feasible and In every WI
Desirable by experienced engineer
There are few difficulties to be owe
come and no natural obstacles In
way. and as the proposition is recei
ing the endorsement and approval
civic and public bodies througho
the State there is every reason
hope that favorable action Will
taken by the Legislature on the su
feet at the approaching session
Part II.
GREAT EGG HARB0R BAY BRIDl
During the administration of CO
IL. Na.H..