Evening journal., 1912-09-05

i ne meeting OF lue AlidullC DttHti
Waterways Association at New Lon
don, Conn, and the timely and in
structive articles on this subject
published by the WILMINGTON
EVENING JOURNAL has prompted
me to write few facts in connection
with the organization and building Of
the Cheapeake and Delaware Canal.
The Duke of Bridgewater was the
promoter of a canal system in Eng
land about 1861 or 1862, and only a
few years after this period, Thomas
Gilpin and others made surveys for
the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal.
In 1867 Gilpin and his associates sur
veyed from Duck Greek to Head Of
Chester, (which Gilpin owned) and
routes from Bohemia, Chester and
Elk rivers; also from Red Lion Creek
to Back Creek Forty-seven different
surveys we're made. DR. William
Matthews, Samuel Davis of Head Of
Sassafras. Richard Tilghman Earle
4th and William Barroll of Chester
town, Richard Tilghman Earle. and
James Clayland Jr., Of Centreville,
James Earle, Jr. and Owen Kennard
Of Easton, were appointed a commit
tee on the building of the canal The
second Monday in May 1903 a meeting
of stockholders was held in Whining
ton. They elected william Tilghman
afterwards Chief Justice of Penna)
J. c. Fisher. George Fox and Joshua
Gilpin for Pennsylvania, Mr.. Tatnall,
Mr.. Johns and James Bayard for
Delaware and Messrs. Chew, Gale and
Adlum for Maryland as their presi-
dent and directors The Engineers
chosen were Benjamin II. Latrobe.
Cornelius Howard. (brother of Gener-
al John E. Howard). Mr.. Thompson
OF Pa. and Mr.. Blaney of New Castle,
Delaware. After the numerous sur
veys, mention above the Elk River
route was chosen In 1867 the Ameri-
can Philosophical Society ordered a
survey across the Maryland and
Delaware peninsula. This was not
an opportune time for this work. be-
cause the country was on the eve of
war with England, consequently
nothing was done until the war was
over In 1893 Maryland granted a
Charter for the canal This state took
the first active steps in the matter
The charter stipulated that unless
Delaware granted permission to cut
a canal through her domain and
PENNSYLVANIA proclaimed the Sus-
auehanna river a highway. the char
ter would he void Five hundred
thousand dollars was raised in shares
of stock at 5000 each for the building
of the canal Tobias Rudulph and VIII
liam Alexander of Cecil County work
ed with the men of the committee
who have already been named, alsC
several persons from Philadelphia
Wilmington and Baltimore. I'm lS0i
BENJAMIN H. Latrobe. Cornelius
Howard and John Thompson, sur
veyors. were employed to run various
lines across the peninsula.
The directors finally concluded t'
adopt the route from Welsh Point
at the mouth of Back Creek on Ell
River running in northeasterly
direction to the Christiana creek, a
a place then known as Mendenhall
Landing. about four miles west o
Wilmington. The idea of using thi
route was to secure the Big Ell
creek waters, for the canal. A feede
was to be constructed to carry thi
water to and from a reservoir. fror
which the water could be drawn 70
canal use. This reservoir was I
cover acres of land. About one hun
dred thousand dollars was spent Of
this feeder. The work was unde
BENJAMIN II. Latrobe. who was
noted engineer and also an architec
of fame. He was the grandfather q
the late Ferdinand c. Latrobe, man.
times Mayor Of Baltimore city. TIL
Canal Company could not take tn
water from the Big Elk without frs
buying the water rights from the ri
Forge Company. who operated tn
forge at what is now Baldwins q
Elk Mills. This point was to be tn
start of the feeder. Not only was
necessary to buy the water right {
the Force Company. but the right {
each mill to the mouth Of the creel
Due bills we're issued to pay for thes
water rights. and work was actuall
begun in 1902. The water rights onl
granted the canal company to us
water when they we're in need of ]
The Forge Company were TO have th
water in the winter when navigatio
was closed. The water was take
out of the creek in an acqueduc
constructed for the purpose. tt
most superior work was done
building the feeder Arches wei
formed Of solid masonry for sma
streams to pass through. Some
these arches are yet standing.
When the late Daniel Lord (gran'
father of Daniel Lord Baldwin, VIZ
building Elk Mills. or then known
Lords Factory" he thought he coul
use stone from one Of these archie
Mr. Lord soon found he could quar-
the stone he needed, as it was bo
easier and cheaper than trying
demolish arches. For a time q
the water was let in the feeder 1
se TO allow barges of building mate
ial to go through the places farth'
down where work was still in progre
The stones prepared by the workm'
Of this time we're so fine and so We
dressed they we're used long after Z
feeder was abandoned, in building
culvert by the p. W. & B. railro
over the Big Elk creek.
There was such lack Of harmo
among the projectors as to the he
place for the canal, that the feed