Middletown transcript., 1912-01-27
s5,5OO,OOO COST OF CANAL
Major Raymond Makes Estimate
in PreparatiOn Of His Report

The construction Ut barge canal to c0I
meet the Delaware and Chesapeake Bavs,
with depth OF twelve feet and a width
on the bottom of ninety feet would cos,
$5, 5000 Thisis exclusive of the cost
OF acquiring the present canal which has
been appraised at 81 5I4 2S9. 70. This
estimate, which is defnate, and official.
was completed last week by Major R. R.
Raymond, who is iB charge of the Gov
ernment engineering Office 10 Whining
ton. The major was directed two wesks
ago by Gen. W. H. Dixby, chief of eDgi.
neers i' Washington, TO prepare data on
the barge canal proposition and make an
estimate on the cost. This work has just
been finished.
The next move will be meeting of the
special board Of government engineers 10
the Army Building, New York, of which
Major Raymond is member. At this
session a report will be prepared for SUBJ
mission to General Bixhy on the matter
of a series of barge canals from Boston to
Norfolk, Va, of which the Delaware
Chesapeake section is part.
Itis computed that the cost of a sea
level canal would bs the same as a water
way with locks; and the sealevel canal
infinitely better. The fact that a canal
locks would be as expensive as one so
constructed that the tide could rise and
fall therein is due to natural conditions.
The LOCKS would have to be built on
foundation of soft mud. difficult under
taking.
In addition to this obstacle. it would be |
necessary to install an extensive pumping |
plant as the natural water supply would |
be inadequate at any time OF the year and
in the summer, when traffic
would be the heavier.
Sea Level Canal Preferable
1t is conceded that the special board, in
is report to General Bixby, will recon-.
mend that the Della ware Chesapeake Sec
ion of the barge canal proposition be of
he sea level type. This will be done be.
auee it will be easier aud less expensive
o deepen and widen a sea level waterway
nto the more important ship canal than
t would be to improve a canal with locks.
he proposed ship canal-the object for
7hich Major Raymond ia earnestly striv-
necessarily have tidal condi.
ions.
While a twelve foot csasl would not
coastwise vessels except the
nallest type of ocean going craft, and
'ould not, therefore, permit the ocean
-afic of Baltimore to reach Philadelphia
8 construction would be the first step to. {
ard the greater improvement. General
ixby reasons that before a waterway |
In be twenty-five feet in depth it must,
! the first stages, have depth of twelve
et.
He recommends, therefore, that what g
tsntamount to the preliminary con +
rBetion of ship canal be reported upon
addition to the report recently present
on the major proposition. The result,
will merely be a matter of II
.velopment.
While barge canal would be a great L
lprovement on the present shallow wa
rway-aside from the probability of its
aiding to better things-it would fall 0
ort in many respects. For example il
could not accommodate a craft of the il
.e oI ]. P. Morgan's yacht Corsair which
Is nearly lost fortnight ago off Assa-
lgue, Va. Neither could it provide
4igation for the fleets of torpedo boat " =.
stroyers that recently had such peri a :,
is voyages at sea. Ocean going vessels l
en- when empty or only partially loaded
aid not utilize the inland waterway.
Save Half Million Year hi
The advantages in other respects would "
manifest, nevertheless. A saving ap. pt
oximated at half million dolars year
,uld be effected were a barge canal in
grafton between the Delaware and
Bays. Gt
Major Raymond computes that twelve 10
It sea level canal is worth three quarters ui
much as ship canal twenty-five feet VI
sp; that tWelve.foot canal with locks %
worth about three-fiths as much as the
ger waterway.
The opinion has been expressed that
, proposal for a barge canal possibly Ri
ans the substitution of such a water Tn
y, from Boston to Norfolk, for the ship -
lal proposition. This is ground less. W
the members of the special board are ii
1ocates of a ship canal, at least twenty
. feet in depth, and its necessity is fully T
ognized by Congress. With such a
ling obtaining it is evident there can
but one ultimate result-the appropria-
n of an amount sufficient to begin the De
rk on the ship project. on