Evening journal., 1912-01-06

chase of the Albemarle AID Chesa-
peake Canal. The officers recommend |
the purchase by the government of
the Albemarle Canal. But this re-
commendation is not necessarily final,
because before the Secretary Of War
can consummate the purchase Con-
gress must vote him the necessary
money. There is therefore still time
for the advocates Of the purchase OF
the Dismal Swamp Canal TO present
their case to Congress and II is be-
lieved that by prompt and energetic
action the Rivers and Harbors Com
mittee can vet be convinced of the
superior advantages Of the Dismal
SWAMP route. II is believed, how
ever that the Rivers and Harbors
Committee will take up this question
before long. so that any action that
is contemplated by the friends OF
the Dismal Swamp Canal must be
takes without delay.
General Bixby's Report.
General Bixby, in indorsing that
portion of the report recommending
the purchase and progressive devel-
opment of the Chesapeake and Della
ware Canal, says:
This canal forms an essential part
of a through inland waterway con-
Meeting New York and Philadelphia
with the South. Its purchase and the
adjustment of tolls will produce at
once a. considerable saving in trans
portation expenses and should result
/ i'm an early and substantial increase
of traffic with advantage to the com
merce of several states. This canal
is at present 10 feet deep and OF the
! lock type, the locks being "a feet wide
! by 22O feet long. The change should
be made gradually and in such way
as to interfere as little as possible
with existing traffic; and u feet depth
or thereabout should be secured
throughout the canal before the deep
ening is carried TO 25 feet. While the
above recommendation for immedi-
ate purchase of this canal and the en-
/ largement of this section to about II
fleet depth is a definite recommends
ton. the method Of deepening must
depend considerably upon the cost OF
the intermediate step. and further es-
Inmates for such PORTE # the work
will therefore be cai and sub
mitted with final Recommendation fol
this section"
Col William T. Russell, senior
member OF the board, reports as fol
lows to the Congress on the Chesa
peako and Delaware link Of the chair
of intercoastal canals
Most Available Route.
"All possible routes were consider
ed by the special board. and the opin
ion was reached that the most avail
able route lies substantially alonl
the line of the present Chesapeak
and Delaware Canal. and a survey q
this route was therefore made. TIL
present terminus OF the canal az Della
{ ware City is not we'll adapted TO en-
/ largement. and the plan presente
provides for now entrance 10 Reed
Point though retaining the Delawar
| City arm as "A brsr,h canal for th
use Of light draft boats
From the point Of junction of thl
new entrance and che present canal
4 the proposed waterway follows close
ly the line Of the existing cut Th'
: law ordering this investigation pre-
F, / scrihes 25 feet as the maximum dept
, 10 be considered. The special boar,
states that this depth would permi
nearly all of the coastwise water
= borne traffic now plying betweei
Baltimore and the ports of th'
r Northern Atlantic coast and also Z
T large part OF the foreign commercl
u Of Baltimore. with Canadian aud Eu
r ropean ports. 10 use the canal ad
s vantageously. IL is stated that
b depth of Is feet would permit few
+ OF these vessels 10 utilize the canal
j The actual saving in first cost of tn
d 1S-foot canal as compared with %
foot canal is placed at about 100000
II and as this saving is not regards
2 as surnclent 10 justify the sacrlnc
If Of the benefits expected from tn
r greater depth fnal estimates ar