Evening journal., 1913-09-17
lConfinued From First Page !

Latrobe about noon. A fine dinner
VIII be served the 225 guests in the
evening. The Baltimore delegation is
one OF the most representative ever
sent out of Baltimore. Discussing the
inspection, Mayor Preston said that
the main reason for their presence on
the trip was a concerted desire to
secure better barge facilities on the
canal. This method of moving
freight, he explained, Is the cheapest
OF all inland water movements and
the local shippers are handicapped
at present by the inadequate depth
and width of the canal With increas-
ed facilities he believes that benefits
VIII be immediate and material.
Mayor Preston said Il was his de-
sire that the Congressman and
Senators who are making the in
spection trip should be duly Impress
cd with the necessity OF having inn
mediate governmental aid. If Unclo
Sam could be induced TO take over
the canal as a part Of the proposed
chain Of inland waterways from
Massachusetts, to North Carolina.
Mayor Preston said that would prove
great benefit to Baltimore as well
as other cities.
Baltimore, Wilmington and Phila-
delphia have now splendid COM
mercial opportunity to strengthen
themselves said the Mayor. "If we
cen impress upon the national legis-
lators our views in regards to the
canal, we will accomplish some
thing ! trust that the inspection to-
morrow will be Tho seed Of a heavy
future commercial growth"
Senator Jackson. Of Maryland, re-
ceiyed an invitation yesterday from
Mayor Preston to join the party.
Owing to a previous engagement
Senator Jackson was compelled 10
wire his regret, but he added that he
was strongly in sympathy with the
movement for the acquisition and
improvement OF the canal by the
government.
Gov. Miller For n.
Besides the Philadelphia delegation
Trenton, Newark and other New Jer-
sey towns are represented.
The delegations include. 314 from
Philadelphia. 100 from New Jersey. so
from Chester and rs from Whining
ton. Governor Miller in an interview
said: "The opening OF the canal and
the making II sea level waterway
Is thing VIC should all advocate. l
am a great believer in such Ia canal
and think on the Chesapeake and Del
aware the start for the inter-coastal
canal system should be made
Among the guests on the boat is
Col George ]. zinn, u. S. Engineer at
Philadelphia.
Engineers Recommend II.
General BiNhy, ot the special board of
United States engineer officers 10 report
on the proposed purchase of the Chesa
peakc and Delaware canal by the federal
government, IN his report TO Congress
said
1T is the opinion of the board thai no
route should be adopted that does hot
enter Delaware river at = lont wltmu
the protection and control oi the lortih
cations already constructed. II this view
he accepted, All routes enterr. Delaware
river or bay south oi Reedy Point must
be- rejected without further considera-
tiou This applies 10 all the Sassafras
river and Bohemia river routes as weH
as TO those already mentioned, Tor the
most northerly route utilizing these
rivers enters the Delaware river four
miles south of Reedy Point.
"The only route free from this defect
is one substantially along the line OF the
present Chesapeak, and Dc'awl,e canal.
This route has, therefore, been examined
with special care in order 10 determine
whether it possesses any advantages ~
disadvantages of sufficient weight 10
control decisively its selection or rciec-
ton
Its principal advantages are as fol-
lows;
"Its location and general direction are
we'll suited TO its Use as part OF the
general intracoastal waterway project.
n crosses the peninsula at It's mar
rowest part
The materials to be eXcavatcd in
construction are all adapted to easy
rapid and economical work.
II intersects fewer routes of land
travel than other routes available.
II shortens the distance from Balti-
more TO Cape Henlopen by lSi miles.
II enters the Delaware River in the
immediate vicinity Of the pesent forti-
Rcations and well within their protec-
ton
Its small length of land cut com
bined with it's northerly position and
the reduced number of land ap-
nroaches. make IT the route most
easily defended against land attack.
The maintenance Of It's channel
where II enters the Delaware River
and Chesapeake Bay presents no seri-
GUS difficulty
The cost Of q canal by this route
will he less than by any other avail
able
The construction work can be con-
Quoted as 10 permit the uninterrupted
use, toll free of the canal Tor COM
lmerce as soon as the Government ac-
auires possession.
The Board Of Engineers estimated
that a cut Of 1876 miles would have
TO be made TO carry out the project
10 make a canal 25 feet deep with a
lbottom width of i25 10 $50 feet and a
lsurface width up 10 500 feet. EXcava-
ltion of l2.675,595 cubic yards Of earth
will be necessary. The estimated
cost of acquiring the canal for the
government is S2,514 ,2S9. and the esti-
mated cost of construction to make Il
la free ship waterway as outlined
without locks. is S9,91O,210.
Shows Great Saving.
The Engineer Board also said: "Ac
cording to the reports of the Chesa
peske & Delaware Canal Co, th'
average annual shipments through
n canal for the last five years hav'
been 1864 tons, for which the toll
averaged $163,151.33. or genera
average of % 4 cents per ton. Ap
plying this general rate to The trafh,