Evening journal., 1915-07-14
SUBMIT PLANS FOR
NEW CANAL BRIDGE
P. B. & w. R. R. Co. Wants
Lewes Improvement Fin
ished Early Next Year
WAR DEPARTMENT
MUST CONSENT

flnns prepared ny the =, D. q w.
Railroad Ion the erection OF the proposcu
bridge over Lewis Canal connecting
Delaware bay and Rehoboth bay to
carry the tracks OF the Delaware, Mary
land and Virginia Railroad have hen
submitted TO the War Department Tor
approval. The railroad company desires
TO have the bridge in use by next spring.
So as to facilitate work on the struc-
ture the old bridge over Lcwes creek wilt
be in position only part OF each month.
The following notice which has been
posted in the stations of the railroad at
lowes and Rehoboth, explains the ac-
ton: Pending the building Of a draw
bridge over Lewes river ton track lead
inc from Lewes station to industries
along Delaware Bay, the Secretary OF
War has accorded permission TO allow
fixed span of bridge TO remain in place
from the lst to the 10th inclusive. Of
each month. and from the llth to the
close Of each month the bridge will be
removed to allow free passageway tol
/ boats using the Lewes river. This wil
afford shippers and receivers of freight
/ at the factories and other industries
/ located along this track rail communiea
tions for the first ten days of the monti
only. until further advised"
The action Of the railroad company
/ in preparing for the erection of the
bridge over the canal removes the
last hindranco in the way OF the conf
pietion OF the proposed inland water
way. OF the actual caral all put
about 4,O0O feet of the proposed in
land waterway between Delaware Bav
and Cape Charles has been dredged.
1t is the hope of the government to
complete the section Of the remaining
1000 feet to a point beyond the ran-
road bridge to be erected.
The construction OF a canal con-
Meeting Delaware Bay with the waters
to the south was first suggested IN
1878, when. by direction OF Congress,
a report on q survey of the route was
presented Reports on sections OF the
/ proposed canal about Indian River and
hay and SinepuXent bay were submit
ted in 1851 and 1882. but it was IN
1884 that the Rivers and Harbors bill
provided for a survey of Lewes River
Rehoboth Bay, Assateague and Chin
colleague bays, TO provide for canal
connecting Delaware Bay and the
lower bays In 1887 the State of Del
aware ceded TO the United States
government jurisdiction over STRIP
between Delaware Bay and Assawa-
man Bay of o strip not greater than
90 feet. In 1891 this act OF ths
State was amended to apply 10 a striI
Of 800 feet IN width.
In 1892 the attorney general of ths
! United States held that the title e
the right Of way had been secured e
the government and in 1895 the con
tract for the construction OF the pro
posed canal w0s awarded. Whel
work was started. however. tho gov
eminent was enjoined by the railroad
company on the ground that the RICH
of way had not been secured and i
was found that the S5 nominal dam
ages awarded the railroad compan,
by the commissioners had remained
uncollected in Georgetown bank
In 1899 the commissioners of Reho
both furnished the government a qui
claim deed to property at the railroa'
and the commissioners awarded thl
/ railroad damages for the erection AM
maintenance of a bridge. But Their
were no funds and in 1905 Congress
AnN HARI'AAs IL A"Nf n hN+
vey from Rehoboth Bay to Delawar
Bay was authorized and in 1912, $50,
! 600 for the work was appropriated
In the present year Congress author
lied condemnation proceedings TO
the right of " ay through the tracks Q
the railroad and recently IN the VII
y mington United States District Cour
{ damages for the erection and main
: tenance of the bridge was awarde
. the railroad company.
e At the present time there Is
natural open waterway from Cap
I Charles TO the northern end of Assa
0 vaman bay. A four mile canal CON
{ pleted connects the top OF Assawam
s an bay with the lower end of India
/. bay. which is a branch OF Rehobot
:. bay. From Rehoboth bay about tw
miles have been completed northwar
to the railroad crossing, where abot
A 1000 feet of the proposed canal n
II main TO be dredged 10 connect wit
) the open portion of the canal extend
/. ing from Lewes. through Broadkil
e river. to the Delaware bay. With d
is exception of the 1000 feet yet to
s- excavated. a continuous waierws
is exists from Delaware bay to Car
,e Charles.
A AT the present time the canal
r thirty feet wide with a depth of ~
mi. II.