Evening journal., 1915-02-08
C. { D. Canal
USELESS IN WAR
Daniels Says Only Few
Light GunbOatS Could
Use Waterway
DEEPENING THE
ONLY SOLUTION

WASlllNGlON, -. G., fcb. >. hcp /
resentative j. Hampton Moore, OF
Philadelphia, has made public a letter
from Secretary of The Navy Daniels
with regard 10 the usefulness of the
Chesapeake and Delaware Canal as al
means of passage of the ships of the
navy in time OF war. The letter states
that the canal could not be used even
by submarines and that only few
ships of comparatively obsolete types
could navigate il. Mr. Moore brought
out the letter rs an argument for the
purchase and development of the water
way by the government as an important
step toward preparedness for war The.
letter also deals with the condition Of
the Delaware and Raritan Canal, from
New York to Philadelphia The letter
follows
My Dear Mr.. Moore: ! have the honor
to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of November q on the strategic value
of the inland waterways between New
York bay TO Delaware bay and from
Delaware bay to Chesapeake bay. The
characteristics of these canals are well
known TO the department and are
! briefly. as follows
A draft of seven feet can be taken
through the passage from New York bay
TO Delaware bay and nine feet from
! Delaware bay TO Chesapeake bay; the
greatest speed permitted in the canal rs
four and onehalf statute miles per
hour The size OF vessels using the
canal is limited by the locks and
bridges
As limited by the characteristics of
these canals, with regard to draft, locks
and bridges. the following United States
naval vessels can pass through the DclR-
ware aud karitan canal from New York
to Philadelphia.
Would Accommodate Few Boats
tA) Eighteen of the 10 torpedo boats
(lamagut eyccptcd. All of the above
boats are either in reserve or assigned
To- State naval battalions and are being
disposed of more or less regularly, as
circumstances permit.
tBl Five small gunboats, namely;
lCallao, Pampanga, Panay Samara and
Sandoval All Of these boats are now
i'm the Philippines, except the Sandoyai,
which is assigned to the New York
/ Militia.
CO A few of the converted yachts
might be passed through on a very light
draft. although all draw too much water
normally.
CD) One tug, the pawnco. located at
New York yard, and possibly few
others on light draft.
Measurements of mastheads above
water line should be taken in the above
cases in order to assure passage under
lO-foot stone arch at New Bmn- wick, y.
j. In some cases the removal of masts
may be found necessary.
The Chesapeake & Delaware Canal
is 10 miles long. with three locks.
each 220 by "a by feet draft All
bridges have draws. and maximum
speed permitted is 4 1-2 miles per
hour. Toll rates are subject to
change. Inquiry as to shoals should
be made prior to passage The Della
ware river from Philadelphia to Della
ware City the northern terminal of
the canal. has ample water for ships
which might pass through the canal,
but below Chesapeake City, the south
ern terminal, back creek into which
the canal opens is difficult of naviga-
tion. having a narrow and crooked
channel. l2O to 15O feet wide. with
shoals on each side. Pilots may be
had, but creek is too narrow for
anchorage Below this creek the
channel of Elk river is easily nayi-
. gable.
The following ships of the United
States Navy will pass through the
Chesapeake and Daleware canal
(A) All torpedo boats-l9 in NUM-
her The same notes apply in this
case as in sub-paragraph (A) above
(B) Seven small gunboats, namely
E411nn nnVnnnnVu nunnN nmfWng
Samara, Sandoval and Villalobos
The same notes apply in this case as
, in sub-paragraph (B) above.
Co Five converted yachts namely:
, Aileen, Elfrida. Huntress. Oneida and
Sylph. Some few others might be
. passed through in light condition
/. These vessels are mostly assigned tC
state naval battaliOns, and are be.
ing gradually disposed Of
Cd Eight tugs namely: Accomac
Hercules, lwana, Massoit, Narkeeta
.. Pawtucket. PenaoOok and Pentucket
S A few more might he sufficiently
-- lightened to permit their passage.
n The above is based upon drafts a
t. normal load displacement
o. The length and breadth of locks n
c both cases will take all submarines
c but the drafts over sills of seven fee
r. and nine feet are prohibitiye. Posi-
bly, some few submarines might Il
n brought to a draft of nine feet bu
p only by the removal OF oil fuel, stor
10 age batteries and other essentia
n units. This is. however, doubtful
.e II will thus be seen that il ia i'm
is practicable for submarines TO us
r. these canals under war conditions
n when the submarines would have OF
board all their eCu'pment unle9
such changes are made in tho char
II acteristics of the canals as viii Per
le nit the passage of vessels DRAWN
" not less than 13 feet which is IN
Is average draft of a submarine whe
al running on the surface Fifteen fec
u. of water should be provided for