Middletown transcript., 1916-01-08
TO BUY CID. CANAL
MIR. SauIsbury's and MIR. MilIer's
Bills Authorize Purchase
LIMIT OF s2,5l4,OOO SET PRICE

Chesapeake and Delaware Canal by the
Federal government, was inaugurated
as far as the present Congress is con-
cerned by the introduction Of three bills
relative to the matter by Senator Will
lard Salisbury and Congressman
Thomas w. Miller of Delaware and
Congressman Charles j. Linthicum of
Maryland, and Congressman j. amp
ton Moore of Pennsylvania, respectively
at Tuesday sessions. By the concert
ed efforts of delegations from the var
ious States interested it is hoped that
the present session of Congress will
pass the necessary legislation to pro-
vide for the taking over of this impor-
tant inland waterway by the Federal
government.
The project has been advocated and
under consideration fer many years and
has been recommended by the United
States Army engineers to Congress.
AT this particular time tre project OF
an inland waterway extending from
b ston, Mass, to the entrance of
Chesapeake Bay is attracting more
than usual attention because Of its bear
ing on the question of national defence,
the livest issue before the Congress.
The inland waterways scheme includes
the Cape Cod Canal, which has been
dug; the enlarging of the channe
through He'll Gaze, between New York
City and Long Island; ;the deepening and
widening Of the Delaware and RaritaD
Canal, connecting New York Bay with
the Delaware River and the deepening
and widening of the Chesapeake and
Delaware Canal which connects the
Delaware and Chesapeake Bays.
When Representative Miller of Della
ware, was spoken to about the project
today h. said: ''The requirement of the
Chesapeake and Delaware Canal by the
government has been advocated for
years because the canal, whil an arti-
fetal inland waterway. is real artery
of commerce. The arguments, as fal
as commerce is concerned are just as
good now as they were years ago ant
they should have prevailed upon Con-
gress to give favorable consideration
to the project. Adding to the reason,
already advanced from a Commercial
standpoint we have those to consider a.
the present day which bear upon the
subject of national defense. The Della
ware and Chesapeake Canal is a vita
link in the chain of inland waterways
extending from assachuSetts Bay tC
the Virginia Capes. The situation pre-
sented is analogous TO that of the Kiel
Canal which connects the North Sea
with the Baltic Sea and which Germany
built with great foresight By this
canal the German nay ia rendered
twice as effective because one fee can
defend the German coastline where il
would require two if the Kiel Canal had
never been built. Present events OBJ
viate further comment on the KieI
Canal, and the lesson it presents to the
people of this country. If the inland
waterways extending from Boston to
the Virginia Capes are completed, it
would be possible for fleet of our bat
tleships to defend, without taking to
the open seas, the most important
stretch of coastline we pos, ess".
The bill introduced by Congressman
Miller, authorizes the secretary of war
to enter into negotiations for the ac-
QUESTION of the Chesapeake and Della
ware Canal and to purchase it, and in
event Of the failure of such negotiations
within a period of six months from the
date of the passage of this act, to pro-
ceed to acquire the canal by condemna-
tiOn.
Section provides: THAT the sum of
$2,514, 290, or so much thereof as NAV
be necessary, is hereby appropriated
out of the moneys in the tire sury not
otherwise appropriated, for the acquisi-
ton by purchase or condemnation of
the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, as
provided in section one. Provided, that
in said purchase or condemnation the
existing interest of the United States
in said canal should be allowed for upon
the basis of the total snm fixed for it's
acquisition either by purchase or con-
demnation.
Senator Salisbury in bill in the SEN
ate puts the purchase of the canal as a
defense proposition. His bill was given
the significant title of ''a bill for i'm
proving the defenses Of the coasts and
industrial centres of Delaware, PennsyI-
vania, New Jersey. Maryland and Vir-
ginia, for increasing their commerce
and reducing transportation cost on the
Atlantic seaboard."
Senator Saulsbury's bill says in part:
BE it enacted that the Secretary of
War is directed to purchase the exist
ing Chesapeake and Delaware Canal
and if unable to purchase the same
within a reasonable time for sum not
greater than the amount hereby appro-
priated, the Secretary of War shall in
stitute proceedings for the condemna-
ton of said canal. The sum of 5000
is hereby appropriated to pay the ne
cessary costs of said proceedings. Pro-
vided. however, that the Secretary of
War shall not purchase the said canal
or accept and fulfill the award in such
condemnation proceedings should he be
unable 10 make such purchase or to pay
the award in such proceedings for the
sum Of ", 500, 900. which sum is appro- !