The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1916-01-08
c. & D. CANAL FOR
NATIONAL DEFENSE

Following favorable report from
| the Engineer Corps of the Army urg-
| ing the acquisition by the federal gov
ernment of the present Chesapeake Il
| Delaware Canal. which connects the
Chesapeake and Delaware bays. its
enlargement and improvement by the
government so as to make it a great
ship canal. five bills were introduced
in the House and Senate to carry out
these recommendations
-Four Congressman, Mr.. Bennett. of
New York, Mr.. Linthicum, of Mary
land. Mr.. Miller, of Delaware. and Mr..
Moore, of Pennsylvania, introduced
bills on the House side. all in accord
ance with the recommendations of the
Atlantic Deeper Waterways Associa-
ton. which passed resolutions on the
subject at its recent convention in
Savannah. These bills provide for the
purchase or condemnation of the
canal in accordance with the recon-
mendation of the United States Army
engineers.
Senator Saulsbury's bill was ac-
companied by statement by the
Senator which put the purchase of the
canal squarely up to the preparedness
proposition. His bill was given the
significant title of "a bill for improv-
ing the defenses of the coasts and in
dustrial centres of Delaware, Penn
sylvania. New Jersey, Maryland and
Virginia, for increasing their COM
merce and reducing transportation
| cost on the Atlantic seaboard."
The bill of Mr. Bennett provided for
the issuance of bonds sufficient to pur.
chase the canal and to start the work
across the States of New Jersey and
New York. The bond purchasing pro-
position was first suggested by Con-
gressman Bennet at the Savannah
convention. and was heartily received.
The bills of Messrs. Linthicum and
Miller were in the usual form. and
proposed putting into effect the find
lngs of the engineers. FIR Moore in
troduced two bills, with the thought
that one of them might be considered
by the Rivers and Harbors Committee
and the other by the Committee on
Railways and Canals.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Linthi-
cum calls for an appropriation of
about $2,500,000 for the purchase of
the canal, as recommended by the
Army engineers. and for the acuuisi-
tion of the canal by condemnation
proceedings if it cannot be obtained at
favorable price by purchase. The
pro1ect for the purchase of the c.. and
ID. Canal is part of the proposeal ad-
vocated by the Atlantic Deeper Wat
erways Congress and the National
Rivers and Harbors Congress for an
inland waterway route from New En-
gland to the Gulf, giving an inside
shipping route by water from North
to South.
But the project for the acquisition
OF the c. and d. Canal is considered
the most important link in the chain.
and 1T is the ambition of those behind
the movement to have the C. and D.
Canal widened and deepened sufi-
clently to accommodate the largest
warships of the United States. and
thus make it not only a great COM
merclal waterway, but factor in the
national defense of the country. so as
to enable the fleet to pass bv an in
side route from the Chesapeake and
Delaware Bays in the defense of Tli-
tlmore; Philadelphia. Washington,
Norfolk and Newport News.
The report of the engineers of the
war Department on the military and
naval advantages of the acquisition
OF the canal is contained in a letter
transmitted to the Senate by Secre-
tarv of War Garrison. The report is
made by Cen M. M. Macomb. chief OF
the War Colleoe and concurred in bv
Gen; Tas ter Fl. Bliss, acting chief of
staff, and by Secretary Garrison.
"