Evening journal., 1918-12-12
RY MnLLIE noMARp Asn.

WdterWaN over Niiv0D NAt0Ao W. 49,"
ships that have heretofore sailed only
the seas.
From the year 1850 to 1918. is a Ions,
long time, yet from this early date 10
the present time has a canal connect
ing the waters OF the Delaware and
Chesapeake Bays, been subject OF
discussion, building and operation.
When Augustine Herman was lord OF
Bohemia Manor In 1850, being sur
veyor by profession, he seriously con
sldered a waterway Of some kind 10
,onnect the two bays.
Historians agree that 10 was prospect
4 a canal through his domains, as mucn
: fertility Of soil, which prompted him
4 choose Bohemia Manor, as a COM
eensatlon from Lord Baltimore, Tor ms
famous map of Maryland.
While neither he or his early descen-
dents saw realization OF his hopes,
they were fulfilled about one hundred
and fifty years later.
Aueustine's son, Ephraim Herman, had
q residence on the Delaware, and the
fathers fayOrite route to his home IN
that state. was bride path from his
bohemia Manor estate, a fairly straight
lane, and long known as the 'Old Man :
Path" which path the chesapeake ana
Delaware Canal followed.
The opening Of the canal on OCTOBER
27. 1929. was a day Of great jolliica-
ton by the residents OF this part OF
MARYLAND and Delaware. Even the aris-
tocracy thought It not beneath their
dignity 10 drink TO excess, TO celebrate
ne great occasion, and more than one
gentleman went home "loo iml ior
utterance."
Interest in the old waterway is not
confined to people living near the canal.
New York, Philadelphia, Wilmington,
baltimore. Washington and Richmond
ara an deeply Interested In the govern
ment ownership, and plan TO make IL
> .,free shin canal" The construction
Of the Panama Canal was no greater
feat. considering this marvellous age OF
machinery dynamite, and all other alds
i'm canal building than the conslruc-
tion OF this same Chesapeake and Del
aware Canal Every foot Of earth was
removed by hand, men with pick and
shovel. must do the work, which In thls
age Is done by huge steam shoVels'
Horses and carts were the only means
used to remove the dirt out OF the
canal course. Patience, perseverance
and a determined effort 10 accomplish
the desired result alone made the pro-
iectors victorious.
Let US take a look at the early his
tory OF the canal, and see what were
a few OF their difficulties.
AS early as i767, Thomas Gilpin ana
others made q survey, for a canal across
the Maryland and Delaware peninsula
This was followed by many more sur
vevs. TIN fOrty-seven were made. Dr.
William Matthews, Samuel Davis OF
Head Of Sassafras; Richard Tighman
Earle. an, and William BarrOn, OF
Cheslertown; Richard Tilghman Earle
and James Clayland, Jr., OF Cenirevllle
James Earle, Jr., and owen kennard OF
Easton. Md, were appointed a commit
tee on the building OF the canal.
The second Monday in May, 1903,
meeting OF stockholders was held IN
Wilmington, Del They elected William
'rilghman. (afterwards chief Justice OF
pennsylvania); J. G. Fisher, George
Fox. and Joshua Gilpln, for Pennsyl-
vania: Mr.. Tatnall, Mr. Johns and James
A Bayard OF Delaware; Messrs. Chew,
Gale and Album. Of Maryland, as their
presldent and directors. The engineers
chosen were Benjamin II. LatroDe, Cor
nelius Howard, brother OF General John
Eyer Howard, Of Maryland; Mr. Thomp-
son OF Pennsylvania, and Mr. Blaney'
OF New Castle, Del.
After the numerous surveys mention
ed above. the, Elk river route was
chosen. In 1867. the American Philo-
sophical Society ordered survey across
the Maryland and Delaware peninsula.
This was not an opportune time 10:
the work. because the country was On
the eve OF war with England, conse-
quently nothing was done till the war
was ever
Charter Granted in 1893.
In 1929 Maryland granted a charter
for the canal, being. the first State to
take active steps in the matter. This
charter stipulated that unless Delaware
Granted permission 10 cut a canal
trough her domain, and Pennsylvania
reclaimed the Susquehanna river a
highway. the charter would be void.
Note this: Has the State Of Pennsyl-
vania kept her part Of the bargain IN
allowing this mighty river TO be dam
med2 The Hon. ]. Hampton Moore, OF
that State, struck the right cord in his
speech on "Damming the Susquehan-
nan Five hundred thousand dollars
was raised in shares OF stock, at TWO
hundred each, for the building Of the
canal. Tobias Rudolph and William
Alexander Of Cecil county worked with
the men OF the committee, who have
already been named; also several per-
sons from Philadelphia and Baltimore
In 1901 Benjamin H. Latrobe, Cor
-,alius Howard and John Thompson, sur
veyors. were employed TO run various
lines across the peninsula. The direc-
tors finally concluded to adopts the
route from Welsh Point, at the mouth
Of Back creek, on Elk river, running
in a northeastrly direction to the
Christisna creek, at place then known
as Mendenhalls Landing, about four
miles west of Wilmington.
The idea OF using this route was TO
secure the Big Elk creek waters for
The canal. A feeder was to be con-
structed to convey this water to and
from the reservoir, from which the
canal might obtain the necessary !
water. There was such a lack Of har-
NOM. among the directors as 20 the best
place for the canal, that the feeder !
was abandoned when nearly finished. |
After building this costly adjunct 10
the canal at a cost OF over one hun
dred thousand dollars, lack Of money
was given as one reason for not con-
tinuing 1t.
John Randel, Jr., of Albany, \. Y. a /
noted civil engineer, was one Of the