Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1922-12-08

the low levels. IL will not be award
ed for another year.
Taken as a whole the excavations
underway. starting or projected. In
volve removal OF a total OF approx
mstsiy 100000 cubic yards 81
earth and It's disposal In basins pro
vided.
roOuervilIe Trolley at Work
The method Of excavation employ.
ed IL highly interesting Narrow.
gauge railroad lives have been laid
along the canal bank. leading W
steep inclines TO tho crest OF this
hillside There tho rails are ex.
tended to the disposal basins. In the
case OF the nrst cut adjacent 20 the
railroad bridge. the dirt is beins
disposed OF by dumping Il into the
abandoned pond once formed by
Lum's Dam and for many years a
favorite spot for bass and pike Ash
ing.
on this railroad Is operated a
series OF locomotives and dump cars,
which at a distance resemble the
famous bonneville trolley that
meets all the trains" The tracks
are uneven and bumpy. and as III.
train loads OF earth climb the hill
side they svny at such angles as 20
create wonder how they stay on the
rails. But they do!
At the dumping grounds another
unusual process II employed. The
sides OF the cars open and spill the
contents downward into the disposal
basins. Long water pipes have
been laid from the canal up the
embankment 20 the disposal beds.
From these heavy streams are play
ed upon the earth brought up, wash
ing Il down into the basins and
spreading Il over wide areas. In
this manner constant relaying OF the
railroad tracks nearer the edge OF
the disposal embsnkment Is avoid
ed.
Appropriations for the Work
The amount OF the first appropris-
ton granted by Congress for the
canal improvement was S2.50O.O 900.
This sum provided funds 10 buy the
canal and It's rights from IT'S private
owners. also for the preliminary sur
veys and purchase Of additional
lands required FOR widening the
waterway.
A second appropriation Just made
provides for the two Gahagan ex-
cavating contracts. This makes a
total OF $4,000. 600 appropriated.
The new Congress will make a third
appropriation OF s25O0.O0 This
viii care FOR the excavating OF the
final 100000 cubic yards Of earth.
replacement OF the present bridges
with modern steel spans. and add a
new bridge between Port Penn and
Delaware City on the Port Penn
road. which will be necessary be-
cause OF the new entrance 70 the
canal from the Delaware. Cost OF
the bridge work Is placed at ST.
600. 600.
It is expected that bridges will be
built 20 replace the present draw
bridge over the canal az Delaware
City. and over the new mouth on
the Port Penn road: s.. Georges
to the west Of the present
drawbridge AZ that place; at Sum
nit Bridge; AZ the Pivot Bridge on
the line between Delaware and
Maryland. and NJ Chesapeake City.
Nd. over the Back creek. One big
bridge is planned for Chesapeake
City. Nd. TO replace two bridges at
that place now and the new bridge
viii also eliminate a number Of bad
curves in the road.
A new bridge will also be built
10 replace the present railroad
bridge Of the delaware Railroad at
Canal The cost OF building this
structure will fall upon the railroad
company.
Foundations for these new bridges
will be constructed 10 coincide with
he plans for complete Development
N the waterway. Thus they vii,
have a mean elevation Of 80 feet be-
low sea level. 20 allow for deepen
ng the canal 20 % feet for ordinary
'ea-going ships and 80 feet for bat
le fleets.
Big Dredges Raised ~ Feet
Three big dredges. the largest 40 |
'eet wide. have been moved into /
he canal at the Chesapeake CITY
nd by an unusual method. As the
ock is only "a feet wide means had I
o be found TO get around theml. /
TO do so Colenei Brown cut through
IN embankment separating Back
creek which leads 20 the canal emf
rance, and a basin alongside the .
ocks. Through this cut the dredges
we're moved into the basin. A coffer
lam was erected TO close the cut,
water was permitted TO flow into the
,asin from the higher lock level
nd thus the dredges were raised
o the canal itself. Then a cut was
made in the canal bank east OF the
ocks and the dredges moved into
he waterway. They are now on
heir way TO the big cut at the
ummit Level and soon will be
hrowing dirt merrily.
ome Business Figures.
That the tonnage and value OF
ratio passing through the Chesa-
cake & Delaware Canal. is contin-
ally increasing is noted in the canal
hart figures. which follow:
January, 1920, 10000 tons, valua-
lon s1,O0O,O0O; February, 10000
ons. valuation. 100000; March.
10. 900 tons. valuation, S3.0O0,0OO;
.prll 10000 tons, valuation, $4,000
90; May, $4,000 tons. valuation So
90. 600; June. 5000 tons, valuation
100000; July. $500 tons, valua-
on $500. 900; August. $500 tons,
aluation S4.70O.OOO; September,
. 500 tons, valuation .S3.25O.0OO;
october. 1880 tons. valuation So
90 900; November. 4S,250 tons, val