Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-11-11
CANAL PROJECT
The Government Studying the Uppsr
Delawars-Creat Projects ef the
Past--Governo Beavers Scheme.
Sahara Ocean
By GEORGE NOx MCCAIN

By GEORGE NOx MCCAIN
DHlLADELPHlA is materially interested
IN the revival Of a waterway project.
1t IL the canalixati0n OF the delaware
River from Trenton TO Easton.
The War Department has written 70 the
Easton and PhllipsburR boards of Trade
for full Information as to the benefits that
would accrue to these cities should the
project be launched.
Both cities are now making q survey, 40
desired.
The request Of the War Department en-.
sineers 10 rather surprising one.
Some years ago its engineers made a
complete survey of the Delaware between
the points named.
Then. for some unexplained reason, the
plans. we're shelved and the development
halted on an adverse report.
THE length Of the Trenton Esston Canal
L would be about fifty miles.
With electrically propelled boats and
barges the distance would be covered in
from ten TO thirteen hours.
Anywhere from ten to fifteen locks would
be required. =
Movable dams might he substituted II
they were found more advantageous.
TT The fall q the river from ON Esston son to
The river TO accommodate barge trafhc would
be obtained BY dredging to a depth from
six to twelve feet.
When the scheme was proposed some
years ago great enthusiasm was aroused In
every city and town from Easton to Phil.
adelphia on the Delaware.
Trade bodies became active IN its support.
Corporate and manufacturing interests
were aroused to action largely becAuse OF
the opportunities that would be AFFORDED to
utilize the water Of the canal for industrial
purposes.
Now the interest is being revived, am
told, with some hopes Of success.
A LFRED LYNCH. statistician Of the
"A Board Of Commissioners Of Naviga.
ton. tells me that the average coal barge
has q capacity Of about GOO tons and draws
approximately nine feet Of water.
He points ont that the utility Of our
inland waterways was shown during the
recent coal strike.
Thousands of tons OF coal came to Phil.
adelphia from Norfolk hv way Of the
Chesapeake and Delaware Canal.
Ii was from the soft coal region of West
Virginia and helped TO keep many Of our
industries in operation during that period.
The Lehigh Canal operates small bOats
on it's canal. hut their capacity IL limited
as compared with the normal. sized coal
barges.
CANALS for the extension Of Philadel-
~ phia's commerce have been projected
at intervals for 100 years.
In the early part Of the nineteenth cen.
tury the idea of q canal across New Jersey
connecting the ocean with the Delaware
River in the vicinity Of this city was
promulgated.
At Intervals since it has come to tn
surface.
Thirty three years ago the scheme Of a
ship canal to connect New York City and
Philadelphia wns orisinally presented.
Meetings were held and much enthusiasm
aroused.
Ex. Governor Pat,ison. representing
Philadelphia: Thomas Martindale. vice
president Of the Ship Canal Commission,
and Lewis NJ. ilaupt. one OF the engineers
Of the Nicaragua Canal Commission. elo. |
quently urged the feasibility. and necessity
Of the plan before the New York Commerce
Commission in January. 1899.
The proposed ship canal WAS to be 3l.4
miles long.
Plans involved the utilization Of the Del !
aware and Raritan Canal. by enlarging 1t |
10 accommodate ocean vessels Of moderate
draft.
Mr.. Mnuindale pointed out that the whole |
route Of such II canal would be "a con. |
,inlors city,
Prof. Haupt presented figures showing !
the commercial Importance of Philadelphia |
aud the advantages to both cities to be de- |
rived from connecting the Delaware and |
Raritan Rivers by ship canal.
THE decade and a half between 1885 and |
L 1900 was, curiously. an era of canal
projects all over the world.
1t saw the Nicaragua Canal brought for |
ward. fought over for years. and aban-
dOned.
The Panama Isthmian Canal was dragged |
from French failure into the light Of day, |
finally to emerge triumphant under Ro0se-
velt. !
Coincident with these. in Western Penn. |
sylvania, the scheme for II canal from Lake
Erie 10 the Ohio River was long asitated. |
1t was an ancient project.
As far back as, the beginning Of the Re. !
public the idea had fastened itself in the |
minds Of engineers.
The Pennsylvania and Lake Erie Ship |
Canal Commission was behind the work
Ten thousand dollars had been appro.
priated. by the Legislature Of 1889, for |
the expenses Of this commission. !
Colonel Il. =, Roberts, II famous Pitts. |
burgh engineer. was one Of it's most ardent |
advocates.
John 4. Wood was president. W. =.
Shalienberger, Of Rochester, afterward As.
sistant Postmaster General was treasurer |
and Eben Brewer then editor Of an Erie |
newspaper, and later Military Postmaster |
General OF Cuba. was secretary.
GOVERNOR JAMES A. BEAVER pre-
VI sided at one of he Canal Commissions |
meetings In Pitt sburgh in October, 1859.
When it was found that SO 900 was not |
enough money to complete a survey, Colonel |
Roberts and John W. Goodwin agreed to |
give the matter their personal attention and |
thus lessen the cost.
Governor Beaver at the meeting launched |
n most ambitious program.
He wanted u continuous waterway from |
New York to New Orleans.
II was to be continuously inland, con.
Meeting the Ohio River and Lake Erie Canal |
from Buffalo to Albany.
The Governors plan never evolved beyond |
the suggestion.
A Lake Erie and Ohio River canal, how. |
ever, il still q vre project in Western |
Pennsylvania.