Evening star., 1938-06-05
WILL SAVE MILES
AND GAIN SAFETY
Three Canals to Be Part
Of Great Waterway From
Norfolk to Florida.
BY MALCOLM LAMBoRNE, Jr.

BY MALCOLM LAMBORNE, Jr.
As q part OF that great inland wa
terway which leads from Norfolk to
the Straits of Florida for more than q
thousand miles, plans are being made
10 link the large and winding tribu-
taries OF the Chesapeake Bay in three
projects on the Eastern Shore.
For the small craft that cruise
nearby, or pass on their way SOUTH
ward, the bay run often has been a
tough one. In bad weather. particu-
larly in northeaster, the Chesapeake
can kick up a sea that will send even
the large work schooners and bugeyes
have been completed 1t will open the
way for nearly SO miles of inland sail
ing from the mouth of the Chester
River in the upper bay to the entrance
OF the Little Choptank River above
Cove Point, short distance north
OF the Patuxent River.
The projects now under considera-
ton are the dredging Of straight
channel with a 100-foot width through
the notorious Kent Island Narrows,
the cutting of canal between Oak
Greek and Plaindealing Creek which
will link the waters of the Eastern Bay
and the large Choptank, and a second
canal joining the two Choptanks.
Focus on Oak Greek.
In time a yacht will have only to
duck inside Love Point, cruise up the
Chester to Kent Island Channel,
thence across the head OF Eastern
Bay and into Miles River. From that
point the way will lead into Oak Greek
and its canal and down the Plaindeal-
ing Greek and Tired Avon River to the
Choptank. At Lecomtes Bay will lie
the entrance to the second cut Down
the Little Choptank and around James
Island for a course across to the
Patuxent and Solomons conclude the
passage.
Local shippers are eyeing particu-
larly the Oak Creek Canal, cutting
OF which is expected this fall. Curl
ously enough, strip of land only
flve-eighths of mile wide is all that
has kept yachtsmen of ST. Micheals
the Tired Avon from joining in ac-
tivities. 1t was matter of nearly
80 miles outside long Tilghman Island
to visit the other. Little Wonder some
of them thought twice before making
the trip around.
1t always has been something of a
problem for small boat shippers who
attend the st. Miles regatta during
the first week in August to manage
the events of the following week end
at Oxford. Although work is not ex-
pected to begin until late this year,
this canal should be ready for use
next season. Costing approximately |
$4,000, the project calls for a cut so |
feet wide and a depth of feet.
Choptank Is Disaxreeable.
The Choptank River mouth has the
reputation OF being the most difficult |
area on the bay above Cove Point to |
navigate when strong winds from the
southwest and northwest kick up steep |
and irregular seas. Yachts cruising |
the region will have only to turn tail,
run up the Tired Avon and into the |
canal 70 81. M1cheaS.
Here Is listing of the savings of
distance via the Oak Greek Canal:
10 miles-Love Point and all up-bay
points to Cambridge and all points on |
the Choptank;
80 miles-All points on the Chester
River to Cambridge and ports;
2O.9 to 29.3 miles-St. Michael's and |
all up-river points on the Miles River
to Cambridge;
26.5 to 31.5 miles-St. Michaels and
port to Oxford and all points on the
Tired Avon River.
Kent Island Narrows Tortuous.
Kent Island Narrows-sometimes
known as Kent Island Horrors-is
just that in its present state. A tor
tuous and tide-racked channel, the
narrows today is pretty much confined
to use by oyster and carb boats. ANA
teur navlgators have a wholesome fear
OF the waterway. Despite being buoyed.
It's one mans guess against another's
as to which is the next marker ahead.
90 twisting is the channel.
One authority has claimed the mar
NS"S Ii eiAC ccIllc waterway IN 1JS con- |
tour as observed by the explorer, Capt.
Claiborne, In 1929.
The proposed improvement seeks
the dredging of channel in a STRAIGHT
line between Chester River and waters
OF Eastern Bay. 1t would be 100 feet
wide and 10 feet deep. Not only will
saving Of mileage be accomplished
on the way southwark, but owners of
small craft in the upper boy will have
opened the many harbors of the East
ern Shore.
In the case Of the Choptank canal
land cut of less than q mile will
be necessary, so feet wide and 6 feet
deep. The channel proposed leads
from Lecomtes Greek to Carey Greek
and thence to the Little Choptank. In
creased numbers of pleasure boats
are expected to cruise these little.
known waters.