A partial collection of people, places and events that have made
Chesapeake City the unique and desirable location that it has become today.
1828 - Canal Progress and Chesapeake City Beginning
The following article was found in a newspaper that I purchased
on eBay. The condition of the paper is very bad with tears and folds running
throughout the article in several locations and a very small disappearing print.
The paper will not last much longer but I'm hoping that this reprint will allow
the report to live on with renewed life. They had a much
different style of writing in those days and I have typed it as written with
spelling, capitalization and punctuation as shown. This article was written
approximately one year prior to the official opening of the canal.
Enjoy! Lee
THE NATIONAL GAZETTE AND LITERARY REGISTER
PHILADELPHIA, WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, JUNE 11, 1828
FOR THE NATIONAL
GAZETTE
CHESAPEAKE AND DELAWARE CANAL
2d June, 1828
At an Election held this day, the following gentlemen were elected for the
ensuing year:
President – James C. Fisher
Directors
– Thomas P. Cope, Robert M. Lewis, Robert Wharton, John Hemphill, William Platt,
John K. Kane, Isaac C. Jones, Thomas Fassitt, and Ambrose White.
NINTH GENERAL REPORT
Of the President and Directors of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Company.
On approaching the stockholders with a statement of the present condition and prospects of the great and interesting work committed to the charge of the Board, it becomes their melancholy duty to announce the recent demise of their highly valued friend and associate Silas E. Weir, whose departure has unexpectedly deprived the committee of works of its estimable chairman, the Board of one of its most intelligent and active members, and society of one of its most useful public-spirited citizens.
Waving this painful event, the Board has the satisfaction to report, that since the last annual meeting the works on the canal have, through many difficulties, been gradually and successfully progressing towards a termination.
The past winter proved unpropitious, the incessant and heavy rains which prevailed throughout almost the whole of that season, greatly retarding the operations of the workmen, and in fact frequently putting a stop to every species of labour on the line. The soil, naturally abounding with springs, was rendered so soft in the bed of the canal, as to prove unmanageable by the spade, and the few men who persevered in their arduous toil, stood not unfrequently up to their knees in the liquid earth.
The works at the Delaware harbour are in good order, evidencing their entire stability and usefulness. No additional wharf work has been ordered since the last report, the Board apprehending it to be most for the interest of the Company, and the convenience of the public, rather to urge, in the first place, the completion of the line of the canal, leaving other objects of less pressing concernment to be finished at leisure. The wharfs have however proved very serviceable, and afford protection to the passing trade of the Delaware.
The sluice on the northern drain, constructed originally of wood, having been discovered to be defective and insufficient for the purposes designed, another of solid stone masonry has been substituted, at a moderate expense, and the Board availed itself of this circumstance to change the location; by which the public convenience and accommodation has been consulted, without injury to the Company. The new sluice has been placed on the main road, and forms a very substantial and useful bridge, on a much frequented route. The drain itself had never been entirely excavated. That process is now going on, and when effected, will be promotive of the health and comfort of the neighborhood –objects to be desired by the Company, and which it has been the study of the board at all times to cultivate and promote.
A considerable part of the unfinished guard bank, below the Village of St. George, indicating a decided tendency to sink, was unhesitatingly abandoned. The Board has not, for a moment, doubted the economy and policy of this measure. Between 100 and 200 acres of wild unredeemed marsh, of little or no value to any body, will in consequence be overflowed, but it will add considerably to the supply of water for the purposes of navigation. It seemed indeed to be placing the funds of the Company, and the speedy completion of the canal, at to much hazard, to persevere in building up that bank in face of the impressive, but unavoidable lessons of experience, so recently acquired, by the Board, in the immense sinking of the tow-path directly on the opposite side of the canal. As evidence of the singularly flimsy quality of the fibrous material of which the marsh in this place is mainly composed, it may be mentioned that the dredging machine, successfully and profitably employed here in bottoming out some of the parts left unfinished by the spade, is found to bring up from the lowest depth to which the buckets descend, matter whose specific gravity is so trifling, that when torn from its native bed, it may constantly be seen floating on the surface of the canal.
One other spot of recent construction, in the guard bank about 100 feet in length, immediately over the former water course of the St. George, sunk, some days back, so far below the proper level, as to occasion an overflow of the adjacent marsh; --the damage was however speedily repaired; and the navigation, which had of course been temporarily interrupted by the accident, has been resumed; nor does any apprehension exist as to the future: in fact so large a portion of the guard bank had been previously abandoned, as already intimated, that little of it remains to occasion any anxiety at all;--the line of the canal on that side being at present principally bounded either by solid earth, through which it has been cut, or by native shores covered with verdant and closely timbered forests. The tow-path throughout its whole extent, continues to wear the appearance of firmness and durability, having been in constant use for some months, by heavily laden carts and wagons in the service of the Board.
The water has for several weeks been let into sections one to four inclusive, and an active scene of business exists on the whole eastern division of the canal, from Delaware city to the company’s wharf near the summit bridge. Sloops, heavily laden, are continually plying between these two points; and the Lady Clinton Packet Boat runs daily on the same route. Owing to the depth and expanse of the water, it is discovered that vessels can easily traverse this splendid canal, at the rate of from six to seven miles an hour. As further evidence of the growing importance of this work, and of the bent and tendency of the public mind in its favour, it must be pleasing to the company to be informed, that the steam boat Baltimore, fitted up in a style of great elegance and convenience, for the accommodation of passengers, is established as a regular packet between Philadelphia and the company’s harbour on the Delaware, and that the steam-boat Essex, also very handsomely fitted for the same purpose, visits the harbour every day, on her way between the city and Salem, New Jersey. Both boats are ably commanded, and well furnished.
On the western division, sections six and seven are finished, the locks are in good order, the gates are hung, and every thing is prepared for immediate use. The contractor for this division, whose contract extends eastwardly, into No. 5, within less than a mile of the Buck Tavern, thinks he will have his portion of the work prepared for navigation, in six or eight weeks from the present time, when the water will be introduced into that division. Nor does a doubt exist, that the entire canal will be completely finished and navigable the ensuing autumn. The only excavation of any moment, still to be accomplished, is on the deep cut, where a part of the canal is now carried down to bottom and finished, and the removal of less than 160,000 cubic yards of earth will complete the canal. It may not be improper to add, that considerably more earth has already been taken from the line of the canal, than was originally contained within its limits; and that consequently the deposite caused by slips and washes, and more especially by such as were incident to the injunction, were more than equal to the quantity of material yet to be excavated. These slips, and the quicksands which occasionally harassed the workmen, appear to be at length completely subdued; and the stoning of the sides, which is progressing with rapidity, ensures solidity and security to the banks; the excavation, which goes on simultaneously, is also proceeding with energy and effect.--The stoning extends about 3½ miles along the deep cut---the wall is rather more than eleven feet perpendicular, about sixteen feet on the slope, descends one foot below bottom, and rises a little higher than the water line. It is from eighteen inches to five feet in thickness, at the base, according to the nature of the soil over which it passes, and finishes at the top, with from one to three feet. Under the summit bridge, however, this wall is carried upwards on both sides of the canal, until it is met by the abutments, which it is designed to protect. The wall requires 44,000 perches of masonry, of which 18,000 remain to be built. The stone for the eastern division is brought by water, from quarries in the vicinity of Chester, to the company’s wharf, near the summit bridge; and that for the western division, is brought from Port Deposit to Back Creek, whence it is wagoned.
A small village, to be called Chesapeake, has been laid out at Back Creek, designed for the convenient erection of warehouses for the produce of the country, and the necessary buildings for persons who may be engaged in the business and service of the canal; the accommodation of watermen, who may resort to the place in prosecution of their calling, and generally, for the use of all who may stop on their way to and from market. The Board trusts that this spot is destined soon to witness the cheering hum and bustle of active commerce.
The company will learn with satisfaction, that the Board has purchased, on very eligible terms, Jones’s mill and pond, at the head of the St. George, which ensures to the company the entire command of the water power of that important creek; the Board having previously bought Lum’s, the only waterpower situate between Jones’s and the canal. The buildings on these estates are old, and of little comparative value, but the possession of the ponds to the stockholders, is an affair of much consequence. The newly acquired pond adds another reservoir to our resources, and their possession, by the company, puts an end to the jealousies and jarring interests so common among proprietors of water power on the same stream, nor will the company be now subject to the caprice or humor of any individual, for their regular supply of water on the summit.
Calculations have been formed, perhaps with no very great accuracy, to approximate towards some degree of certainty, as to the supply of water which is to be relied on from the present arrangements on the summit.
| Cubic Feet | |
| The 500 acres overflowed on this part of the canal, it is believed, will yield | 43,560,000 |
Lum’s mill-pond, of 100 acres, being of the average depth of six feet, |
26,136,000 |
|
|
5,445,000 |
| 75,141,000 | |
Lum’s can be raised three feet, to say nothing of Jones’s. Add |
21,780,000 |
We have then in cubic feet, |
96,921,000 |
A lock filled with water, will contain 22,000 cubic feet; two lift locks, 44,000; but with a large sloop floating in it, one of these locks may be estimated at 16,000 feet, or 32,000 for the two locks. Supposing ten vessels to pass daily, there will be water for 302 days. Fifteen vessels 201 days. Twenty vessels 151 days.
It is assumed, in this estimate, that two lockfuls of water will be required for the passage of each vessel; whereas in probably a majority of eases, a single lockful will suffice. It is moreover to be observed, that this estimate is independent of the inexhaustible supply to be derived from the Delaware and the Chesapeake, whenever the demands of the canal shall render a resort to them necessary or desirable.
Speculations have also been indulged on the subject of evaporation, leakage, and soakage; and it has been conjectured that the springs which issue so abundantly from the bed of the canal, and which have shown little symptom of failure even in dry weather, added to the supplies from rain, will prove equal to the evaporation; and that in a soil so humid and retentive and at the level of the tide, there cannot be much leakage of soakage.
The account of the Treasurer will show the fiscal transactions of the Board for the past year. It was stated in the last annual report, that in pursuance of authority vested in them by the Stockholders, the Board opened a loan on the 11th of February, 1826 for $350,000. And another, on the 16th of January, 1827, for $200,000. Since that period, in pursuance of the same authority, the opened two other loans, viz: On the 15th of August, 1827, for $150,000. On the 16th of January, 1828 for $300,000, of which they obtained $139,600. Leaving of the latter, yet to be filled, and for which it has been proposed to open the books for subscriptions, about the 1st of July next, 160,400 dollars.
On the subject of this loan, the board feels itself warranted to say, that no object for the investment of capital, within the knowledge of its members, presents a fairer claim to public consideration; --no object presents a better prospect for profitable remuneration of the lender, or for the punctual payment of the interest, and the final redemption of the principal. The lender receives six per cent interest, certain, for five years, on the amount of his certificate, with the option of converting his loan into the stock of the company, at the expiration of that term, by which time he will have had full knowledge of the advantages of such investment, from having witnessed the actual business of the canal. The charter is perpetual, and rests not on the caprice of any human power, for a renewal, nor is it subject to the payment of a heavy bonus every few years, as is the case with our (cannot decipher word) institutions, almost with exception. And if the lender prefer so to do, he can, at the termination of the five years, receive back his capital, and apply it to any other purpose at his pleasure.
The quantity of lumber and other produce which has descended the Susquehanna this season, is said to be unparalleled in value and extent, not withstanding the facility afforded by the happy completion of the Union canal. Had the Chesapeake and Delaware canal been in operation, a large proportion of these, and other articles, would have found their way through that channel to Philadelphia; even now, such is the preference given to our market, that large quantities are shipping from Port Deposit to our metropolis, by the tedious and hazardous route of the Chesapeake and Delaware bays, a distance of not less than six hundred miles, including also a sea voyage.
We rejoice with our brethren of Baltimore, in the gratifying prospect of a speedy commencement of their great railway. It will prove another profitable and desirable medium of intercourse between the Atlantic and western states. Its direct effect must be to increase the wealth and commerce of our sister city, but it cannot fail in its more remote consequences, to add to the business of the Chesapeake and Delaware canal, to benefit the trade of Philadelphia, and to promote the general prosperity.
The highly commendable and liberal appropriation of a million of dollars, by Congress, towards the accomplishments of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, we hail, likewise, as an event most propitious for the country at large, and as a circumstance most singularly calculated to advance the interest of the Chesapeake and Delaware canal; these two canals forming, in effect, but separate links in the same great chain of internal navigation; and we are to consider in the same light the improvements now forming in the Dismal Swamp canal, in the vicinity of Norfolk, Virginia, which opens to us a direct inland water communication with North Carolina, and, eventually, with South Carolina, and, perhaps, even Georgia;--advantages which cannot be too highly appreciated, especially should these United States be at any time involved in the calamities of war with a foreign maritime nation. The Chesapeake and Ohio canal will probably be navigable at all seasons of the year; and it is to be observed, that the Chesapeake and Delaware canal, will be so for weeks and for months, in the winter season, when no other canal, now in operation, nor any which has at any time been projected, to the northward of this, can be used for the purpose of commerce or transportation.
The breakwater, to be erected at the mouth of the Delaware bay, which Congress, in the same liberal and patriotic spirit, have determined forthwith to erect, will also be very advantageous to our canal. The coasting trade will especially derive security and encouragement from the protection which this breakwater will afford, and the small craft of the two bays, will doubtless, as a necessary consequence, be very greatly increased. Already is it in contemplation to supply materials for that great work from Port Deposit, through the Chesapeake and Delaware canal, and it is apparent that the shortest and most secure route to the ocean, from the upper parts of the great Chesapeake bay, will be through the same channel.
Signed by order and on behalf of the President and Directors,
JAMES C. FISHER, President
H. D. GILPIN, Secretary
Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Office
May 31, 1828
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