K. MECHANICS AND ENGINEERING. 423 



point of view than the ship canal, eight miles in length, by 

 which it is proposed to connect the head of Buzzard's Bay 

 with Barnstable Bay, across Cape Cod. It is believed that 

 when this is completed a very large proportion of the ship- 

 ping that now follows round the outside of Cape Cod, en- 

 countering the perils of the Nantucket Shoals and other imped- 

 iments to safe navigation, will make a direct course through 

 Buzzard's Bay, and thereby, while greatly shortening the time 

 necessary for the passage, will accomplish it at much less risk 

 of loss or detention, as well as at a reduced rate of insurance. 



The feasibility of this project has been demonstrated, it is 

 said, by careful surveys of the approaches to the proposed 

 canal, while the nature of the ground to be traversed is also 

 favorable for the purpose. A company has been organized 

 for the purpose in question, and it is expected that the canal 

 can be excavated to a depth of twenty-seven feet, and of suf- 

 ficient width, at an expense of about $7,000,000. A bill has, 

 just been introduced into Congress to provide for the con- 

 struction, by the general government, of a breakwater and 

 harbor of refuge off Barnstable Bav, at a cost not to exceed 

 $2,000,000. The bill provides for the reimbursement to the 

 government by the company of all the expense incurred 

 should any failure occur in the completion of the canal itself. 



In this connection we may also refer to the renewal of the 

 project, proposed by Telford many years ago, for a ship ca- 

 nal across the counties of Devon and Somersetshire, England, 

 to shorten the sea passage between the Bristol and English 

 channels. The proposed canal is to be twenty-one feet deep, 

 and fifty-nine miles long, and will cost about $17,000,000. 

 The freights on this canal, when finished, will probably con- 

 sist principally of coal. 



SHIP CANAL ACROSS NEW JERSEY. 



In the preceding article we give an account of a plan pro- 

 posed for the excavation of a ship canal across Cape Cod, 

 to connect Buzzard's Bay with Barnstable Bay. In the same 

 connection we may remark that a project has been suggest- 

 ed, and is now being very energetically urged, for the estab- 

 lishment of a line of interior communication, at least for small 

 vessels, such as yachts, steam-boats, schooners, etc., to extend 

 from New York to Delaware Bay. An examination of the 



