,-oLrr-o Z;SVr h CAPE COD MAGAZINE SI. ^ A History of the Cape Cod Canal M =====^ __$r By GEORGE EVERETT BURBANK The Cape Cod Canal is a subject both old shovels, worked steadily for a month, piling and new, and has been talked about since huge mounds of soil on either side of an ex the days of the Pilgrims nearly 300 years cavation ; but, upon the contractors failing to ago; but not until the year 1914 did the canal furnish money on pay day, work was sus become a reality with the waters actually pended, and a riot among the workmen barely flowing across the Cape from Bay to Bay. averted, the State being called upon to re We know that this almost natural water move the Italians out of town. course was used by the Indians and early In 1883, the privilege of the Whitney char Pilgrims, Myles Standish being the first one ter was granted to Frederick A. Lockwood to propose a canal in 1625. In 1736 the isth under the name of the Cape Cod Ship Canal mus was spoken of as the place where a canal Co. They caused to be built an enormous had been talked about for 40 years. The first survey was made in Washington's time, 1776, and so reported to the Continen tal Congress. The canal was talked of in 1791, also 1798; and in 1818, the Massachu- . setts Legislature gave a company permis sion to survey. In 1824 the United Senate gave permission to survey and it was thor oughly done between Buzzards and Barn stable Bays. In the years 1825, 1826 and 1830, canal matters were again taken up. SECTION OF BREAKWATER But the most hopeful outlook for canal dredge costing $75,000, and undertook the building in our day and generation was in enterprise at $1,000,000 per mile, the canal 1860, just previous to the opening of our to be completed in one and one-half years. Civil War, when a committee appointed by This mammoth dredge was brought in the Legislature (in accordance with the Gov through the beach bank in March, 1884. By ernor's message) caused a very careful and the terms of this charter the company were minute survey to be made to determine the obliged to spend $25,000 in actual construc best location, rise and fall of tides, locks and tion before a given time; and, in order to do water sluices, with a breakwater on the Barn so, vigorous methods had to be inaugurated. stable end. They reported an estimated cost Although the big Lockwood dredge was eat of from five to ten million. The survey cost ing her way into Scussett marshes, it was $50,000. not using up money fast enough, so the com In 1870 a charter was granted to Alpheus pany decided wharfage might, and, accord Hardy and others, that was five times extend ingly, hundreds of huge oak piles were ship ed. A little digging was done at North Sand ped to Sandwich and a huge wharf built on wich and Scussett Beach. In the summer of the marsh where there was no harbor and 1880 work apparently began in earnest near no traffic. Town Neck in Sandwich. A gang of 500 Towards the end of three weeks they were Italian laborers, with wheelbarrows and shipping these half-ton piles by express, so 10 CAPE COD MAGAZINE great was their haste to spend money. They Canal bills were presented and among them, had acquired such momentum, that, before one that favored the Government furnishing they could stop, $40,000 had been spent in the material and the State "Convict Labor stead of $25,000. from the State's Prisons," but this was The charter was saved for a time, but the _ strongly opposed. company died of over exertion, leaving as a We next hear of the canal when the bill monument, a ditch (a mile long), the charred to incorporate the present company, The remains of the dredge (which the boys burnt Boston, Cape Cod and New York Canal Com Fourth of July night, 1896), and the rotting pany was petitioned for, March 23, 1899. A piles of an unfinished wharf. hearing was given May 12th. Senator Post, EXCAVATING WITH STEAM SHOVELS In 1896, the Maritime Canal Company ob of Berkeshire, gave a luminous lecture on tbe tained a charter, but nothing came of it. history of efforts to build Cape Cod canals January, 1897, the Cape Cod Canal Com from 1676 until now. Many other senators pany petitioned for a charter, but nothing favored the bill, but of no avail, for it was re ever came of it. In 1898, seven Cape Cod fused a third reading and rejected. May 16, F CAPE COD MAGAZINE 11 Senator Post again made a plea, moving for proved and accepted by the commissioners reconsideration. The heart of the Senate until a year later, May 8, 1907. softened, and the matter was tabled. Tues Lurmg all these later years, these canal day morning, after a long debate, the Senate schemes were sort of stock watering affairs, ordered the Bill to a third reading by a vote instead of being conducted along true busi of 15 to 10. On May 26, the Bill reached the ness lines, and for that reason the Legisla House, and after a lively discussion by a ture lost confidence whenever a company dozen or more members, was passed to be made application for a charter; and the rail engrossed by a vote of 120 yeas and 29 nays. roads, too, were always in opposition and On June 1, 1899, Governor Walcott affixed against the building of a canal paralleling his signature to the Bill, which gave the Bos their lines of traffic. But when the name of ton, Cape Cod and New York Canal Company August Belmont became a factor in the en their charter. terprise (in the year 1904), the Railroad BARGE TRAFFIC IN THE CANAL Photo by Mclntire, Sandwich September 29, 1899, the company deposited Commissioners and Harbor and Land Com the $200,000 with the State treasurer, also missioners did all they could to aid this great filed at the office of the Harbor and Land work. But even after this company had de Commissioners, detailed "Plans of Location posited the money with the State, and with i and Construction" (including specifications' the towns of Sandwich and Bourne, and filed for bridges and approaches). Later on in the all plans and specifications in compliance with Fall, was deposited with the Treasurer of their charter, the officials of the State still Barnstable County $500 each for the towns doubted (with such restrictions upon their of Sandwich and Bourne. July 17, 1900, their charter) if work ever would be done. charter was amended; and after a lapse of Just at this stage, too, Engineer William nearly five years (May 18, 1906), a set of en B. Parsons discovered the presence of quick tirely new plans were filed, but were not ap- sand, which caused him to shake his head in 12 CAPE COD MAGAZINE a doubtful manner, and for the time being ence of County and Town officials, said: canal matters hung in the balance. The late "In digging this first shovelful of soil, I prom Charles M. Thompson, engineer in charge, ise not to desert the task until the last shov who had been in the canal business since elful has been removed." Lockwood's time (1880) and who gave al A silver spade at Bournedale village most his whole life working for their inter First stirred the ancestral soil. ests, asked for one more meeting that he "A certain pride I have," said August B.r might explain his theory. Having surveyed "In building this canal from sea to sea! and studied the canal zone for twenty years, My highest aim in life his wish was granted, and he gave such a To see fulfilled—The Pilgrim's wish! I stand on hallowed soil, reasonable explanation that it seemed proof- Through which they travelled, sailed and fished." positive that not enough quicksand existed to interfere with construction. And, accord During this season the right of way was ingly, forthwith preliminary work began. obtained, and negotiations made for the re February 6, 1907, nearly eight years after moval of the railroad tracks. The first work the bill was signed, the Canal Company ad at the Buzzards Bay end was begun by the vertised for bids for construction, giving a mammoth bucket dredge Kennedy, followed time limit until the 28th day of March, at later on by others. 12 o'clock noon, to receive proposals. On the In October, the foundation for the big roll last mentioned day, the contract for building lift railroad bridge at Buzzards Bay was con the Cape Cod Canal was awarded to the Cape summated. The next bridge constructed was Cod Construction Company for $11,990,000. the highway bridge in Bourne, followed later This company consisted of DeWitt C. Flan- on by the bridge at Sagamore. nagan, backed by the Belmonts, Engineer On the Sandwich end, the big suction William B. Parsons, a former member of the dredge McKenzie began digging in from the Panama Canal Commission, and John B. Mc sea, Oct. 16, 1909. She had worked one week Donald, contractor for the New York Sub when a terrible gale sprang up and she put way. They in turn sub-let the contract to the for Provincetown, remaining there one week Dignon Construction Company of New York before returning.