The Chesapeake and Delaware Canal was built from April 15, 1824, to its completion on October 17, 1829, overcoming major engineering difficulties and opening navigation between the Chesapeake and Delaware regions. James C. Fisher served as president of the company, with Thomas P. Cope, John K. Kane, Robert M. Lewis, Isaac C. Jones, Robert Wharton, Thomas Fassitt, John Hemphill, Ambrose White, and William Platt as directors; Henry D. Gilpin was secretary and treasurer, Benjamin Wright engineer in chief, Daniel Livermore engineer resident, and Caleb Newbold Junior superintendent. Construction began under Silas E. Weir, chairman of the first committee of work, whose service ended with his death on May 14, 1828, after which Robert M. Lewis supervised the work through its completion. On the Eastern level, large sections of embankment sank 100 feet below the adjoining surface and the bottom of the excavation rose 10 feet above its natural position, while on the Deep Cut more than 375,000 cubic yards of earth slipped from the regulated side slopes into the canal chamber. Water was introduced on July 4, 1829, and the completed canal was celebrated and opened to navigation later that year. The canal measured 13 3/8 miles in length, 66 feet wide at the water line, 36 feet wide at the bottom, and 10 feet deep, with excavation at the summit reaching 76 1/2 feet, a surface section width of 366 feet, Deep Cut excavation totaling 3,500,000 cubic yards, locks 100 feet long and 22 feet wide, and a summit bridge 247 feet long rising 90 feet above the canal bottom. Its total cost was 2,250,000 dollars, including contributions from the United States, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and private citizens of those states.