Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-10-06
aDcrcfstet:
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1924.
CANAL TO BOSTON.
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ed the prosecution Of the great work, in which
the State of New York is engaged, tie Erie
Canal, has given rise to various projects OF
similar nature, though on smaller scale, in
other sections of the country. Among others,
the subject of Canal from Worcester to
Providence, which was first agitated more
than forty years since, was revived early in
the year 1922. 1t was believed that the pop
ulation and business of this section of the coun-
try had increased to such an extent, as to JUS
tify the immediate commencement and prose-
cution of the work, and estimates of the a.
mount of transportation to and from the sea
board, derived from authentic sources, fully
confirmed this belief. Consequently, an able
engineer was procured from the New York
Canal to survey the route, by which the FEAST
bility Of the plan was demonstrated, and at an
expense far below the antlcipations OF the
most sanguine. EnNn"rasHa by this result,
an application for a charte1 was made on the
first day of the session Of the Legislature, in
the winter of 1923, and one was immedi-
ately granted, on terms which were the most
satisfactory to the petitioners, and highly hon.
Durable tothe liberality of the Legislature, in
affording such facility for turning the trade
Of so fair portion of the Commonwealth from
the metropolis of cur own, to that of another
State.
1t was now believed that the principal OBJ
stacles were overcome, and the friends OF the
plan were looking forward with confidence to
the early commencement ofthe work, when
new difficulty arose in a quarter where it had
been least of all looked for. As yet a char
ter had not been obtained in Rhode island,
and the result of an application for one was
such as showed striking contrast between
the Legislatures of that State and of Massa-
chusetts. but little creditable to the wisdom
or liberality of the former, and proved that
legislative assemblies, like some individuals,
may be unwilling to sacrifice nominal or
minor present advantage, for the certainty of
an almost infinitely greater prospective good.
A charter it is true was granted, but so over
loaded and embarrassed with unnecessary and
vexatious restrictions, that it still remains,
and probably forever will remain, a dead let
ter on the statute books of the State. Among
the extraordinary features of this act, not the
least remarkable is the attempt to legislate
beyond the reach of their authority. Rules
for the government of the corporation Within
this State, restrictions on the exercise Of their
authority here, as delegated to them by our
Legislature, and penalties for breaches of
these restrictions were gravely and solemnly
enacted. The Corporation were placed Who'll
ly at the mercy Of every one who might fancy
his individual rights trenched upon, and,
what is worse, of every unprincipled person
whose cupidity might tempt him to sponge
money out of them. Yet these provisions
were said to be for the protection of the man.
ufacturers, who would have been sufficiently
protected in the enjoyment of all their just
rights, by provisions, similar to those contain
ed in the charter of Massachusetts. Well
may it be, even for them, if in the end it do
not prove that by grasping at the shadow they
have lost the substance. Let this be remem-
bered.
Under these circumstances what remains to
be doneo The population and business of the
Town and County of Worcester are rapidly
increasing, and the great utility and the want
of water transportation are every day more
sensibly seen and felt. A Canal would add
much to the value of our property, it would
soon bring into use the water power, of which
avery great amount yet remains unoccupied
in this vicinity, and it would rapidly develop
our resources of every kind: Since then the
State of Rhode Island has virtually refused
an offer which would at once have added TWO
MILLIONS to the value of her real estate, and
in twenty years have doubled the population
and business of her Capital, it becomes our
duty, in justice to ourselves, to improve the
advantages we possess in the next best mode.
There can be no doubt that the Legislature
of this State will grant leave to construct a
Canal from this town to Boston, on the same
conditions that it was to have been done to
Providence, as this diversion would confine
the business within the State, which, by the
originalplan, would have been carried to Provi-
dence. 1t is we'll known that some of the most
enterprizing and efficient citizens of Boston are
anxious for the promotion of such plan, and
would lend to it their most Jealous co-opera.
ton. The Canal Committee in this town
have heretofore declined participating in it,
on account of their preference to the original
scheme, and the obligations which they felt
TO carry it into effect if possible. But the
time ispast, in our opinion, when these feel
ings ought TO have any weight. .
Although we have always preferred the
project of Canal to Providence, yet we are
very sensible that one to Boston would DOS