The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1859-09-01
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The Valley of the Upper Delaware,

/ The Valley of the Upper Delaware,
sDevelopement5y Canal and Raiz,oad--Pro-
posed Slackecater Nauigation-- Anboy, on Ra-
'ritan Bay, as Slipping Port for Lehigh,
I Wyoming and Ldckauanna Goals,
The following is an extract from an article in
the United States Railroad and Mining Regis
ter written by the editor, Thomas S. Fernon,
Esq.
At the Titusyille Station, on the Belyidere
i Delaware Railroad, nine miles above Trenton, on
Monday last, we saw shipped by the afternoon
local freight train, Ninety. fee bushels Of black
berries, gathered in the vicinity, along and
4 upon rocky ridge which not very many years
\ ago was covered with denseforest, excepta few
farms under cultivation upon its summit, and a
clearing here and there, upon its declivitous side
around the cot of an humble tiIler of the soil who
supported his family by employing his labor in
the service of the neighboring farmers Before
! the Beyidere Delawase Railroad was built, these
dwellers among the rocks and glens, had no mar
ket tor the wild berries which abounded at their
doors: but since the railroad has been in opera
ton, the proceeds of wild berries exported to
New York, have annually enhanced theirincomes
and their comforts Farming acres, and lands
price and value
Blackberries, however, are not the most valu-
able staple export from the Titusville Station;
that berry was named, because, years ago it was
valueless whereas now it is means of drawing
into the region thousands of dollars per annum,
and to that extent enriching the industrious and
worthy poor.
In the large township Of HopeweI, of which
Iltusyllle is the entrepot, the peach orchards
cover many acres and the peach crop is source
OF large revenue and profit. Thousands of bas-
ketS are every season shipped to the New York
market, along with the miscellaneous products of
the farms, including grain and -four seat from
the mills.
In truth, since our boyhood-when removing
from Philadelphia to HopeweIto township, then in
Hunterdon but now in the newer county of Mer-
Ger, we passed several years (endingin the spring
of 1928 when he returned to thec city, upon the
farm whereon the village of 1'tusville now stands,
but which then, between the farmhouse and the
river was dotted with only a storehouse and
three dlminutiye tenements-the face ofthe coun-
try is everywhere changed and improved.
In those days of sportiye childhood and bright
memories of youth Lehigh coal wasfoated down
the Delaware river in arks, and other freights
were carried in Durham boats, the passenger
time accommodated by single two-horse stage,
passing daily each way. s
In 1880 the Delaware Division Canal, 60 miles
long, was opened from Easton to BRISTOL where
upon,the coal arks and Durham boats abandoned
the river channel, leaving the free navigation to
the RATS and Lehigh coal was thenceforWard
carried in canal boats @&tAe
The Delaware and Raritan Canal was compile
ted IN 1884, from New Brunswick to Borden
town, 43 miles long, as was also the I" FEEDER
% miles long, extending from Trenten to Bulls
Island. 6 d @ So
The Belyidere Delaware Railroad was opened
from Trenton to Lambertville in 1858, and to
Belyidere in 1855, so that we have had an op-
portunity to watch the progress Of improvements
in the valley, from the time of the ordinary wa
gon road to the present. when, with a canal on
either bank of the river, and railroad along the
New Jersey shore, the local interests are accom-
modated with a variety Of facilities for convey
ance and transportation.
e Still greater advantages, however, would have
resulted to the Upper Delaware Valley, if in
lieu of a canal upon either bank, the river chan
mel had been converted into SLAcKwATaR NAyI-
CATION, from an eligible point at or near the head
oftidewater at Trenton, to Carpenters Point
port Jervis) the extreme eastern angle of north
eastern Pennsylvania and the extreme northern
end Of New Jersey.
i And in the historical fact that an act of the
Legislature of Pennsylvania, dated the 9th of
April, 1921 directed the Canal Companies "to
cause examinations surveys and estimates to be
made along the valley the Delaware, from Phil
adelphia or from Bristol, and the head Of tide
aoater, to Carpenters Point" we have evidence
that at the very birth of the internal improve
ment system. ofPennsylVania, the Importance of
line Of navigation along the Delaware to Car
penter's Point was appreciated and such a work
contemplated. Why it was not consummated,
and, especially, why the Delaware Division Ca
} nal, when built, was provided with lock cham
bers only ninety feet long by eleven feet wide,
when the Lehigh Navigation then had locks
twenty-five feet wide, we need not now stop to
inquire. That it was feasible and would have
been cheaper to have made the Delaware river
a sIackwater navigation, than to build canal
along either bank is unquestionable. Aud that
slackwater navigation would have greatly
accelerated the growth of Trenton, Easton, and
all the other towns in the valley is also inquest
! ionable
At Easton, so miles above the head of tide