The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1859-02-24


respondent of the Phila. Ledger, on the sub
ject of daming the Delaware.
MEssRs EDITORS Bills are now before the
Legislatures of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, to
authorize the Delaware Division Canal Compa-
ay, of Pennsylvaia, the Morris Canal Company,
and the Water Power Company of Trenton
each of them to make permanent dam sat certain
localities across the Delaware. The object is to
"improve and facilitate canal navigation be-
tween Pennsylvania and New York" One of
these companies having obtained from the State
of Pennsylvania her canal for a song, modestly
asks the Legislature to give them the Delaware
river into the bargain-for permission to shut
up the great highway, destroy every fishery
from its rise to its mouth, Thereby depriving
the city and vicinity of shad,) robbing the ow-
ners of their property And for what Os-
tensibly, to benefit the public by improving
canal navigation" but, in reality to put an
enormous power and vast sum of money into
the pockets of three corporations already for
midable for their wealth and influence.
To the owners of the fisheries, it is pretended
that the proposed dam will be so low as not to
hinder the shad in either their ascent or descent
Of the river That place will be constructed
for their accommodation and in such manner
and form that their ready passage both ways,
up and down, will not be INSTRUCTED. AS if
this pretence had not been contradicted and
proved falacious by every such experiment since
the days of Noah The proposed dams will as
certainly drlue the sh0d from the Delaware as
similar distractions have done from the Sus-
quehanna, Connecticut, and from every other
stream in which they have been put. When a
shad can be made to "run up an apple tree"
then, and not before, will these creatures ALLEVIATE
their natures and habits, by climbing such ascents
as these bills contemplate.
Then let those who are engaged annually in
taking fish from the river whether by gill nets
or seines drawn to the shore, give this movement
due and immediate heed Are Philadelphians
prepared to make the sacrifice of this luxury, by
giving away their river for the benefit of three
tremendous corporations, whose powers are so
terrific already
This proposed measure, moreover, conflicts
with the interests of the State of New York, in
which the river rises, and from which large
portion of the lumber comes to our city. This
business will be destroyed. 1t is, moreover,
unconstitutional, as is demonstrated by the de-
cision of the o. s. Court in the case of the
Wheeling Bridge. And will New Jersey, with
what some consider the mill stone Of one mono
poly around her neck permit these companies
to put on another Are the rights Of property
to be sacrificed and individuals to be blundered,
under the protection of a law enacted merely to
make few rich men great deal richer
Let the masses then, who are to suffer the
injury, rise and repel this proposed outrage on
their rights at once.
A little delay will make resistance too late.
Trenton is swarmng with borers that have deep
pockets filled with solid arguments, which must
be answered by remonstrances and exposure of
their selfish and Ubiquitous project.
Let every friend Of public rights be aroused
to oppose these Corporations before they get
possession of all our rivers and other highways
If the people have no desire to {" be hung by the
neck till they are dead" financially and politi-
cally, let them not help these Hanaus to make
their gallows.