The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1859-02-10
Proposed Dams in the Delaware.

A correspondent of the Newark advertiser,
writing from Trenton, on Thursday last, says
The bill to facilitate canal navigation between
the States of New Jersey and Pennsylvania,
appears to be an important affair. 1t was in
troduced to-day. 1t authorizes the Delaware
Division Canal Company of Pennsylvania and
the Morris Canal Company, or either of them,
to erect in lieu of the present wing dams at
Wells Falls and Philipsburg, permanent dams
across the Delaware river, at or near the head of
Wells Falls or Phillipsbug, for the purpose of
improving and facilitating canal navigation be-
tween Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and for
supplying the lower levels of the De aware Di-
vision Canal of Pennsylvania with water The
bill provides for openings for the navigation,
and for supplying the mills of Lambertville with
water to compensate for what they will lose.-
The commissioners to arrange the matter are j.
B. Bassinger, of Morris; J. W. Allen, of Bur-
lington; and W. II. Talcott, of Jersey City.
The DoylestoUn Democrat on the same sub
iect says: On the 31st of January, a bill was
introduced into the Senate of Pennsylvania Gre
lative to the Delaware Division Canal Company"
for the purpose Of providing for and setting forth
the corporate rights and privileges of the said
company. The second section, which we pub
lish below, authorizes the canal company to con-
struct dam across the Delaware, first securing
the necessary legislation from the State of New
jersey It is true this section provides that no
dam shall be constructed which shall in any man
ner impede the navigation of the river, but we
do not see that this saving clause makes the grant
less Objectionable The canal company might
not take the same view of obstruction to the navi
cation as other interested parties, and interim
liable lawsuits would be the result. The people
of Bucks county are deeply concerned in this
matter, which is not new one to them, as sew
eral attempts have heretofore been made to ac-
complish the same thing. We are opposed to
any dam being built across the Delaware, and
always have been; nor do we believe that a dam
can be constructed in the river that will not OBJ
Sruct the navigation in greater or less degree.
We hope the people of the county will speak out
upon the subject and instruct their representa-
tives at Harrisburg to oppose the measure:
SECTION 2. That so much of the fifth section
of said act, as gives the same rights, privileges
and franchises, to the purchasers Of the Delaware
Division canal, for the improvement and enjoy
ment of the same; and to enter into, and upon
the river Delaware as have been heretofore
granted to the Lehigh coal and navigation COM
pany, of this State, to enter into, and upon the
river Lehigh, for the construction and improve
ment of the canal and navigation owned by
them, shall be so construed, as to permit the
said Delaware Division canal company to en-
large and improve their canal, to equal the ca
pacity of the canal of the said Lehigh coal and
company. Provided, The said Della
ware Division canal company, shall not construct
any DAM in such manner as shall impede or OBJ
struct the descending navigation, for RATS, or
other crafts on said Delaware river and they
shall construct such schutes, and make such chan
nels, as will maintain the descending navigation
in said river, in as good condition as before the
erection of any such structure by them And
provided further, That before constructing any
dam across said river, they shall first secure such
legislation from the authorities of the State of
New Jersey, as shall authorize the same.