The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-02-03

thence on through the Delaware and be-
You'd, south. Should foreign war take
| place the Importance of this water pas
sage would be enhanced ten fold. The
commerce already using It is immense.
1t is estimated, so said Major Gillespie,
at 16, 800, 600 tons year, worth $6i, $685.
900. The maintenance of this channel is
matter of more than local importance,
and concerns not only the whole coasting
trade of New Jersey but also considera.
BILE part of that of Pennsylvania, Della
ware and Maryland. Especially is it
great outlet for easy and economical de.
livery to the manufacturers of tho New
England States. The United States are
at this moment expanding hundreds of
thousands in deepening and improving
this channel 1t is unobstructed, save by
one necessary bridge--necessary to annul
the distinction between North and South
Jersey, and to enable New Jersey, as it
has done, to develop its own magnificent,
but till lately useless, surf-bound coast.
Why should New.Jegsey allow an OBJ
struction like this to the commerce seek
ing or passing her shoresp Why has not
New York long ago, bridged the HudsonP
Why has not Pennsylvania sought the
Delaware below tide-water Ask the
same question as to the other great rivers
and tide-waters of the country? Why,
when New York authorized the Brooklyn
bridge, did the United States require that
its height and span should make it one of
the wonders of the world |? Do we act in
any respect differently from sister States,
when we carefully guard our navigable
waters?
The sentimental arguments which
gushcd forth with the champagne of the
late Staten Island banquet may do for
such an occasion, but hardly for grave
consideration aud business action. Neither
men, commonwealth or nations give up
their own advantages for the benefit of
others. Is it not self-interese (which
prompts this sentimental rhetoric? And
here comes in thought supplied by his
tory and which ought to have great
weight. The titledeed makes Staten Is
land ours. Thus reads the description.
"All that tract of land adjacent to New
England and lying and being to the west
ward of Long Island and Manhattan Is
land, bounded on the east, part by the
main sea and part by the Hudson rv-
| err
Westward of Manhattan--westwa
land, mind-dH that land west Of Long
Island, bounded east, part by Hudson riv-
er-that is evidently where it lies west Of
Manhattan-part by the main sea, where
it lies to tho westward of Long Island,
namely, and thence south to Cape May
Could any one dream that It would be
urged that the Hudson river did not end
at Now York Bay, but at Raritan Bay
And that, therefore, Staten Island was
eastward of Hudson river and did not
belong to New Jerseyp
Well, this idea was, nevertheless c.
tabished. Our Commissioners were no
doubt consoled by the reflection that this
gave us, at least, the seaboard and its adj
vantages, that what lay east of lis was but
an island. But now, the already too great
State of New York wishes to dnaeg as.
Some of her advocates, with more wit
than that knew of, say SO. Their bridge
will do 1t. Nay, we are an appendage to
their island the instant that is is built.
What good is this bridge to do the
country at large-if that were even an
argument to be cousidered2
1t will do good to its projector-it piil
do good to the Baltimore and Ohio, who
have Joined him in his speculation. And,
it will do great harm, at once, and in-
creasing yearly through the centuries, to
the State of New Jersey and harm, less,
doubtless, because of the strength it has
attained, to the city of New York, even
though its commercial men are too short
sighted to see it.
ITO love our neighbor as ourself," ex-
claimed great orator, who was likewise
a great Jerseyman, "to love our neighbor
as ourself is not to sink the brother or the
child. The house will soon be chilled in
which the health-fres are gone out. Trust
not in his philanthropy, who is not fila
as son and faithful as friend. He car
be no American who is not moro Jersey
man."