Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-06-19
rur 1,ANAIs yynrCkED.
some of the Waterways do Not Pay ana
VIII Not he 1sepalred.

-
some of the Waterways do Not Pay ana
VIII Not be lsepaired.
The canal system through the state was
so badly damaged by the Hood that u Will
not I've restored To its original condition.
About 80 miles Of the Pennsylvania canal
will probably he abandoned, and II is con-
sidercd quite likely that the Snsauehanna
Tho old Juniata division Of the Pennsyl-
vania canal, extending west from Harris
burg, which was once link In the canal
and railroad route from Philadelphia TO
Pittsburgh has been completely washed out.
The banks were washed away in many
places, the locks damaged, bridges de-
stroyed and the whole line generally
wrecked. At present the western terminus
Of the division IL at Huntington, ninety
miles west Of Harrisburg, and the destrtic-
ton along the whole line has been 40 great
that as vet no attempt has been made TO re-
pair damages. Traffic upon this branch of
ibe canal has been declining for several
years. and while the property IL not injured
to such an extent that repairs could not be
made, vet IL Is not thought the money put
in would ever be taken ont again. The be-
lief Is that more money conld be made
out of the property by selling the canal
proper to the Pennsylvania railroad, and
disposing of whatever other assets there
are 10 best advantage.
The northern division, from Sunbury to
"
also badly damaged. The Shamokin dam,
near Snnbury, Will have to be repaired at n
large expense. There is little traffic on
this part of the canal, and whit there is
could readily bc handled by the Philadcl-
phia and Erie railroad. To repair tho
canal, replace the bridges washed away
and put the works IN shape would cost, in
the opinion of engineers, more tha;i The
canal would be worth as u transportation
line after tho money had been expended.
No attempt has been made by the com
pany Ps yet to repair these branches. A
large force of men has been put at work on
the north and west branch canal, and II IN
expected traffic will be opened from
Wilkesbarro to Middlctown In about three
weeks. The coal business on this branch *
quite large and II is believed the line can bc
made to pay. Most of the revenue in re-
cont years has come from this division.
The capital stock of the Pennsylvania
Canal company IL A., sol 800 and it's bonded
debt consists of $1,000. 900 u per cent. bonds,
maturing in 1910, interest upon which ~
guaranteed by the Pennsylvania railroad.
The railroad owns sj,5l7 $50 of the stock
and Si89,00 of the bonds. The earnings
are insufficient TO meet the Interest charges
there having boen q deficit of sji13l last
| year and Of sI;, ,2is In 1857.
The Reading officials are seriously con
sidering whether to repair the Susquchanna
| canal or not. IL runs from Columbia about
fifteen miles below Middletown, to Chesa-
peake bay. At Columbia the Reading rail
| road delivers coal to the canal consigned 10
Baltimore, and II also receives coal from
| the Pennsylvania canal. Its traffic, how
ever, IL small, and it's earnings insignii-
cant, the receipts last year amounting tc
| only Si5,4lO, while the expenses were
| Sll 1903. Great damage was done to tho
canal property, hut until accurate estimates
| of the cost of repairs shall have been made
| IL will not be decided to abandon il.