The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-02-25
TO DAM THE della ARE
Trenton Citizens Plead Before
the House Committee for
Cheap Power for
Factories.
Special to the Jersey city Nsaus

TRENTON, Feb. rs, 1S97..The House
Committee on Corporations gave a hear
ing yesterday at noon on Mr.. Macpher-
sons bill, No. las, which provides for
the darnning of the Delaware, or other
rivers or streams in this State. Henry
c. Moore, President Of the Board of
Trade; F. w. Roebfing and ex-Assembly-
man William T.. Exton appeared in be-
half of the BILL representing the Trenton
Board of Trade.
Mr.. Moore made a few remarks, in
which he said that the bill vitality inter
ests Trenton, where for some time past
business has been practically at a stand
still. Something must be done to re-
vive business, and 1t was the unanimous
opinion Of the local Board of Trade that
the remedy was to be obtained in the
damming of the Delaware.
Mr.. Exton stated that there is no nav
igation between Trenton and ~Tlaston, and
no immediate likelihood of any, owing to
the shallowness of the water. This bill,
if passed, would cheaper power to the
large manufactures and thus aid the
city by having the mills resume opera
lions and give employment to many of
our idle citizens.
A paper was then presented by Mr..
Exton for the consideration of the com
mittee, from which the following are ex-
tracts:-The bill provides for the re-en-
actment of a law which was inadvertent-
~, it was said, omitted in the revision
of the corporation act in 1886. The bill
provides for a legal procedure to improve
the various water powers Of the State in
connection with concurrent legislation on
the part of Pennsylvania. In past years
the opposition to the contamination of
the object of the bill was the lumber
rafting business and those interested in
fisheries.
Rafting had now become obsolete, be-
cause of the lack of supply of pine and
hemlock timber within hauling distance
of the Delaware. The hard woods cut
along the stream are transported by rail.
The bill provides that in each dam con-
structsd there should be a passage for
shad and other fish, to be constructed
under the supervision of the Fish and
Game Commissioners. The statement ar
CUES that these passageways are prac-
teal, that the nature of the river
and it's banks make the erection of high
dams impracticable. No dam can be
erected exceeding ten feet in height, and
attention is called to a darn which has
existed at Bulls Island for many years
without interference with the fishing in
dustry. The power to be btained 1t is
proposed to transmit by electricity. and
it is claimed that the power car be con-
veyed to suitable locations for factory
buildings and nearby towns within a ra-
dius of twenty miles. The value of the
project to the State was shown by a
statement that many silk mills, cotton
mills, knitting mills, jute and f1axmills,
shoe factories Ind other industries could
profitably be conducted within the RAJ
dius of the power and which would vast
ly increase the population of the Dela-
ware Valley. The iron industry and grist
utilize the power. These industries now
suffer in competition with those of the
same kind in the Middle West or South.
1t is estimated that there is now going
to waste between Easton and tide-water
from one to two million dollars worth of
horsepower per annum. Paterson and
Trenton are cited as having been given
their first impetus of growth by the de-
velopment of the, water owe at their
doors, and it is argued that there is no
reason why there should rot be several
cities on the Delaware of as much I'm
p%ortance. All that Is needed is author
ity to- utilize the power ait our doors.
Should the Legislature grant the 1egis-
lation asked for. many OF the States
most progressive and active business men
stand ready to organize themselves into
companies to take advantage of the pro-
visions and employ thereby. for the pres
emit as we'll as the future, capital now
lying idle and unproductive, in the en-
ployment of %
A further hearing on this bill will like
Nv be given next week by the committee.