The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-17

principal assistant engineer to make
the survey. Mr.. Jorvis at once exam
ined the route, reporting against some
of the former plans. which embraced
the idea OF using the Delaware river in
part. His suggestions We're adopted
and an Independent canal decided on.
REPORT SUBMITTED.
Mr. Wright made his report in 1924.
He pronounced the improvement prac-
ticable. and estimated the cost, $780,
600 The Vastness of the sum made
capitalists unwilling to take hold of the
enterprise. Public opinion was against
it, but, nothing dauted. the projectors
enlisted the influential press in its
favor, and public sentiment was
changed. The brothers matured their
plans. They proposed the forming of
Il company, with a capital of $500 900;
that the MOosiC mountains should he
surmounted by the way of RiX Gap. 500
feet in height, by means Of inclined
planes: that their railway should eX-
tend To the nearest point 1T which a
supply of water could be commanded
for canal navigation; that the COM
pany should embark in the business Of
banking and purchasing land along the
canal where it would rise i'm value.
Books of subscription We're opened in
New York city, and every share of the
capital stock taken.
At that time most Of the inhabitants
of New York burned wood. II was es-
timated that with the construction Of
the canal coal could be delivered in this
city at 1854 per ton. and it was calcu-
lated that $4,000 tons would he sutiic-
lent for years supply. The Delaware
ana Hudson Canal company was char
tered by the New York legislature
April 90 1923, but it Was not fully or
ganlzcd until two years later. Ground
was first broken for the canal on the
summit level, forty miles from Rond
out, July IS, lS2j by the president,
Philip Hone, who delivered an apprO-
pirate address t. IA large assemblage
benjamin Wright was engaged as chief
engineer in the construction and John
B. JcrVis was assistant. Wright re-
signed i'm 1927. and Jervis was appointed
to the position, which he retained until
May 80, when he resigned To become
chief engineer Of the Mohawk and lIud-
son railway, and six years later he was
chief engineer I'm the construction OF
the Crotun aQueduCt, Port Jeryis was
named in honor of John B Jervis and
the old stone house in which Jcrvis
made his home while engaged i'm It's
construction still stands near the canal
IL was built i'm 1893 on the foundation OF
fort which was burned by the Indians
under the Mohawk Chieftain Brant IN
| 1919. The canal was completed from
| Ilonesdale, Pa, 20 Rondout, on thJ
| Hudson. a distance of los miles, OctO
| her, 1928. and during that month tn,
| first small boat made its way 10 III,
| Hudson with a cargo Of ten tons 0
| inferior coal In November followips
a fleet Of ten boats similarly ladel
| passed over the canal and was grectc,
| by the inhabitants along the line witt
! demonstrations of joy.
CONSTRUCTION COMMENCED.
The railroad over the Moosic range Il
transport the anthracite from the mine
| az Carbondale Ia Honesdale, where !
| passed To the boats, was commenced Il
| 1891 and completed in the summer q
1929. The first car load OF coal over i
was shipped October 9. 1920 The com
pletion Of the gravity road first cstah
lished Carbondale in communicate
with the outside world. The operatio
of the road was attended with gTea
difficulty, arising from the breaking q
chains used on the inclined plane.
April, 1880, tarred ropes were substi
ly carried I'm 1893.
II was on this road the FIRST locomO
tive that ever turned q wheel d