New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-02
HOLYOKE. THEPAPERClTY
PROGRESS OF PLANS TO GIVE
1T RIVER NAVIGATION.
BENEFIT TO BUSINESS TO GET COM
PETITION IN FREIGHT RATES
ITS GROWTH UNDER PRES
FNT CONDITIONS.

Holyoke Mass Nov / (SpeciaD.-After years Of
unsuccessful effort HolyoAe's ambition No become
a port through the opening to navigation OF the
Connecticut River above Hartford. seems in fair
way TO be realized. In few days United States
Government engineers will begin the work of re-
surveying the river and bringing up TO date the
data and reports Of previous surveys. Two weeks
ago the army officers appointed commissioners to
investigate the project visited Hoyoke, Springfield
and Hartford. They held hearings in each place
and secured great amount of information proving
the commercial importance of the river.
Active work on this navigation project was taken
mp early IN the summer when a committee of the
Connecticut River Navigation Association started
gathering stat sites They pr6pa ed accurate figures
Of the volume and value of trade in the Connecticut
Valley above Hartford which show a wonderful
prosperity. BY comparing the freight rates at
Hartford. which has water communication with
New-YOrk. with Springfield and Holyoke freight
rates they discovered that the cost of the naviga
ZION improvement would be covered in FIVE years by
the saving In freight charges. The saving coal
alone 90 cents a ton. would pay for the work
which the government is asked TO do within ten
years
The preliminary work which falls on the United
States Co nmission is much simplified by the ex-
istence c. previous reports. An extensive survey
and exhaustive study of the river we're made by
General Theodore q. Ellis, in lSil-7i. Again. in
1887, Ma jor Smith S. Leach. of the United States
Engineer Corns made a report which favored the
opening of the river. The work which must now
be done consists Of making soundings and running
shore lines again This will be done the coming
winter under the direction OF Major c. ". Goe-
that's. The business interests of the upper valley
cities have doubt that his report will be ia
vorable have been all the previous ones.
The day in which the whistle Of steamer is first
heard in Holvoke will be Of great rejoicing.
In general appearance this Holyoke boat viii prob
ably resemble those now running between New
York and Hartford. for when the river is opened
navigation above the Nutmeg State capital will
not be 1.iicult than below il. The Hartford
boats large carriers of extremely light draught.
With hattened bottoms they do not draw more
than eight fee of water. yet they absolutely
seaworthy for the voyage through Long Island
Sound from the mouth of the river TO New-YOrk.
The voyage from Holyoke TO New-York will take
longer than that from Hartford does.
There are seventeen landings between Hartford
and the mouth Of the river all of which the
Hartford boats stop. These the Holyoke boat
would not make. There only five proba bic
landings between Holyoke and Hartford. The time
saved in this way would make up for the greater
distance. Thus. with the Connecticut open to
Holyoke. freight would leave there at 5 o'clock
IN the Afternoon and be landed the wharf in
New-York before 10 o'clock the next morning. II
often takes several days under present rail con-