The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1903-02-04
CANAL LEGISLATION.
Six Propositions Under Discussion In
the Legislature.

Albany, Feb. 3.-Six propositions af
fecting the canals are now under dis
cussion in the legislature.
First, the Bostwick bill which will
be the subject of a hearing before the
joint canals committees of the two
houses in the senate chamber this aft
ernCon. This bill provides for the
submission to the people at the next
general election of proposition to
bond the state fer not exceeding $50,
100000 for the enlargement into
12-foot barge canal of the Erie, Os'
wego and Caamplain canals with
changes in the course of the Erie SO
as to avoid the MonteZuma marshes,
ETC., and follow the course of the Sene'
ca river, Onondaga and Oneida lakes
and the Mohawk river. This bill has
been reported ordered reprinted and
placed On second reading.
Second, Senator Lewis plan provid'
ing for a continuance by the United
States government of surveys for a
ship canal between Lake Erie and the
Hudson.
Tlird, Senator Ambler's proposition
favoring the amendment Of the state
constitution so that the canals can be
sold or leased to the United States gov
ernment
Fourth, a proposition, not yet fully
formulated, to issue bonds for S132,OOO,
900, the whole to be expended under
the general head of internal improve
ment," at the discretion of the state
engineer and surveyor, but with the
understanding that $S2,OO0000 are tC
go to the canal enlargement, $4,000,
900 to water storage and 25,000,0O fol
half of the expense of road improve
ment (the counties paying half.
Fifth, to fill in the canal and use
it as the road bed for a siX-track rail
road to be leased by the state to the
corporation bidding the lowest rate
for transportation.
Sixth, a proposition to lease the ca
nals to the company or corporation
which is building the Georgian Bay
canal, Canada, so that they may come
directly down through the Champlain
canal, thence by the Hudson river tc
New York.
At the hearing today on the Bost
wick bill the principal advocates of the
measure will be Gustav II. Schwab
representing the New York City Cana,
association, and George Clinton and
Major Symons, from the Buffalo assoct
alton.
The canal advocates will contend
that this is the first measure upon
which they are agreed as to the min
utest detail and that attempts to draw
the attention of the legislature to any
other plan is inimical to the canal en-
largement proposition and will be sc
interpreted by the people of the state
They will claim that propositions tc
improve the roads should come after
the Improvement of the waterways.
Concerning the proposition to built
a railroad in the canal, Assemblymar
Hooker of Genesee, its introducer
said: The object of my resolution is
to build a railroad in the bed of the
Erie. The usual objection to the build
ing of a railroad by the state is thai
the present railroad would bid for il
and finally raise the freight rate. I'm
der my resolution they won't be able
to do this because it provides that the
road shall be leased to the corpora
ton agreeing to transport freight al
the lowest rate"
Asemblyman Gracff of Essex is
sponsor of the Georgian Bay cana
scheme. This is a proposition to en-
large the Champlain canal to 21 feet
to provide an outlet to the sea for the
proposed Canadian ship canal that Is
to run from Georgian Bay along the
Ottawa river and Lake Nipissing tc
the St. Lawrence river, to Montreal
thence to St Johns and by way of the
Richelieu river to Lake Champlain
down the Champlain canal to the Hud
son river