Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-01-28

of age.
A bill by Mr.. Lehlbach of Essex an
thorizes mayors in each city ID ap
point an engineer Of ten years expert
ence as examiner OF stationary engi
neers. Annual licenses are to be issued
at 50 each. Engines under railroad
and government control are to be ex
empted.
a measure has been presented APP
propriating $24,5O0 for the annual ex
penses of the state agricultural college
Assemblyman Ernst of Hudson has
introduced a measure making it mis-
demeanor to have other than an as
bestus or iron curtain in any theater
hall or public place and also misde
meanor to permit camp stools, chairs OF
other distractions in the aisles.
Morris Canal Abandonment.
One of the subjects of special inter
est in the northern end of the state
that will occupy the attention of tbs
legislature is the Morris canal aban
donment proposition 1t is generally
conceded that bill permitting the
abandonment of the canal will be en-
acted into a law. but it is uncertain
yet as to what conditions, if any, will
be coupled with the permission to dis
continue the canal as a waterway. II
is claimed that if it is improbable as
a canal there are other profitable uses
to which it may be put. Much will de
pend upon the report on the matter
that will be made by former Governors
Griggs, Werts and Voorhees, as to the
conditions that may be imposed. The
three former governors were appointed
last year as special commission to in
vestigate the whole subject
AS there are many conflicting inter
ests it will be difficult matter tc
frame bill that will not encounter
more or less opposition. There are some
who insist that the canal abandonment
will work them personal injury. The
persons making objection of this kind
will be principally those who have
property fronting on Lake Hopatcone
or along the canal. At the hearing In
the assembly chamber last winter
Roderick Byington, of the upper part OF
the state, claimed that the canal now
does considerable injury to property
fronting on Lake Hopatcong because
the canal is fed from the lake anG the
water in the lake is thereby lowered.
The canal company claims certain
water rights, and Mr.. Byington is
among those who are convinced thai
the company does not mean to surren
der those claims. There have even beer
assertions that back of the abandon
canal for conveying water supply
from the lake to such cities as could be
secured for customers. This, Mr.. By
ington insists, would destroy the lake
front as a place of residence, besides
giving to the company water supply
of great value.
Other directors are those who have
agreements with the canal company
through which they secure water pow
er for operating mills along the canals
right of way, and still other DIRECTORS
are those who claim that in those in
stances where the canal company Sc
cured right of way by condemnation
of land any use of such land for pur
poses other than those contemplated
at the time of the condemnation would
cause the land to revert back to the
original owners. 1t is said that about
half of the canal company's right OF
way was secured through condemna
ton proceedings, so that if the lega:
point raised as to the land revertine
to the original owners should find ia
vor there would be host of property
owners who would have to be taker
into consideration.
In addition to these protests, there is
to be considered also the more general
protest that will come from those who
will contend that the states reversion
airy right in the canal property should
not be given up without adequate com
pensation. The company has no per
manent charter. The present charter
expires in 1923, when the canal, under
its charter, would revert to the state.
Many Appointments to BE Made.
Governor Murphy has long list OF
appointments to make this year Those
appointments requiring the consent OF
the senate are as follows: A justice OF
the supreme court, county judges il
Burlington and Cumberland, prose
cutor of pleas in Cumberland and Els
sex, district court judge in Newark
two members of the state board Of as
SCISSORS, four members of the riparian
board, six inspectors of state prison
commissioner of New Jersey reform
atory, two members of state board OF
taxation, four members board of fish
and game commissioners, five members
state board of arbitration, two man
ayers for home for feeble minded
women, two managers for New Jersey
State hospital at Trenton, five man
ayers for New Jersey State hospital al
Morris Plains, two trustees for state
home for boys, three trustees for state
home for girls. four members for state