New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-15
TIE noRRIs CAxAL PROBLEM.


A year ago the New-Jersev Legislature adopt
/ ed q concurrent resolution authorizing Gov
! ernor Murphy 10 appoint three commissioners
to examine into and report upon the question
whether legislation shall be enacted permitting
/ "the abandonment of navigation on the Morris
! Canal" That action was the upshOt of an at
/ tempt 20 Jam through the legislature 4 bill
/ permitting the canal company TO abandon navi-
cation and vet hold on to all the franchises
| property and privileges given 10 it on condition
| that II operate the canal The Tribune then
/ suggested that the only honest, sane and falr
way 10 proceed was through an investigating
| commission which should ascertain the exact
status Of all the parties Interested. This advice
was followed. and the Governor appointed
| George T. Werts, John W. Grlggs and Foster
| NJ voorhees,. the only living ex-G6vernOrs Of
the State. The commission received briefs
from the canal company. various municipal
bodies and the property owners affected. After
. careful study Of these, and all the legislation
concerning the canal the commission now re-
ports 10 Governor Murphy, recommending the
enactment Of a law permitting the abandon
mcnt OF navigation on these terms:
The creditors must be paid and the stock
holders receive value for their shares
,.rne commissioners. TO be appointed by the
CoE.~vor shall a~rrais- the value OF the stock
The canal company may sell its land And water
4 rights subject thg approval OF the COlilHls-
sOners. The money 50 realized Shall De AppHeu
10 the payment of debts and stock The resi-
due 10 be paid 70 the state of New-Jersey.
Whenever any portion Of the property IS sold
10 a municipal corporation or to any corpora
ton having power TO condemn property for pub
Tic use. the purchasers may condemn the re-
versionary and other private rights In the prop
erty so purchased by them for public use
The new public uses 70 which such property
may be devoted are: Public highways. parks
railroads. street railways, sewers, water supply
o.
II the moneys derived from the sales or the
property shall not be sufficient fully TO pay the
debts and appraised value Of tho stock. then the
canal company Che Jehigh Valley Railroad
Company shall make good the deficiency.
The canal IS JOG miles long. running from tho
Delaware River NJ Phillipsburg through the
counties Of Warren. Sussex, Morris. P2ssalc.
Essex and Hudson 20 Jersey City. The commits
sion saws that an examination OF the annual
earnings shows that the canal has no value
for canal uses. either 20 the LehiCh Valley
Railroad Company or 70 the State and very
emphaticaIIy the opinion is expressed that
there appears to be no way i'm which the State
could make the canal urottably available for
water transportation. Tor that reason the COM
mission could ind no other equitable solution
Of the problem than that presented I'm the r.
port lust handed 70 the Governor. The rights
OF those property owners who have built sum-
mcr homes or established businesses upon the
shores Of Lake Hop1trong and Greenwood
Lake gave the commission considerable con-
Germ. The legislative enactment drafted by tho
comm ssion contains provisions under which Il
viii be competent for the new commissioners 10
require Of any municipal or other corporation
(which may desire 10 purchase the right II
"ilowage by means of the Il ms at Greenwood
lake or 1T Lake Hopat. .-, that they SHALL
"as q condition OF tha purchase. condemn the
rights 70 maintain such lowaEe, and shall cove
"naat, perpptually OF otherwise TO retn!n AM
maintain the dams az a height sufficient 70
furnish .,Ccs Of water that shall he sufficient
"to ma v.,..in the lakes In their present form
"and capacity. thus preserving TO the residents
"and property owners in the vicinity the same
status that now exists
The commission seems 20 have done the worl.
for which It was appointed with conscientious
thoroughnoss and ability. On the face OF it. the
proposed law, submitted with the report, ap-
pears 20 be fair 10 all interests II viii undoubt
edly hc subjected 10 searching scrutiny, analysis
and discussion, both in and out Of the lcsislat-
IRE. Possibly the plan offered may be modified
I'm some particulars but il Is likely TO he adopted
without radical changes, unless the legislature
concludes 20 lay the whole subject over for an
other year.