The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-02-07
UPON
DIVERSION
Lehigh Valley Representatives
Want to Take Water Out
side Of the State.
MORRIS CANAL ABANDONMENT


The Lehigh Valley Railroad Com
pany, which owns the Morris canal, in
recent conferences with opponents Of
the canal abandonment scheme, has
definitely refused to make an agree
ment that the waters under the canal
company's control shall not be sold
outside the State Of New Jersey.
The refusal to give this assurance
evidently has not been because the
company does not mean to use the
waters in its possession for the supply
Of cities and towns, either directly or
through it's associated corporation, the
East Jersey Company, for it has in
sisted upon the right to draw down
the level of both Lake Hopatcong and
Greenwood Lake to seven feet, when
desired, for water supply purposes
1t has been asserted for some time
that the interests of property-holders
on the two lake resorts would be am
ply protected. but it is evident that
the company is not in earnest, as SO
great a reduction in the water level
in summer would make the lakes un-
attractives, If not unsanitary.
The determination of the combined
water monopolists to sell New Jersey
waters outside the State, regardless of
the needs of the communities inside
and of the destructive effect upon the
rivers seems thoroughly established,
and it is probable the work now under
way, to sell to Staten Island towns, is
only small part of the scheme to en-
rich the monopoly at the expense of
New Jersey.
There is great danger that the canal
abandonment scheme viii be put
through the present Legislature with
out safeguarding any of the public in
terests. The politicians have been
afraid of it in the last three years, on
account of the effect its passage might
have on the Gubernatorial, Senatorial
and Presidential elections. Now that
these are over and the Republicans
have safe majority in the Senate for
some time to come, the political and
corporation combine is said to be will
ing to risk the election of Democratic
Assembly in order to carry out the
postponed scheme.
The parties in interest comprise the
most powerful corporations of the
State. the Lehigh Valley Railroad,
with the Morris canal, which expects
to get a large cash consideration the
Lackawanna Railroad, which expects
to use part of the canal for railroad
purposes; the Public Service Company,
which wants a part for its trolley
routes, and the East Jersey Water
Company, which wants the water.
The Pennsylvania Railroad is also
friendly to the scheme, and expects
some benefit from it on account of old
agreements with the Lehigh Valley,
dating back to the passage of the early
water bills by the Legislature.
The attitude Of the Essex delegation
in regard to the whole subject Of Nor
ris canal abandonment and water di-
version causes much anxiety. The
members are placed in the lobby lists
at Trenton as solidly for any bill foi
the abandonment of the canal. This
is based on the fact that politicians, In
the interests of the scheme, have in
corporated a demand for canal aban.
donment in the county platforms Of
the Republicans, thus giving the mem
bers a partisan excuse for supporting
the measure One of the reasons giyer
for the abandonment has now disap
peared. 1t was alleged that the Lacka
wanna Railroad could not avoid grade
crossings in Newark as long as the
canal was in operation. BY the plar
of carrying the boats over the railroac
this excuse has now been lost. The
only reason urged why Newark should
aid the canal abandonment is that il
would be better to get rid of the ditcl
because it is nuisance, and that il
would be used for trolley purposes
There seems very little prospect Of it.
being made available for any public
use That Newark would be glad tx
see the canal disappear is probably
true, but the citizens want fair bar
gain made, and they are united in de
mandlng the protection of the lake,
and Ia opposing the diversion Of th'
State waters to New York Ncwarl
Sunday Call
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