Evening journal., 1906-09-27

rate for the service rendered Re
vival of canals viii lhelp to that end,
and by diverting from the railroads
much heavy and cheap freight viii re-
lieve the prevailing congestion, maxi
ing room for traffic Of higher classi-
ication that pays a better rate. all
without serious, II any. financial loss
to the railroads. So glutted have
some railroads become that the cost Of
operation per ton-mile is actually ad-
vancing instead Of growing less as the
volume Of traffic increases. 1t would
pay such roads to tweed out" its least
profitable traffic and give it 10 the
canals. The people also would be great
gamers.
Matter Of Route
As to the particular route for a ship
canal across the Delaware and Mary
land peninsula, 4 is a matter Of COM
paratively small Importance. Your
board, with the ample data available
and oStanable. and the wide expert
ence and high expert knowledge Of its
members is I'm excellent position to
best judge as to the most feasible
route.
But Il Is OF the utmost importance
that an improved waterway, adequate
to the demands OF our increasing COM
merce, be built upon some route with
/ in the shortest possible time. and that
no hostile interests be permitted to de-
prive the people and the country Of the
great benefits and security II will con-
fer
No one can say that such ship canal
which can be had for the cost of a
single battleship. may not any day be
worth a whole fleet OF warships, as a
means Of defense of the nations capi-
tol and our countrys honor
Another Letter to cassatt
Little Falls. n. Y, Aug. 25, 1896.
Hon. A. j. Cassatt,
President Pennsylvania Railroad
Philadelphia, Pa.
Dear Sir:-Two or three years ago
In private conversation you strongly
assured me as chairman of a public
committee to further the project that
the Pennsylvania Railroad would not
opposebut would favorthe construction
Of a ship canal to connect Delaware
River and Chesapeake Bay. This
position you later confirmed by letter
on February 26, 1904.
Recently word has come to me from
so many different sources specifically
stating that the Pennsylvania Railroad
would oppose and was actively oppos-
ing, a ship canal or any enlargement
Of the present canal, that l thought
best I'm view OF our former conversa-
tion, to write you direct. that we might
know authortatively whether the atti-
tude OF your road in this important
matter had changed and whether we
might stlll expect your friendly CO.
operation in giving TO the five States
Immediately concerned the improved
transportation facilities and to the
country the aid to national defense
which an adequate canal would sup
ply
The commission appointed by the
President to report to Congress on this
subject win meet in Wilmington early
In September and as / have been In
vited to attend the same. will. If you
desire. make your position known at
that inquiry.
Thanking you for an early reply.
addressed to me at my home, VIII
mington. Delaware, l remain.
Very respectfully yours
(Signed) Alfred O. Crozier
Little Falls, n. Y, Sept. %, 1906.
Delaware and Chesapeake
Ship Canal Commission.
Wilmington. Delaware
Gentlemen: You have already re-
ceived my written statement mailed
from Petoskey, Michigan. on September
8, for your public hearing which I was
Informed would probably be held Sep
tember H., but which was finally fixed
for September 26. 1906.
This supplemental statement was
made necessary by the reply Of Presl-
dent A. J. Cassatt, Of the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company, written from Bar
Harbor, Maine, and forwarded to me
by way Of Wilmington. Delaware
The following IS copy of his letter:
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company
Office OF the President
Bar Harbor, Me. Aug SO 1906.
MIR. Alfred O. Crozier.
Wilmington, Delaware.
Dear Sir: In reply to your favor of
the 25th instant l DO not see that /
can add anything to what / have al
ready said and written to you of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company's at
titude towards the proposed Delaware
and Chesapeake ship Canal, nor can !
take any notice Of the allegation, which
is entirely without foundation. that the
company is opposing the proieict. with
out knowing who has undertaken to
speak for IT, Yours truly.
A. ]. Cassatt.
President.
The following is a copy of my answer
to Mr.. Cassatt's letter:
crozer Answers Cassatt
Little Falls, n ", Sept %. 1906
Hon. A. j. Cassatt,
President Pennsylvania Railroad Co
Dear Sir: Your letter has reached me
by way of Wilmington Delaware
President Thomas II. Savery, OF the
Wilmington Board Of Trade. has writ
ten me that he expected the hearing
would be September H. and I mailed
my written statement TO the Delaware
and Chesapeake Ship Canal Commits
sion from Petoskey, Michigan, on Sep
tember s. He subsequently advised
me the hearing would be on September
20
After the receipt OF your letter. ]
prepared a supplemental statement
which I viii mail or present in person
at the hearing. In this l make youI
position clear to the commission as
assured you in my former letter
would do. / trust 1t does you and
your road fun justice I'm the matter FOR
I Qtnporalv "a af.nraofafa tho r,rntfffo., -,