Evening journal., 1906-09-27
STATE UNITED FOR.
DEEPER CANAL
tcontInued from seeona Pagel

ceive a favorable hearing at Washington.
Mr. Crozier then suggested banquet az
which the prominent interests 0f this city
and State put themselves on record m
favor OF turning the present canal into a
national deep waterway.
This data was put in printed form and
presented to the House Committee on
Canals along with other statistics Mr..
crozier had obtained. All this in pamph-
let form he placed before the commission
yesterday as a portion OF the case he
made for the present route.
The commission had expected TO hold
the hearing at an earlier date and bad
so notified Mr.. Crozier He found him-
self unable to reach here on that time
and presented the matter of freight rates
and railroad opposition to the canal In tho
form Of letters which he sent.
When the hearing had been postponed
and he was so informed and able 70 be
present the commissioners asked him TO
present his letter in person. This he did
yesterday and the following statement
embraces the data which Mr.. Crozier pre-
scented to the Commission yesterday and
which was published in the Special Canal
Edition OF The Evening Journal last
night
General Agnus in introducing Mr. Gro
zier said: wherever / have gone ana
into whatever investigation I have deived
In the matter. 1 have always run across
tho name Alfred o. Crozier. ! have never
had the pleasure OF meeting him before
but am going TO call on him now.
Mr.. Crozier prefaced his remarks with
the explanation regarding the gathering
OF data and then read to the commission
the correspondence which he had for
warded when under the impression that
the commissioners would sit at an earlier
date
Petosisy, Mich, Sept is.
Delaware and Chesapeake Ship Canal
Commission. wilmington. Delaware.
Gentlemen. Being unable 20 return toI
my home in Wilmington, Delaware. mI
time to personally attend the coming
meeting Of your board as requested, and
as L greatly desired, I take the liberty OF
addressing you in writing.
l When invited 10 become chairman OF n
bubble committee in 1904 10 advance the
project for a ship canal 20 connect Della
ware river and Chesapeake Bay, 1t was
reported that during the thirty years the
matter had been pending before Congress-
the Pennsylvania railroad had success
fully opposed the enterprise.
10 ascertain whether such potent oppo-
eltion was 10 confront our Efforts | wrote
10 President A. J. Cassatt Of that road.
He at once replied requesting the per-
sonal interview which was held. II was
than fhn
people of the five states upon those
waters desired and greatly needed the iin-
proved waterway that 1t was necessary
10 strengthen the national defense and
that It would so industrialize the locality
that the extra traffic would benefit his
railroad much more than the competition
would do it harm. with this view he
agreed and requested that 1 announce at
the Interstate ship Canal Banquet in
Wilmington, on January 8, 1904, that the
Pennsylvania Railroad would not oppose
Ah.ai. would favor the ship canal project in
every way.
I made the announcement, sent clip
ping OF same to him. and received the fol-
lowing reply:
cassatt's Letter
Philadelphia, Pa, Feb &c, 1904
Dear Sir. did not notice that your LETT
ter OF January IA required an answer.
You stated my position in the matter re-
ferred to with substantial correctness.
A. J. Cassatt. President.
Mr.. Alfred o. crozier, Wilmington Del.
Relying on this assurance, and believing
It was made in good faith. the COMMITTEES
.----.a.a "a ti,. ,,,r..,,,,c,,f lod an 20 the
commission, OF which you are the hon
ored members.
Railroad Hostility
It has been persistently reported re-
Gently that the Pennsylvania railroad ISL
hostile TO any Improvements Of that water
way. The same is said Of the Ericsson
steamboat line which monopoizes the
business through the present inadequate
canal and which is understood TO be con-
troned in the interests Of the railroads
that have bought up the principal boat
lines on the Chesapeake. For these rea-
sons ] thought 1t advisable 20 try and as
certain definitely whether the attitude OF
the railroads has changed that j might
make you acquainted with the facts.
Attached hereto, you viii hnd a copy OF
my registered letter addressed to MIR.
Cassatt. which was duly delivered. No re-
ply has been received.
sincerely hope the reports OF hostility
BY that railroad are not correct and thdi
there is some good reason why a reply
has not been made TO my courteous in.
quiry.
I have no hesitation in saying that
believe II would be a serious mistake f0l
the railroads TO oppose this great pro
ject which is for the benefit Of the peopl,
and the welfare Of the entire country Th'
public is not in temper TO stand any sci
fish corporate interference in this mat
ter.
IL is beginning 10 understand why tn
railroads have seized so many canals an,
strangled the traffic thereon. forcing IN
people to pay vastly higher rates oi
freight The railroads have bought o.
leased these canals and abandoned then
by allowing them to get out OF repair
neglecting 10 improve them and maxi
them adequate TO the larger modern boati
carrying the tonnage, or by raising th'
tolls.
How Railroads Have Acted
In this way over seven hundred riilei
Of canals built by the State of Pennsyi
vania. at a cost Of nearly Si0.0o0.O0O hav,