The morning journal-courier., 1908-09-04
Interesting Data Concerning the New Haven. Pennington
 Canal.
ADDRESS BY w. |. CUSHING
Mems Congregational Club of Sims bury Listens to Historical
 Facts.

bury, William L. Gushing, head master of the Westminster school gave an in terestins address on the old New Ha- ven and Northampton canal, the re- mains of which are still in evidence in many towns west of the Talcott noun tain range. In hls address Mir, Gushing spoke as follows:
 Considering that Smsbury. as an ancient town, contains system Of ruins. which are visibly monuments of commercial enterprise, vast, costly and of historical importance, namely the New Haven and Northampton canal. link in the chain of our in dustrial development, have thought 1t would be interesting for this club to review the circumstances of its incep- tion progress and decay, Boat or barge canals were used in ancient times in Egypt and China Later, Hol- land and England developed extensive systems of canals which at the begin ming of the nineteenth century formed the best artificial means of inland transportation of heavy cargoes known to the world. The Erie Canal was fln ished in 1922 and 1t Is significant that the New Haven and Pennington Canal company was chartered In the sams year. James Hlllhouse, hnancier, phil anthropist and first citizen of New Ha- ven was chiefly instrumental In pro noting the enterprise. The plan Of himself and his associates was to con meet the waters of the Sound with the Connecticut at Northampton, and ulti- mately with the northern parts of Yer mont and New Hampshlre-in the n- terests mainly of the development of trade In New Haven The estimated cost of the New Haven and Farming ton canal was sioo, 69s, raised by prl- vate subscriptions to stock and loan of s20000O from the Mechanics bank of New Haven with canal stock as col lateral.
 Comments on the enterprise anl it's inauguration here follow-tne eX.ra4t: being from Mir. Julius Gays story Of the canal,
 A R1dnn sCHPll1f lo IlNtl lllP ETC canal in importance. Subscriptions came in slowly The river towns laughed at the project which was to | rival their broad river and writers in the "Connectcut Courant," who must have their joke at the expense of the rival capital like others since their day. commended the wisdom of the New Haven people, who were about to divert the waters of the 'Connecticut from flowing past Hartford and turn them upon the mud flats in which their own shipping was usually stuck fast. At length by brilliant bit of Iflnanciering the money was raised. The chartered on condition of its subscrib- ling for s200,OO0 of the stock of the Canal company The plan of requir- | ing a bonus from newly chartered | bank for some worthy object having been previously introduced with the Phoenix bank of Hartford and con tinued in the case of the Connecticut River Banking company and others In July, 1895, we learn from the New Haven Register" that 'on Monday. the .th instant the ceremony of com mcncing the excavation of the Farm ngton canal took place at Salmon Brook village in Granby. The day was were appropriate and interesting. There were from two to three thous- and people present on the occasion and among them several gentlemen of distinction from Massachusetts. The barge fitted up by Captain George Row land of New Haven, drawn by four horses, in which he and several gen tlcmen of our city tNew Haven) em- parked for Southwick, gave an addi- tional interest to the occasion. and the sight of 1t was highly gratifying to all present. The plan was well de- signed and happily executed, and re- fleets great credit on the gentlemen vices of the day were commenced with Iprayer hy Rev. Mir. Mclean. The Declaration of Independence was read by Hon. Timothy Pitkln and an able oration was delivered by Burrage Beach, Esq., after which procession was formed under the command of General George Cowles which moved 10 the north line of the state in the following order:
 The Slmsbury Artillery.
 Captain Rowand'e boat drawn bv six horses (the reporter has judiciously h. creased the number since we started) In which were seated the governor of the state; the president of the Canal company; the orator of the dav the Hon. Jonathan Fl Lyman of North ampton; the commissioners and the en. gIneer; together with several of the clergy.
 The directors and stockholders of the Canal company.
 Citizens from this state and Masea.
 chusetts.
 The procession. composed of gentle
 men in carriages, wagons and on horse back, was two miles in length Previ
 ous to commencing the excavation Gov I Wolcott delivered an address,
 The year 1922 was now pretty mucl
 spent, ana as yet the prlnClpdl Dusl
 ness of the canal had been to carr
 excursion parties short distances witt
 much oratory music and good cheer
 a free advertisement of the grea
 things which were to be- Here Is
 specimen card published by "The Con
 necticut Courant," returning tn thanks of the good people of Sims
 bury for one of these pleasant occa
 sions..
 "The undersigned, committee i
 behalf of nearly two hundred ladie
 and gentlemen, who were gratultousl n furnished with passage and entertain , ment on board the new and elegan V packet boat Weatogue, built and own . ed h1 n11r cntnrnrisinr cltiznn Inhn {