Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-02-17
SAYS NEW CANAL
WOULD INCREASE
JERSEYS RICHES
Pennsy's Control OF D. and r.
Has Baked Progress, PrObers
Are Told.
Especial to the Newark star.l

NEW BRUNSWICK, Feb. 11.-Sena-
tor George S. Silzer. of this city, and
Senator Harry d. Leavitt. of Trenton,
two of the members of the Senate COM
mittee to investigate the cause of the
d~eeadence of the Delaware and tart
tan River canal, learned some more
here today of the means thai the Penn
sylvania Railroad Company took to
kill off the freight-carrying business
of the canal, 50 that traffic would re-
vert to the railroad. 1t was shown
that in spite of protests to the war de.
partment the railroad company was
permitted to build a solid masonry
bridge over the canal at this city, maxi
ing it impossible for any vessels with
tall masts to pass; that the railroad
had raised it's tolls from 30 to 10 per
cent in 1882, after the State had lost
its opportunity to redeem the canal for
public use; that the company classified
its rates, and neglected to keep the
canal properly dredged; that 1T neg
lec3ed one lock: that it discriminates
against those who do not use the COM
pany's towing equipment and discour-
ages transportation companies by keep
ing the canal closed three months each
winter.
Captain James Hughes, of this city,
whoi has been a boatman since 1855,
testified tina the canal was in its prime
in 1908. 1t is in a fair condition to-
day, he declared. except that its locks
are not wide enough and that the canal
has filed in at the sides, making 1t
impossible at places for two large BOATS
to pass. He declared hat the toll rates
prohibit competition, as boatmen, in
order to pay the tolls, would have to
ask n freight rate higher thar the rail-
roads charge. The tolls range from 80
cents a ton to $3.50 a ton. according to
classification. He knew of no reasons
why there should be a classification of
rates. as the ana is not a carrying
but simply furnishes the
highway. If the rate of 50 cents a ton
was cut in half a flat rate of 1712 cents
charged boatmen could beat the rail
road at the freight business. With
such a rate the boatmen could handle
large quantities of pipe from Camden,
could deliver crushed stone from the
Rocky Hill quarries in this city at 40
cents 4 ton and beat the Hudson river
boatmen 10 or ID cents a ton.
The canal company now has ten or
twelve barges. but they are tied up
somewhere, and not available to public
use. He has tried to get them and
failed. Before the solid bridge was
built. at least twenty schooners were
permanently engaged in the canal serv-
ice, between Trenton and New York.
besides about twelve other ~schooners
and transient schooners, In ordinary
winter, the canal could be kept open at
least ten months in the year, he said,
while some years it could be kept open
all year. If the company kept an ice
breaker, it could always be kept open
the year round.
Warren *. Lyons, city industrial So
licitorf declared that il the toll rate was
made low, opening up water commune
cation with Philadelphia and the South,
the Rarjtan river would be lined with
factories, from this city to the Amboys.
He had had experience in trying to
locate factories here, and had been told
that the water was too shallow for sat
isfactory shipping. There has been
great depreciation of property along the
water front, because Of the decline OF
the canal business.
Charles A Mccormick. treasurer OF
the Middlesex Transportation Company,
declared that in his opinion the Inter
state Commerce Commission is the
proper body to regulate rates on the
waterways and prevent prohibitive tolls
such as are charged by the canal com
paay. He was enthusiastic over the
possibilities of a ship canal over the
route of the canal, declaring that such
a canal would make this section of the
country the richest in the land. II
would place this section, for shipping
facilities, on the same footing with New
York city, and cause New York indus
tries to come to this city, seeking
cheaper land and better accommoda.
tons.