Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-03-17
SHIP CANAL IS
CHEAPEST WAY
OF RECLAMATION
All Engineers but One Agree
That This Will Save City
S3,95O,OO0.

today throughout the city In perhaps
a more intelligent manner than ever
before. The subject was threshed out
last night at a public hearing in the
City Hall, at which the Mayor, men,
bers of the Board of Works, Chief En-
gineer Sherrerd and the Board of Con-
sulting Engineers were present. Al
though there seemed to be some differ
ence of opinion at first, it was found,
in the last analysis, that almost every
body agreed that the retaining of the
meadows vas absolutely essential for
the welfare of the city.
1t was unanimously agreed by an in
formal vote that legislation be sought
to compel wner to make improve
ments IN accord with the general
scheme. Also to purchase as much
land as is advisable at the present
time.
What disturbed those present was the
fact that they could not see the need
for a ship canal. After two hours OF
explanation by the engineers 1t was
still a matter of mystery to the citi-
zens. Wilson J. Vance, secretary TO
the Mayor, took the floor and said that
the ship canal was necessary because
it was the only way to reclaim the
meadows In an economical way. He
said:
"All but one engineer OF all that
have been consulted advised that the
digging OF a canal was the only thing
to do. There is no material in the city
to fill the low land and we must get 1t
from somewhere. BY digging the cana
we not only get a waterway, but save
1885, co.,"
Following this explanation by Mr..
Vance James Owen, n OF he en-
gineers, went further into detail,
demonstrating the truth If the state
ment.
Michael Roach. a real estate man,
was anxious to know how much land
the city contemplated purchasing and
what the ultimate cost of the project
would be.
Cost of Land $13.O0O.OOo.
Engineer e. P. Goodrich replied that
the city ought to buy all the land pos
sible. and that by obtaining the land
in the canal zone" an expenditure of
81 5000, 600 would be necessary, and II
the city wishes to get possession of all
the land it would cost about sfS, 00o, 900.
Mr.. Goodrich explained that it would
not be necessary to spend this at one
time, as the project would begin to
pay for itself before all the work was
co.npl, ted.
Chief Engineer Sherrerd said thai
he did not favor the expenditure of
more than $4,000, 900, saying that That
Was sufficient to begin with. He also
said that it would take from five to
eight years before there would be any
return for the city's money, but that
after that time the city could get an
income from the rental of meadow land
of from 5000 to $4,000 an acre a year.
He favored the purchase of all avail
able land now which can be had for
from $3.50 to 5000 per acre.
Curtis r. Burnett, president Of the
Board of Trade, suggested that a per-
manent dock commission be formed SO
as to insure the best interests of the
city. He pointed out thai the Board
of Works changes periodically, and
that a permanent body is the only
solution to the problem. No action was
taken in the matter.
The chief director to the proposition
was Richard C. Jenkinson. and the
1AA1CL aCLVitOSA O1h q vas
plain to be seen that besides being
interested in the project n way or
another both men were more or less
personal in their remarks and at odds
with each other.
worth a Million to Kill Mosquitoes.
Mr.. Jenkinson said IN part:
TT seems to me that 1t Is worth
spending a million dollars IL only to
get rid Of the mosquitoes, but Is the
whole business necessary now? You
are going to build a canal; how are
you going to get to it? Why dig 1t at
all? Is this the time? Just now we
have a debt of $1S. 600. 900. The net
share of the city in the trunk sewer
will be $1,000, 900. In the next ten years
We must spend about ten million for
schools; FIVE millions for water; we
must have fire houses and such things.
| figure that we must spend in the
rear future about $45. 900, 900. Is 1t
necessary at this time to build a
canal?"
MT. Jenkinson thought that It would
be of more benefit to the railroads than
to the city. He said that the board of
engineers had not proved that the city
needed the canal at this time. 1t was
then that Mr., Sherrerd showed the
benefits that would accrue to the city
from the rental and sale Of factory
sites.
Frank Book made a long speech con-
corning the necessity of the whole pro-
ject and said hat the only way the
city can meet Its obligations Is by the
increase Of valuations, by the increase
of tax values. At the conclusion Of
the meeting Mayor Haussling summed
up the situation with similar remarks.
COMMISSIONS Mungle, Mr.. Sherrerd
and MI. Book declared that manufac-
turers are looking for land on which to
settle, and would come to Newark If
they could locate near deep water.
They all agreed that the canal and the
reclamation would put Newark in the
front rank. OF industrial cities.
Some PuzzIing Problems.
Alderman Biertuempfel thought that
the canal was too far out of the centre
of the city. He said that the people
that now get the benefit Of the bay
would not do so when the canal was
constructed. There also seemed to be
some curiosity as to how the people
could get from one shore TO the other,
either walking or driving.
1t was explained by Engineer Adams
that a circular street would be built on
which the city should III a trolley car,
and when the Central railroad bridge
is elevated it could be used for We