Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-04-21
ten that this means is available,

ten that this means IS available,
Terminals are very essential, other
wise the owners of boats have no
method of distributing their cargoes.
The terminals at either end of the
canal are largely, if not exclusively,
controlled. They can, however, be ae-
CURED by condemnation. Terminal
facilities in New York and Philadel-
phia could be secured by cooperation
Of the operators of lines and boats.
If traffic should be restored to any
large amount, there would be much de-
lay in its transportation, and much in
convenience to the citizens of Trenton.
This is due to the fact that the canal
is crossed by some of Trenton's prin-
cipal streets, and canal and street traf-
fc would interfere and one would have
to wait for the other.
If the traffic grew sufficiently to war
rant it, an additional canal could be
built from a point between Princeton
and Trenton and extending to Borden
town, thus avoiding Trenton entirely.
It car ne done in no other way,iowing
to physical conditions in Trenton. This
would leave the present canal in Tren-
ton to accommodate Trenton traffic; all
through traffic going by the "cut-off. -
Interest Of the State In the Canal.
That the State has little interest in
the canal appears from the opinion of
the AttornY-General, hereto attached.
Up to 1883 the State had the right
to take over the canal; having failed to
do 50, the right no longer exists.
If it was desirable that the State
should take the canal over, it could
probably do so by condemnation, un-
der legislative act.
Your Committee does not however
believe that this would be advisable.
The cost would no doubt be very great,
and far beyond the benefits derived.
The State can put its funds to better
use; and besides this, the same amount
of money applied to a new, deep, wide
and up-to-date canal across the State,
would bring better results.
Under the AttOrney-General s supple
mental opinion, the State has no power
to regulate the rates ON the canal, al
though it may perhaps the service.
What Has Been Accomplished.
Much has already been accomplished
since your Committee was appointed.
First of all, public attention was
directed to the canal, and to water
WAYS in general, this stimulated public
sentiment and caused our citizens to
take a greater interest in water ways
and water transportation. Today they
are thoroughly alive to its possibilities.
This interest has also been helpful
in the passage of legislation. The pass
age of the Harbor Board Acts has pro
vided the means for acquiring terminal
facilities, not heretofore possible.
The Public Utilities Commission has
been given the same jurisdiction to
regulate canals as they possess over
other public utilities.
The legislature has pledged this State
to the expenditure Of 100000 to ac-
quire the necessary land, if the Nation.
al Government will build a canal con
Meeting New York Bay with deer
water in the Delaware river at Borden.
town, New Jersey.
If carried out this canal will become
part of the great national inland water.
way, useful for national defense in time
of war, and in time of peace
It would be of unreasonable benefit ia
the State.
The Delaware and Raritan canal can.
not now be used for this purpose, MOI
could it be made so even by a larger
expenditure of money.
If the new interstate canal is built
the Delaware and Raritan canal will
probably be abandoned.
This investigation has undoubtedly
aided in educating the public to ar
appreciation of its natural advantages
In all of these movements and In al
of this legislation the members of the
Committee have given their best eff
forts. The legislation enacted has al
animated from members Of the Com
mittee.
Your Committee also drew a bill anc
caused it to be introduced in the sen,
ate of the United States, giving the
Interstate Commerce Commission juris
dicion over the canal. Up to this time
for some reason, it has not been passed
We would call particular attention
to the opinion of the Attorney-Genera
in which he holds that the charter OF
THE Delaware and Raritan/ canal is 6
contract and Is irrepealable; and thai
under the decisions, this legislature ha,
no power to alter such contract; ani
any legislation changing it's terms
would be ineffective and ~unconstitu
%tional.
This is a serious obstacle in attempt
ing regulation, or reducing the toll