Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-06-03
SHIP CANAL PLAN
FINDS FAVOR WITH
NATIONAL SOLONS
Translate Waterway Also
Looks Good to Govern
ment Engineer.

TRENTON, June 3.-New Jerseys
offer to the government to dedicate a
right of way across this State for the
proposed Philadelphia -to-New York
ship canal, which would carry govern
mental appropriations reaching the ul-
innate sum of $40. 600, 900. win be cons
sidered by Congress next December.
This announcement was made yester-
day on an inspection trip by members
of the rivers and harbors committee Of
Congress and waterways advocates
over the present inadequate inland
route.
The trip yesterday began at New
York and ended for the night at Tren-
ton, where members of the party were
the guests of the Trenton Chamber of
Commerce. They are proceeding to
Philadelphia today.
Bordentown was reached this morn
ing at 10 o'clock. From that point tho
"Trip will be continued up the Delaware
to this city. Returning down the Dela-
ware the inspection party will be trans
ferred at Florence to the Pennsylvania
navigation commissioners boat, M. s.
Quay, n proceed to the navy yard at
League island. Before reaching the
navy yard there will be an inspection
of the big ship plants.
An automobile tour of Philadelphia
and a dinner to the delegation at tie
Union League by Mayor Reyburn will
conclude the trip. The congressmen
will return to Washington tomorrow
morning.
The trip had been arranged by Repre-
sentative J. Hampton Moore, of Phila-
delphis.
There are twenty members of this
committee. Eleven of them are on the
trip. Among them was Thomas j..
Scully, of South Amboy, representing
the Fourth New Jersey district
Colonel Blacks Favorable Hint.
Colonel w. M. Black, of New York.
United States engineer in charge OF
the survey, today that his
report would likely be in the hands OF
the board of engineers by September l.
Colonel Black said:
ut is hoped that this canal, If 1t is
built, will be equally as important as
the trunk lines which touch along its
route"
The launches bearing the inspection
party through the whole length OF the
Delaware and Raritan canal passed
but one canalboat drawn by four mules
and bearing a cargo of salt. The main
traffic goes by the railroad.
The committee which has charge of
the trip includes Frederick w. Dom
nelly, of Trenton, who has been In the
forefront of progressive movements
here; Horace q. Reeder, Of Borden
town, and Worthington Jacobus, of
Passaic, who is talked of as a member
of the canal committee to be appointed
shortly by Governor Wilson.
The route followed yesterday is no
the one proposed for the contemplated
canal. Colonel Black said emphaticall,
that n Delaware and Raritan cana
Is impractical for an adequate water
way.
Present Canal VIII Not DO.
The route which the United States
engineer will recommend is a little
more than thirty-three miles. There is
already a natural waterway from New
York harbor to the mouth of Cheese
quake creek, just below South Amboy.
The canal, starting at that point, will
follow the easiest levees through sand
cuttings on a line nearly parallel to
the Camden and Amboy division of the
PennSylNanld railroad, WHICH IL CROSSES
near Jamesbury. From there it will
run parallel to the railroad until 1t
reaches the Delaware river at Borden
town.
From Bordentown the Delaware
leads TO Philadelphia, and a spur viii
be run to Trenton.
Two alternative propositions will De
submitted-a tide-level canal and one
with a system Of locks. 1t is probable
that the former will be recommended,
with one lock at Bordentown, to
guard against occasional floods.
Estimated Cost Sal 100000.
The construction of a Twenty-Five
foot canal from Cheesequake creek to
~Bordentown would cost about $3S. 715, 900
The Improvement of the Delaware from
the twelve-foot hRnne at Trenton to
the thirty-five-foot channel at Phila-
delphia would cost $3,S00, 900, bringing
the total cost TO $40. ass, 1000. Mainte-
nance and operation are figured at
5000. 600 a year.
In the decade from 1900 to 1909 there
were 500 disasters to shipping on the
Atlantic ~seaboard, entailing a loss of
1900 lives and $40, 500, 900 worth of ship
ping and cargo. These accidents were
due to the dangers of the outside pas
sage. and the property loss for that
brief period is Just equal to the cost of
the proposed Philadelphia-to-New