Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1912-10-30
HOLD HEARING ON
CLOSING OF CANAL
Claim Part of Property Will Re-
vert to City if Waterway
Is Abandoned.

Setting forth the rights of the city
in the Morris canal property should
1t be abandoned. Chief Engineer Nor
rls r. Sherrerd spoke at some length
at public hearing to inquire into the
problem of the canal as 1t affects
Newark and Essex county. under the
auspices of the Morris canal investi-
eating committee in the rooms of the
Board of Trade this morning.
When the session was called by
Carlton Godfrey. chairman of the
committee, there were representa-
tives present from various sections
of the State. At the outset it was
annuonced that the commission would
continue to sit until all who wished
TO speak had been heard.
The members of the commission
who were present were Carlton
Godfrey, of Atlantic City; former
Mayor Henry M. Doremus, of this
city; Charles II. Ingersoll, of South
Orange: Albert r. CAM. of Hoboken
c. Howard Slater of Jersey City;
Mangold II. Ellenbogen. of Paterson,
and Assemblymah Frederick G.
Stickel, secretary, of this city.
The absent members We're J. /.
Blair Kelley, of Phillipsburg; Judge
John r. Wescott, of Camden, and
Foster f. Birch, of Dover.
Mr.. Sherrerd went over nearly the
entire proposition from the time it
vas first suggested that the canal
~.
Chat there might be some good rea-
SON why the canal should be left un-
touched in Morris county, and
claimed that tp4o .,ould be done, even
though the property be abandoned
through Essex. In the lower section
al the city Mr.. Sherrerd declared
that the canal land took in thirty
three feet of Passaic avenue and said
that if abandonment is decided upon
this should be returned to the city.
He pointed out also that the canal
al present runs along Branch Brook
Park and suggested that this part
cpuld be converted into an excellent
boulevard. besides affording the Park
Commission an opportunity of build
ing a proper approach to the park
The canal, he said, has prevented a
proper approach being made to the
park. He traced the canal on a large
may from its entrance into Newark
until it passed out. He also made a
point of the "plane" from Plane
street to High street. which, he said.
was not only dangerous TO autoists
and drivers, but also had the effect of
decreasing property values.
Richard c. .JenlSinson, of the Board
of Trade, followed Mr.. Sherrerd. and
pointed out that the city was put to a
disadvantage in being compelled to
state just what parts of the canal It
would pay for He suggested that the
commission make known whether or
not it would recommend the abandon
ment of the canal Chairman God
frey, however,, explained that this was
impossible at the present time, and
pointed out that the commission was
sitting for the purpose of getting the
views of Newark and its citizens. On
these views the commission will make
its decision. Mr.. Jenkinson also went
over some of the ground covered by
Mr. Sherrerd.
The Rev. DIR. Adolph Roeder, of
Orange, president of the New Jer-
sew State Civic Federation, repre-
scented that body and viewed the
canal proposition from somewhat
different angle than the other speak
ers. He summed up the desires OF
that body as follows:
.'In general we have these points
10 which to call attention. First, that
there is a clash of interests between
+ha urban and the rural sections of
the canal. In the two large centres,
Newark and Jersey City, the best
and wisest and most rational policy
is evidently abandonment and the use
of the canal bed for other purposes,
in Newark the best purpose for the
bed is again evidently that of sub