Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-03-04
WANT STATE To
TAKE OVER CANAL
.
Bill Asking for COnfiscation to
Be introduced in
Legislature.
[From a sta4 Correspondent. ]


TRENTON, March 4.-The Morris
Canal bill has stirred up opposition in
a number of quarters and there will
be a lively time when it comes before
the Legislature for debate. A number
of new bills bearing on the disposition
of the canal will be introduced.
Jersey City strongly a~ntagonizes the
bill, demanding that the 1880 feet of
Waterfront on the Hudson, which the
Governor agreed to give to the Lehigh
Valley Railroad Company for a trifle
of sow, 00U shall go to ne cvity, together
with the three and one-half miles of
canal between the waterfront and Fid-
dler's Elbow.
Morris County people want h canal
preserved as it Is as a public park.
The land owners at Lake Hopatcong
don't want the water drawn down for
d water supply for State uses. There
Is also a strong sentimer for the pres
e~rVation OF the canal al a waterway
and for the ~abrogation OF the canal
charter for misusage and non-usage.
One bill that has been prepared Will
be introduced this week. 1t reads as
follows;
Whereas, The Morris Canal has
been permitted by its lessee CHE lie
high Valley Railroad Company to
fall into d%isrepair and disuse; and
Whereas, 1t is directly detrimental
to the business interests of Northern
New Jersey, and indirectly to the in
terests of the entire State, that the
Morris Canal be permitted to con-
tinue in such state of disrepair and
disuse; and
Whereas, BY the terms of the char
ter OF said Morris Canal, the State Of
New Jersey is authorized. in 1928, to
AXE tn said canal and its rights
and privileges on paying a fair valu-
alton for the same; therefore. be it
Resolved, BY the General Assembly
Of New Jersey Cthe Senate concur
ring), that the States a~ttorney-gen-
eral be, and is, hereby directed to
prepare and forward to the secretary
Of the State of New Jersey a written
proposition involving State owner
ship. improvement and operation of
the said Morris and Essex Canal, said
proposition to be submitted to the
voters of the State at the general
election on the first Tuesday in Mo-
vember. 1912, in these words:
j. For State ownership, improve
ment and operation of the Morris
Canal. together with all of its rights
and privileges. at a cost not exceed
ing ten millions of dollars. of which
not more than one-third shall be
paid for said Morris Canal and its
rights and privileges. the remainder
Of the not exceeding ten millions Of
dollars to be e~xpendedNin improving
the said canal and equipping it with
suitable boats. motive power for
same, and, where possible substi-
tuting locks for planes, and such
other improvements as may be
deemed necessary.
2. That three years after the ac-
QUESTION of the said Morris Canal by
the State, the Legislature of New
Jersey is hereby authorized (when
requested by the Public Utilities
Commission of the State) to expend
one hundred thousand dollars per
year for ten years in further I'M
provement of said Morris Canal.
3. That said Morris Canal shall be
operated by the state as a public
waterway, for which annua1 appro-
priation of money shall be made by
the Legislature. and shall be free to
boats OF all nations except In time