Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-10-29
CANAL|ZAT|ON OF
RIVER DISCUSSED
Paterson Board of Trade Hears
Speakers Urge Opening Up
of the Passaic.
Especial 10 the Newark star. |

PATERSON, Oct. 29.-With a galaxy
of speakers and authorities on the i'm
portant question of waterways and
canals, the members of the Board of
Trade last evening began a move
ment which it is hoped will eliminate
in the opening OF the Passaic river
for navigation up to this city. Con-
gresham j. Hampton Moore, of
Philadelphia, perhaps the best-in-
formed man on this subject in the
United States, spoke last night. AS
president of the Atlantic Deeper
Waterways Association he became
interested in local problems.
j. Spencer Smith. of the New Jer-
sey Harbor Commission, also spoke.
Mr.. Smith, in speaking of the project
for making the Passaic river navig-
able to Straight street, Paterson,
said:
when in Washington few weeks
ago Senator Hughes asked me whether
we had jurisdiction over rivers or not.
I replied that we felt 1t was our duty
to take an interest in anything that
would be of benefit to the water
borne commerce of New Jersey, es-
pecially when the same is in any way
related to ports or harbors. The
Passaic river to Paterson is a part
Of the New York harbor territory
that we have been ordered to especial
ly consider.
I'VE have taken up the question of
deepening the Passaic so that boats
may be brought up 90 Paterson. We
do not know as yet that we can be
of definite help to you in this connec-
ton, but we believe that we can be
of considerable assistance. Undoubt>
eddy, working hand in hand and
shoulders together, we can bring
bout the desired results.
"As you undoubtedly know, since
our commission has been appointed
we have been cooperating very
closely with the army engineers, and
we feel confident that we can secure
their cooperation on this project.
1T may be necessary for Paterson
or its citizens to make a contribution
themselves for this project, but even
if this should prove to be the case it
ought not to be a deterrent factor
We have been informed that the citi-
zens OF Manchester, England, SUBJ
scribed over one million dollars to
build a canal so that Manchester
might become a port and have access
to the oceans of the world. Although
we understand this canal has not vet
returned anything to the investors on
their investment, yet those who in
vested in the stock of the canal COM
pany say that they have been more
than amply repaid because of business
increase.
so I believe IL would be the case
with the city of Paterson. that what
ever it might cost you in the way of
an outlay of capital in order to make
Paterson city on navigable river
the same would be returned to you
many times over"
In discussing the possible naviga-
| ton of the Passaic river to Paterson,
Congressman Robert G.. Bremner said.
THE one impediment at all times has
been the Dundee dam. This, more
than anything else, has held back the
improvement of the stream. The
Dundee Land Company which holds
the charter Tor nine hundred and
ninety-nine years, should in Justice
to the communities along the Passaic
river be compelled TO live up to its
contract. In no place in the United
States is the need of transportation
facilities so great as in this section
of the State. The question of water
way developments is particularly i'm
portant to the people of Passaic
county. 1t has two cities which, com
bined, do a manufacturing business
close to s120,000,000 per year.
There is perhaps no river in the
United States where more good could
| be accomplished by it's development
! for a short distance than the Passaic
river. Up to this time the govern
ment has spent little more than
81 100000 on the Passaic river. and
in view of the fact that there is car
ried on the Passaic river over
100000 tons to Newark alone, the
expenditure of money has not been
adequate for the amount of COM
merce which has great possibilities
of increasing If it were possible for
ships to come to Paterson"
The other speakers were: Captain
| J. Wise. Syracuse Chamber of Com
merce; Marcus A. Beeman, secretary
of New Jersey Chamber of Com
merce; Richard c. Jenkinson and w.
S. Saunders, members of the New
Jersey Harbor Commission; James NJ.
Reilly, secretary of the Newark Board
of Trade; B. +. Cresson, engineer to
Harbor Commission; e. A. Ransom,
secretary of the farbor, Commission,
and w. NJ. Jacobus, secretary of New
Jersey Ship Commission.