Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-12-22
Ehrntttg Gl1at

| 1t Is interesting to note that the
State has taken exceptions to paying
for bridge over Muddy creek, in
York county, because it is not a navi-
gable stream, and that the authorities
of our rich southern neighbor contend
that if it has never been officially de-
clared so it is a waterway for which a
navigation company was chartered.
Muddy creek is down near Mason and
DiXon's line and is nothing like our
Swatara or Conodoguinet creeks. 1t
is not even as big a waterway as Sher-
| mans creek and is more comparable
| to Wiconisco creek. Yet 1t seems that
in years gone by it was counted as q
stream with possibilities. There are
a number of streams along the Sus-
quehanna which have never been de-
| clared official waterways and which
never will until light draft boats be-
come lighter. Yet many of them are
covered by old patents or charters,
taken out in the days when water
transportation was as much of specu-
lative affair as railroads and trolley
lines later became. The Susquehanna
has had numerous steam navigation
companies chartered to sweep along
its occasionally stormy surface, but the
river bottom has been too close to the
top, as Mayor" Berrier sometimes
says in discussing navigation OF the
commercial variety. The Susquehanna
navigation was very real before 1900
dawned. In fact, as eaarly as 177b
the provincial assembly undertook to
do what even modern engineering has
never tackled-remove the obstruc-
tions to navigation in the Susquehanna-
The keel boats, "arks" and "broad
horns used to bump on the same
rocks that we used to run on when we
went swimming in someone else's boat.
In 1895 q proposition was taken up by
the State to improve navigation and in
| 1923 the State named a commission to
consider the question of the river from
Northumberland to tidewater. Finally
| came the canals, and river traffic.
much discussed in the newspapers and
recorded as something extensive, came
to virtual extinction, and in time the
canals which took the business were
wiped out by the expansion of rail-
roads. Yet when one thinks of it
there is a great possibility yet for
floating various articles down the Sus-
quehanna.
| you have a great river here and it's
useless except for a water supply and
for drainage" said prominent resi-
dent of the state one day. "Someday
when gasoline launches are better de-
veloped you will be taking regular trips
up and down and bringing your garden
truck to town from up and down the
| river. lie EeuIltLldl StLiu lllS
creasng cost to railroads of transpor-
tation was rapidly bringing it about.
There is a reminder of the good old
summer time in large motorboat
which is safely moored in a yard at
Eighteenth and Derry streets. 1t got
there on wheels and they are of a good
stout kind that will get it back again.
The boat is n big affair, sea-going size,
and will be placed on the Susquehapna
next season. Just now it looks rather
odd over half q mile from the rivers
edge.
The men connected with the sand
and coal fleets. who are taking an
enforced holiday because of the Sus-
quehanna freezing up ahead of its
usual schedule, are of the opinion that
there will be plenty of coal next spring
in spite of the activity of coal COM
panies in reclaiming the culm and
waste at their mines. Immense guam
titles have been spotted by these men.
who have been travelling UP the river
as far as Sunbury, and they say that
! the spring freshets will wash much
1 out of the Shamokin and Wiconisco
and other streams into the Susquer
| hanna. The big deposits up the river
will be brought down and there is
brisk season ahead for next summer In
| the coal line.
The Susquehanna Trail Association,
which was formed the other day at a
meeting held at Williamsport, will
have a big mass meeting in that city
on February 2. at which Dauphin and
Northumberland counties will be repre-
sented. The trail association extends
its activities clear up to the New York
line and local organizations are being
formed to back it up. 1t will have
| Harrisburg for its southern terminus
and use the new state highway being
built between Dauphin and Halifax.
The Moorhead chorus, which will
| sing at the municipal Christmas tree
celebration Sunday evening, under the
pet organization of the Mooahead
| Knitting Company. The company has
provided a fine room for the rehearsals I
of the chorus and takes as much in
| terest in the young singers as they do F
in their own activities. Mr.. Hartman
| is Just the man for the job. He sings
delightfully."- and has the happy faculty
of imparting his own enthusiasm to
those about him. Under his direction
the Moorhead chorus is making an ex-
cellent reputation for itself 1t will |.
sing in uniform Sunday night, using 4
the Board of Trade building as head
quarters.
One of the city's hotels has had d
applications for all of its rooms twice
over for next week, when the edu-
Gators and the men interested in the .
organization of the Legislature gather
here. Most of the hotels will have a
strenuous time taking care of visitors
and travelling men say they are glad 1T
hits the time when they will be home.
|