Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-01
CARRYING COAL HERE
BY CANAL FAVORED
Public Service Commissioner
Magee Urges Inquiry Into
Feasibility of Plan

HARRISBURG, Dec. speaking be-
foro the Anthracite Commission In session
here today, william A. MaEee, Public Ser
vice Commissioner and formerly prom
inently Identified with food control and
canal projects In western Pennsylvania, rec
commended that the Legislature authorize an
lnvostlg lgaton "a TO the feasibility OF 80
improving the canal systems Of the east
crn part OF the state rs to make them
adequate for the purpose OF carrying an
thracte from the mines TO philadelphia, or
VI that project failed, OF slack watering
the rivers In order to provide the mines
with cheaper transportation than is pos
slble on the railroads.
Mr. MaEoo spoke very Enthusiastically Of
The possibilities as he saw them and called
attention TO the fact that II the report OF
the proposed legislative commission showed
that the canals could be modernlzed and
improved To the extent desired, and She
railroads now controlling them did not
want 60 undertake the enterprises, tho pub
lie service law OF the State makes n pos
siblc for tho Commonwealth to order tho
necessary changes made, under penalty of
compulsory surrender OF franchise.
Mr.. Magee expressed the belief that with
lower freight charges from the mines TO
Philadelphia tho railroad would not lose
much. IL anything, hut that Philadelphia
would become the predominant coal ship
ping point OF the eastern seat ard
CHEAPER FREIGHT RATE
Mr.. Mugee said In part:
Mr.. WARMERS statements to this COM
mission that tho suggestion OF transporting
anthracite coal from tho mines TO Phlladcl-
phia by water Is ridiculous and out OF the
question was. believe. made inconsider-
ately. Tho carriage OF 100000 tons or
bitumnous coal annually on the MOnonEn-
hen, n slack-woter stream, nine feet deep
In 60O-ton bargcs, Mt cost OF not moro
than one mill per ton mile. justlhcs full
investigation OF tho possibilities OF canal
or canalizcd river transportation In the val
leys of the Schuylkil and the Lehigh-
Delaware Rivers OF the 100000 tons OF
anthracite shipped yearly TO Philadelphia
such transportation might be limited TO
only eight months in tho year, rs MIR. War
riner says, and there might probably bo an
irregulArlty OF stream flow that would
necessltate impounding reservoirs such as
tho NnlIley dam on the Barge Canal In the
State OF New York. Also II must be con-
ceded that tolls should be imposed large
enough to pay the expenses OF operation.
taxes. depreciation and n fair return upon
the capital Invested.
The lowest railroad rate upon anthra-
cite for prepared sizes to Philadelphia is
$40.
'I do not wish II to be understood that l
infer n saving OF 81 on every ton OF coal
shipped because l confess my ignorance
OF the relative quantities of pea coal and
lesser sizes shipped out OF the Schuylklll
region at rates less than Si70, and on the
other hand. OF the quantity OF prepared
sizes from the other regions at much higher
rates than Sl.70.
TWO LARGE STREAMS AVAILABLE
You have two large streams travcrslng
tho entire distance between the Schuylkill
district and Philadelphia on the banks OF
each OF these streams IN an antlquatod
canal. The schuylkll Navigation Company
Is the owner Of n very large railroad mile
age in the anthracite district Those two
canals are vory shallow and of little width.
The bnrges operating on them have
capacity Of not exceeding 90 tons. An eX-
animation should be made of the feasI-
bility and advisability OF their enlarge
meut including estimate OF the cost
OF the Improvement and OF operating them.
"On the assumption that the narrow
space on the river banks would not permit
OF the undermining of these canals, n par
alle investigation should be made with
view to canalEng the rivers themselves
and the cost of effecting the Improvement.
II am induced to appear here also be-
cause of the expressed belief that full re-
lief can be obtained by a reduction OF rail-
road rates through the Public Service Com
Hission and the courts.
WOULD THROTTLE MONOPOLY
"I am not an indiscrlminatIng enthusiast
for water compensation" no continued.
The superior mobility of the railroad, the
greater speed the easier terminal handling,
the smaller units OF transportation, make
It's place secure In the modern Industrial
State. but there are exceptional circum.
stances where nature has provided not only
a cheaper method OF carriage OF n large
volume OF slow imperishable traffic as well.
Where these two elements exist, as
they do on both the eastern and western
parts of Pennsylvania. advantage should
be taken of them And where a strong
suspicion exists that monopoly is fostered
by creatures OF the State, that the bene-
ficiarles OF tho State have become more
powerful than the State Itself. the situa-
ton constitutes challenge to the State
which only cowardIce will ignore"
1I,rrr crncK nIrnr ArInNrc