Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-08-15
CANAL WORKERS
HEAR Mt. NIXON
Commissioner Points Out Ad-
vantages Of Waterway
OVERFLOW MEETING HERE
Many More Members for Asso-
citation and Much Ac-
compIished


Fifty new members were added to
the Intra-C oastal Ship Canal Associa-
tion at the meeting last night address,
ed Lewis Nixon, Public Service COM
missioner of New York, State Senator
Thomas Brown, president of the asso-
citation, and Judge c.. J. Gavin, Of
Ration, New Mexico.
The mass meeting, which is one OF a
series to arouse public interest in the
canal project prior to the convention
to. be held here October %, was very
largely attended, the aldermanic
chambers at City Hall being packed
to overfiowing with representative
men of the community politically and
industrially.
The address of Mr.. Nixon was some
what handicapped owing to the fact
that he had been in session before the
Public Utility Committee at Washing
ton practically the entire day, and was
forced to cut his talk short on account
of fatigue. The commissioner compar-
ed the present plan for canal
through this state to the plans of De
Witt Clinton to have the Erie Canal
improved through New York State.
Twenty-Five years ago people scoffed
at the idea of an enlarged Erie Canal,
he said. Today they recognize it as
one of the most important links in the
waterways communications of the
country. In the same way, he said,
New Jersey cities will regard their
canal when it is completed
Low Cost of Transporting
At that time the projectors of the
scheme aspired to the almost ideal
cost of one mill per mile per ton for
freight through the canal. Today
such price could not be considered
even If multiplied many times, Mr..
Nixon said, but the plan showed the
really tremendous savings that could
be effected by the proper use of the
waterways.
The proposed canal would prove
the industrial salvation of New Eng
land when completed, the commis-
sioner said For years the New Eng
land states lead in the production Of
manufactured articles Today that
industry has been transferred to the
west, notably the furniture industry
which has gone to Grand Rapids. If
New England is to recuperate she
must have cheap access to raw ma
terials and supplies such as could
best be supplied by the canal. the
commissioner said.
Mr.. Nixon referred to the New
England situation as an example of
the type of support that should be
sought for the canal. The people of
the state were thoroughly in favor of
the canal, he said, and needed no
great argument. But in communities
such as New England, which also
have their representatives in con-
gress a thorough acquaintance with
the benefits of the canal would win
their support and the support of
their congressional representatives in
getting the necessary federal appro-
priatiou.
The commissioner Inadvertently
threw a bomb into the audience
when he suggested that a widening.
deepening and repairing of the locks
on the present canal from New Bruns-
wick to Trenton would be a good step
pending the acceptance of the plan
to dig the new canal. TT seems to
me that we shouldn't wait too long
simply for a ship canal, the commits
sioner said What we need is the
bulk of traffic whether it is brought
here in barges or ships" Mr.. Nixon
said.
Sees Cities United.
A united Perth Amboy and New
Brunswick was predicted by Mr. Nix
on when he said that during his life
time he expected to see ocean going
ships docked up the Raritan River as
far as New Brunswick. One great
shipping port, from the mouth of the
canal at Morgan, up the river and
along the shores OF the staten lsianu
Sound was the picture drawn by the
commissioner. This city he said was
bound to be the heart of the city be-
cause of it's strategic position and
when the 35 foot channel was dredged
out through the bay bringing ocean
ships right to our docks the greater
city would offer formidable rival to
New York
1t was when Judge Gavin, of New
Mexico. typical westerner of the
progressive type, took the floor that
the excitement began. The judge
opened fire with hearty attack on
the residents OF the city for not turn
ing out in greater numbers. which
brought a prolonged round of cheer
ing and applause. Somehow the Judge
managed to hold a club over the heads
of his audience with one hand and
pat them on the back with the other
coptinued on page AZ