Evening journal., 1919-04-08
Cd D. CANAL TAKEN
BY GOVERNMENT.
LconlInued DON pasa ono.l


advocated government ownership Of the
canal.
Former Senator Willard Salisbury,
who was largely responsible for the
passage Of tho purchase act by Con
gress; former Congressman Franklin
Brockson, who. while n Congressman
slx years ago. advocated and helped TO
gct through tho House OF Representa-
lives a bin appropriailng money for the
purchase OF tho canal; Captain Philip
Roybold, Of this city, who was one OF
Tho pioneer boosters FOR a government
owned canal and others. were present.
10 Is the opinion or most OF these men
that the government VIII now go ahead
with the project and that a canal VIII be
built that Will accommodate tho largest
boats. Colonel Jerycy. local United
States Engineer. was also I'm the court
room during the proceedings.
The price that was fixed FOR the pur-
chase OF tho canal property was taken
from figures furnished by General AS
nus. llo was put on the stand as "a
witness by United States District At
torney Charles T. Curley. lie told OF
being chairman Of a commission ap-
pointed by the late president Theodore
Roosevelt, 90 make an examination OF
the canal property with the idea In
view OF the government taking 10 over.
lie said that Major c. A. flaglcr, for
merly United States engineer in VIII
mlngton and now a major general In
the army was also a member OF mat
commission. lie testified the commits
sion studied the conditions and property
from one end OF the canal 10 the other
for many months and then made re-
port 90 Congress. He explained that
while the canal company assisted the
commission in most instances the COM
pany would not fix a price on It's prop
erty but wanted the commission TO
make an offer. This we had no au-
thority 10 do" said General Agnus.
I'VE never could get the actual value
OF their properties" the witness said.
General Agnus said the committees
repOrl 10 Congress fixed the price or
the canal property at s25ii.2Se.I0, and u
was his best judgment that that amount
was the value Of the property today.
General Agnus. who has grown old
during the years that he has fought
FOR tho government 90 take over
the canal, said that tho proceedings to-
day made him a happy man as u was
the end OF the nght and that the ao-
miring OF the canal by Uncle sam
would be a great benefit 10 the country.
Tie said ne had been nghting Tor 40.
years for The purchase OF the waterway.
The witness highly commended former
Salisbury FOR the excellent sup
port given the project while In the
senate, which he said, made today's
proceedings possible.
Andrew c. Gray. represented the FL
delliy Trust Company. or Philadelphia
trustee under the mortgage, and Charles
Biddle. OF Philadelphia, represented
the canal company.
Walter Hall. president Of the canal
company. was the frst witness called
by District Attorney Curley. lie testi-
Ned that maps and plots produced OF
the company's property were correct
to the best Of his knowledge. General
Agnus was the next witness after which
the government rested.
Mr.. Gray called Walter flaming,
deputy recorder Of deeds for This
county TO the stand. lie produced
records Of the ofllce showing a mort
gage given by the canal company a
good many years ago TO three individ-
uals as trustees for 81 10000 and later
transferred 90 the Fidelity Trust Com
pany as trustee.
President Hall was recalled and tesli-
fed that the mortgage was given TO Sc
cure an issue Of bonds and that at this
time there were bonds outstanding
against the mortgage amounting tOI
81. COP $50, with accrued interest from
January 4 Of this year.
Judge Morris. In charging the jury.
explained that the attorneys interested
had reached an agreement as 10 The
amount OF the awards and as stated.
were based on this agreement.
The jury that sat I'm the case con-
sisted Of Edward n. Wead. Thomas McsI
Garrity. Charles II. Gray. Frank ODon-
nell, Peter a. Horty, Leo n. Montgom-
cry. William A. Hannigan, William L.
Scott, Henry A. Lindsay. Bissell c.
GrommOn and Albert $. Bird. The iur-
ors were discharged until April 2s