Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-01-21
THE SHIP CANAL

the Rivers and Harbors Committee at Washington he stated
that the hearing was off until further notice. Later, when
communicated with over the telephone regarding the matter
the congressman said that the mayors Of Philadelphia, Tren-
ton and other cities has requested that the hearing be post
poned for one week so that they might have more time ITO
compile important information to be presented to the com
nittee at the hearing"
1t is with much satisfaction, therefore, that we learn to-
day that a definite date has been fixed for next Wednesday,,
January 28, when the postponed hearing will take place.
This sets at rest any doubt and uncertainty that might have
arisen from the further notice. that the congressman re-
ferred to in his telegram, and the postponment Of zone week"
mentioned in connection with the mayors request.
However, no matter how short the notice, it is reason
ably certain that Perth Amboy will be able to get together
a good delegation to go to Washington for the event because
the people of this vicinity are aroused to the Importance of
his waterway. The mayor of Philadelphia today is none
other than j. Hampton Moore former congressman who knows
the ropes at Washington and who is president Of the
Atlantic Deeper Waterways Association which organization
has made the New Jersey ship canal it's most important work
at this time. If Mayor Moore will be better prepared to pre-
sent arguments in favor of the immediate construction of the
waterway a week hence than at present, by all means let us
wait a week.
The activity of influential men throughout this section Of
the country shows the widespread interest there is in this
canal. When it is realized that it is necessary for a vessel
going from Philadelphia to New York to sail southwark down
the Delaware bay to a parallel with the city o. Washington
in order to round the Delaware capes some idea of the
tremendous saving it would be to shipping in time alone, if
vessels could sail straight up the Delaware river to Borden
town and thence across the state through the ship canal to
Raritan bay and so on to New York. Such a project would
mean the saving of millions of dollars to the shipping interests,
reduce the cost of transportation and would also be a wonder
hl builder for the state Of New Jersey.
Because the Importance of the ship canal to the entire
commonwealth was realized the state legislature has agreed
to buy the right of way for the canal once congress has agreed
to construct the waterway. In discussing the Importance Of
the canal the Jersey Journal, of Jersey City, says "tbe project
is one full of splendid possibilities not only for this state, but
also for the entire Middle Atlantic States section. A ship
canal across New Jersey would add greatly to the Importance
of the metropolitan district, OF which Jersey City, Bayonne,
and Hoboken are such an important part. It would bring
Philadelphia and Baltimore and other sections south Of that
city in much closer maritime communication with New York
and Jersey City. 1t would give new life to the entire central
section of New Jersey all the way from Raritan bay to the
Delaware river"
The Jersey Journal then goes on to argue that because
the project would mean so much to MLiddlesex, Mercer and
Burlington counties tbs cost o. the right Of way might be paid
for, Eat least in part if not altogether, by the owners of real
estate in Middlesex county, Mercer county and Burlington
county along the route OF the proposed ship canal" "'There
is no reason the Jersey Journal goes on to say, ''why the
cost of the right of way should not be borne cheerfully by
those who will find their property vastly increased in value
by the execution of this great project"
But if this plan for paying for great public improve
ments is to be adopted in one case, as the Jersey Journal sug-
gests, it naturally should be adopted in all Sch eases. Take,
for instance, the projected ~vehicular tunnel under the Hud-
son river and the bridge across the Delaware at Camden, these
projects will cost millions of dollars and almost the only Sec
tions of this state to be benefited thereby are Hudson, Essex,
Bergen and Passaic counties as Ear as the tunnel ic concerned,
and Camden, Gloucester, Burlington and Salem counties as far
as the Delaware bridge is concerned. Applying the Jersey
journal idea of the costs being paid by the sections directly
benefited, we feel sure that Middlesex, Mercer and Burling-
ton will pay for the right of way for the canal, even though
the whole state does benefit thereby, if Hudson, Essex, Bergen
and Passaic will get together and pay New Jerseys share OF
the cost of the tunnel under the Hudson and the southern
counties pay the cost of the Delaware bridge. The Jersey
Journal admits that the canal across the middle of the state
will be of direct advantage to Hudson county through port
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