Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-12-11
House Bill is Favorably Re.
ported by Senate Sub Com.
mittee-FuI Committee Elk.
pected to Accept - Govt
Would Pay S11,5OO,OOO for
Waterway-Has Shown Fro
fit Since REIMBURSEMENT
Federal Control in 1919

Washington, Dec. 10.-A favorable
report on the house bill for pur-
chase by the government of the Cape
Cod Canal was voiced today by the
senate commerce subcommittee at
the conclusions of public hearings.
TIE report will be made tomorrow
to the full committee, which Is ex-
pected to accept it.
Under the terms of the bill the
government would pay Sl1,ooo,Wo
for the waterway, which was con-
structed Just before the war. 1t was
taken over by the government after
hostilities started and retained I'M
til early in 1871.
Financial affairs Of the Boston and
Cape Cod Canal Company. operat-
ing the canal, were inquired into at
today's hearing. II. L. Colbeth, OPP
Grating manager of the canal, traced
the history of the waterway. Inc
original depth of % feet at mean
low water level, however. has been
we'll maintained, Colbeth said, add
ing that some dredging Is necessary
yearly. Last year dredging cost 500. :
1S5. the witness said. The annual
maintenance charges, including car
ing for wharf structures. power
lines, lights and buildings, Colbeth
estimated at $4,000.
The gross value Of vessels and
cargoes passing through the canal
was 81 100 100000, the witness said.
In 1923 the number of passengers
going through the waterway was
10000, while up to November 1
this year the number was l3o,OOO.
On coal barges and craft the charge
is 10 cents per cargo ton on the
cargo, while the passenger rate Is
IL cents per gross ton on passenger
steamers and yachts. Under ques-
tioning by Senator Fletcher, demo-
crat. the witness said tolls had been
raised twice since the end of the
war.
Profits since the government re-
linauished control were given by Col
beth as follows:
1oZU ..........' Foo ~,
1J2l .....''....'' u-I3o
W. SO1'Nss'
1923 .........-...... Su.Wo
1924 (to Nov. - ........... -Oo.V-V
COlbeth said to make the canai
give maximum benefit to all classes
of shipping. including large craft,
the canal should be 200 feet wide
at the bottom and 50 feet deep at
mean low water. Comparing trat-
fic through the canal with that on
the outward course. CoIbeth said
eight million tons of coal, the prin-
cipal item. passed around Cape Cod,
while only two million went through
the canal because many ships could
not enter it. Colbeth said the ques-
ton was n humanitarian one; that
the government should operate and
enlarge the canal as means of saw
ing the lives along the New Eng
land coast.
J, ]. Coakley, treasurer OF the
Canal Company, testified in answer
to Senator Couzens, Republican,
Michigan, that If the government did
not take over the canal the COM
pany would continue to operate 1t,
since it is paying it's way. Had
it not been for the war;" he said, Il
am satisfied the soundness of the In
>estment in the canal would have
been demonstrated" He told of the
dislocation of coastwise commerce
and the slowness of its return to
normal as one reason why the ca
nal has not been a paying concern.
stockholders will not get cent
IL the government buys the canal.
he said. THE purchase price will
go to take care of bonds and pay
off loans TO the company"