THE LOCK OWNERS.
What may be the plans, policy, principles or ideas of the present owner I do not know. His dwelling-place or personality are unknown to me. Even those who live on the banks of the
river, much less those who make occasional visits, do not trouble to inquire. Whatever he may be, he is doubtless acting within his rights as property owner and is under no concrete obligation to spend time or money on the public or the nation, for he certainly gets no profit himself. But one must ask whether there is any other country in the world—however deeply civilized, for no barbarian community would countenance it—which would permit such a muddle. Fine engineering feats accomplished by the expenditure of much capital have collapsed into an occasion for litigation and little else. * * * *
Previous page
