The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-01-19
From the Providence Journal.
BLACKSTONE CANAL,

oLaO No ONE OANAlI.
We have been favored, by one of the Com
mlssioners of this Canal, with the following alb
slract of the detailed report, submitted by the
Treasurer to the Corporation, at their late an
nual meeting. We give it TO the public be-
heVIng that 1t will not be uninteresting to them,
at this time, as it will shew the important ad-
vantages which have already resulted to those
parts of the country through which it passes,
and particularly TO the towns of Worcester and
Providence =
''The close Of the present season of business
on the blackstone Canal, is a period 10 which
many of the stockholders have looked forward
with particular interest. The present being
the third year since the Canal has been opened.
and rendered navlgable, it was considered that
the result OF the business during this year would
disclose, In some good measure, the public util-
ity of the Canal, and indicate what might rea
sonably be expected by the stockholders in fu-
ture. No satisfactory evidence on these points
had beon given by the operations of the pre
ceding years. The business of 1923 commenced
late in October, and continued but little more
than one month, during which time the tolls
amounted to about eic1cn hundred dollars ;
and the business Of 1920 was much affected by
the general pressure felt in every portion of
New England, but more particularly by the
various manufacturers, on the prosperity and
success Of whose concerns, this Company will
at all times be much dependant. In addition
to the general pressure before mentioned, the
navigation of that year was considerably inter.
rupted, by frequent breaches to the Canal and
appcndages, as might reasonably have been ox-
! pected in this, like all other works newly con-
structed. The gross receipts for tolls, that
| year. amounted to eight thousand sin hundred
and three dellarS; the expenses of repairs on
/ the Canal, the expenses oflock tenders and all
other charges except the Collectors compen
saticn, were paddy the Commissioners, and in
! cluded in their general account of disbursements
( for constructing and building the Canal. The
! operations on the canal for $780, are now clos
! ed, and the result known. The gross amount
of tolls for this year, is taoelre thousand and
sir dollars and one cent and the whole num-
| Der of tons transported, is ii ,S42, viz. 1912
carried up. and $3.50 brought down, being an
I increase of more than so per cent. on the num-
Der of tons transported in 1929. In that year
the whole number Of tons was 944s viz: 6293
carried up, and 3l55 brought down.
This result falls below the anticpations of
some, but it is believed that the amount does
not come far short of what was expected by
those who had carefully watched the business
of the former years, and duly estimated the
prospects for the future. My expectations have
been fully realized especially when the imped-
ments to the navigation on the canal created
by unusual floods, during the months of October
and November, taken into consideration.
I Sudden and rapid advances in business are not
to be expected, nor are they much to be desired.
Steady and regular progressing from year to
year, especially in great operations like the
! present, as the wants and resources of the COM
munity become unfolded, are much moro desir-
able.
IT, therefore, the expectations of all have not
been answered, it may, l think, be safely said,
that the transportation, and the income from
tho canal, for this year, are sufficient to prevent
any one from being discouraged"
Transportation done on the the Blackstone