Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-05-01
STATE OF NEW YORK.


IN ansper to Resolutions of the assembly respecting
the Canal Debts and Reoeaues, and the enlarge
nent of the Erie Canal, &c.
To THE HoSoRABLE THE ASSEMBLY
The Canal Board has received the two following
resolutions =
IN ASSEMBLY, March 4 $780,
Resolved, That the Canal Board be requested to
report to this House whether. In their opinion any
change can aow be made advantageously to the pub
lie interests, in the plan, dimensions, or manner o.
execution of the work, adopted for the enlargement
of the Erie Canal 10 lessen the expense OF tna
work; aud also how long period of time wil De
required to comp etc, most advantsgeousiy TO 'As
public interests the enlargement OF SAID canai anu
also what amount OF tolls, al present rates aer oe
Quoting all expenses Of repairs supern'ends nee anu
other charges, will, in their opini9n' pr3oa'y DC
received from all the navigabe canals oil 'his Stste
i'm each of the uextseyen wears and also how much,
in their jud gmen the debt OF this State can Dc IA
creased during the next seven years, withou- oenS
obliged TO sort direct taxation or loans 10 pay
int rest and deray the current expenses OF the go
MT aud ALSO at what period OF time, and from
what sources of revenue he eXistsg canal debit I'M
provided for of 10 276 S6i, can be paid and extn.
guished without resoring TO new loans or direct tax
alton for that purpose"
ISAs,EMBLy March III, 1919.
"Resolved, That the Canal Board, in addition to
the specified in the OF this House OF
the 7;h inst, be required to communicate to the As
semby their opinion of the extent to which aid may
be rendered by the State to enterprises OF internal
Improvement, by loan of its stock or otherwise,
without impairng its resources to prosecute the ca
nails now in progress, and without injury to its r.
Full answers the subject of these enquiries
might embrace the whole system OF internal improve
ment in this State, and financial policy, In refer
ence TO ITS resources present and prospective ana
might Include those general and extended views
which would reach to posterty. The resolutions
themselves however so far they relate 10 revenue
and dests, refer to che next years only, pc
riod when the benefits Of our internal commerce to
be derived from enlarged canal will but have coa-
mesced, and will have been scarcely fet. The three
Lost inqai les in the first resolution seem intended TO
OF the enlargement and 10 conne the attention OF the
Canal Board to the present canals in their present
dimensions. Although only partial and incomplete
view of the whole subject will be obtained by suca
mode OF considering IT, yet the Board will conform
10 the apparent intention of the Assembly, and in
their answers to those inquiries Will omit all consi-
deIation of resources to be derived frsm the com
pletion Of the enlarged canal.
In the view which the Board has taken, it will be
more convenient to answer the inquiries in IA order
somewhat different from that in which they are
male, and which, it is presumed, will be equally sa-
tisfactory to the Assembly. The answers TO all the
questions depend, In greater or less degree upon
that which snail be to the third relating to the
am lunt of tolls which may be received during the
next seven years; and indeed until that disposed
Of many Of them cannot be answered at ALL and none
Of them fully. The terms OF that inquiry are what
amount OF tolls ct present rates. after deducting ali
expenses OF repairs, superintendence, and other |
charges, will, in the opinion Of the 6oard. probably
be receive from all tae nayigable canals Of this
State in each Of the next years :"
twi!I be observed that the inquiry relates to tolls
VI, e.
other income but the duties eyisdupon the raaspor
taton Of property and passengers 1t is also con-
fined to the present rates, and therefore excludes
from calculation any increase in the tolls upon sAy
- 'r''~'"" which ight be anticipated BY
od6c.tion of taose rates III. opvious that an es.
Inmates upon a future state ofthngs must parake OF
the infirmity Of all human calculations. Absolute
certainty as to the future Is beyond the powers OF
mortal ken; and yet there are means OF approxlma-
tion to il, furnished in the experience Of the past
which, # carefully used and vigorously applied, wi
lsad to conclusions satisfactory as can reasonably
be required in human fairs, and as Ger ain as those
by which pludeRt and ageci0us men are governed IN
tie transaction OF business. To these means the
board have had recourse. They have represses all
fancy, stiAed all conjecture, and have rigidy con
fined themselves to cold and severe analysis OF II
Cares and to tho application Of well known facts that
no one can controvert. They wished to satisfy their
Judgment and not their feelings, and they have APP
preached the subject in the spirit W hen misnt De
supposed to actua,e timid capitalist inquring INTO
the profit and security OF proposed investment.
The means referred to consist OF the table {" mo-
neys received and paid by the commissioners Vt the
Canal Fusd On account or the Erie aad hsnpisin
Canal Fund, up to The 3)tk September l3}o'' which
was prepared by the former commissioners and SUB
mtt-d To the evisa'rre on the % OF January, 1899
Ii is table Il ot tue assembly Document, No. % Of
that year. Ihs $500 Go.ann II lhe table aibi's
the amount o. tolls rec yet in each year This table
is imperfect in pT-t'c"'sr orIv. N ewes the
amnul " received - I~si tor only months instead l
ayear. in's was m cons. qseIee oi eh.n ny. la he
fiscal eaE at thai Lane. Ia O,der TO render com
plete Tor the purposes Of cnm7a-son, the 'o''s
ceyed in October N-vs-'h.r. and december, Of that
year have been sscer'sip-d ,rom the books OF the
treasury, and added those of the nine months. The
object is TO obtain the whole Of tolls re-
ceived since the commencement AZ the canals, hat to
ascertain the amount received in each year. for the
purpose fcomparing il with other years and there.
fore thu fact that the tolls of the three months referred
70 included in the receipts OF both 1880 and 1884,
is Of no importance This table, thus corrected and
completed by the addition Of the receipts OF the last
year staed in the report ofthe Commissioners Of
the Canal Fund for the present year. at page Docu-
nsnt No "a is the basis OF all the estimates Of the
Board; and for that reason. well account Of
its importance, II IL here presented. IL should be
remarked that relates 20 tolls received ON the Erie
and Chsmplain canals only, and gives the amount
after deductng the expenses Of collection that is
the compensation Of collectors and inspectors, and
expenses Of collectors Offices.
Table of tolls recsired from the Erie and Cham
plain canals from Is2j. wsen they ,rere com.
pfeted. 10 the 31h September, lc}g. after deduct
ing all erpenSes Of collection.
1876 $50 OPS OF
1sT Sts,O32 o.
1923 7S5 2}6 ~
1929 76S527 81