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

be reduced advantageousiy 10 the public inter
st, by diminishing the depth Of the canal to and
its width to 90 feet. Were the question new one,
aud had no work been already done On the present
plan the question might possibly present dinerena
aspect, and yet the policy OF adopting TINS Jesse,
size and smaller capacity might well be doubted
when it should appear that the pecuniary results IN
the cheapening Of transportation woald be seriously
diminished. The saving by canal OF o by On feet,
it is believed would be at least one NTH less than oy
canal of by 20 feet. The amount annually gain.
ed on the present trade would therefore De reduced
from $759 465 500 j92, showing an annual diner
euce of l5I 500 and that difference will Itself con-
Of the canal: amounting in 1876 on the basis OF
computation above assumed, to 26,32l, and In lol9
to S765 Sl3 and progressively thereafter But
the work OF the enlargement now so lar advanced,
that ne change can in fact be made which Will very
ma eraIlv lessen its cost The line from Albany TO
Utica j. s. far completed, and the embankment SO
far formed that it would in fact be more costly to
reduce than TO continue Inc present size sh .at al
vision great pro portion OF all the structures on
the whole line, and which are adopted to canal oil
feet by 20, are in progress-and some OF the most
important such as the Rochester aquednct, and ma
nv Of the 10 ks, now nearly completed The cost
o the section work under contract west of Utica
does no. exceed seven millions; and even ii one.
sixth Of that amount (Which, however, will exceed
the actual proporion) could be saved would enect
reduction of little more than million, to which,
the diminution in the length of the culverts and
bridges is added, the total amount of saving would
not exceed million and half of dollars. The in
or less than one half of the immediate difference in
the saving of transportation by retaining the pre-
sent dimensions, those dimensions cannot ia the
Judgment Of the board be now changed "advan
fageously to the public interest" This expression
the board do not u derstand a. relating wholly or
chiefly to the advantages Of a change in a merely
scal view but that it is to be taken in larger and
liberal sense, and as embracing the interests
of the whele community, of the agricultural, manu-
featuring. navigating and commercial casses-in
fact of all population whether producers, car
riers, or consumers ~
That the interest Of all these will be largely promo
ted by the cost of needs
arpumen ts TO prove. Whether this increase in
sequence Of the enlargement will be such as to
the expense OF that Work oy creating
which would not otherwise exist, or by pre-
serving that which would otherwise be diverted into
different channels, is question respecting which it
is not possible to arrive at any certain and precise
conclusion. When bounds can DO set TO the Popua-
ton of the inte rmiaable west, and when limits
be assigned to the results OF its productive energy,
we may be gin to calculate what amount OF tonnage
il will afford to main canal. The revenue upon
that tonnage, it has already been shown, must ne
cossarily be greater than that derived from any
other source. The doubling only of the present
trade west Of Montszuma, would produce an IN
crease Of tolls annually, Of $3.50, li5 When we
look at the regular increase OF the trade with the
states from the infancy of canals to the
present day, and consider the reasons which exist
for anticipating greater proportonate Increase in
the next ten twenty years, the expectation that
il will be doubled or trebed in that time will not be
deemed chimerical. II the estimates Of the reve-
Of the canal for the year 1916 made in the early
part of this repor should be realized, they will Of
course represent corresponding increase IN the
amount of ,onpage and cal u ations Of that amount
at more distant pc Rod might be made, by applying
the ruiz of per centage for given number OF
years to find the tolls and by these tolls ascertain
the tonnage. The results Of such calculation
would exhibit very strongly the necessity Of a canal
Of the largest dimensions, to accommodate the ton
age that would be thus indicated at the rmination
Of twelve or fifteen years from this time.
IL should be RENE mbered also, that our hold upon
the present trade in canals and upon the sources
Of its supply, is not undisputed The state of Penn
ylvara and her citizens are endeavoriug by an ex-
tension Of their main line frem Pitt.burg to Erie,
md by a branch TO Cleveland, to secure the Lake
rade, and divert from the rich stream that flows
rom that direction to our canal The facts that the
axe at Erie. and particularly at Cleveland, is freed
rom ice much earlier in the than at Buffalo;
md that from the cause the Pennsy gania ca
RAILS are opened for navigation much sooner than
,urs can be- give decided advantage at our expense
We have means OF counteracting those advasta-
yes but by diminishing 10 the Lowest possible limit,
he expense Of transportation; and tbus inducing
ielay in forwarding produce, which will be compen
ated by saving IN the charges Tor freighiDg it
The enlarged canal will 60 far toward furnishing this
to extent that will be sufficient i'm
ucement for preferrng it to the Penns lvania
nunications. 1t very questionable whether ca
al OF less dimensions than those contemplated for
he enlargement, would accomplish the same pur-
ese.
Transportation on the canals OF Pennsy lvania for
nv given distance, can be had as cheap our
wn. The disad vastaees under which they labor
re-l.t, that Of greater distance from the place OF
hpment TO the ports Of either Philadelphia Bal
more; and I'd, the necessity Of two traRship ments
N passing the Allegany portage and the Colum-
,ia rail road. These advantages mitigated by
the mildness OF the climate, which opens their navi
ration at an early period IN the season In this
ac for the possession Of the trade Of the western
the reduction Of the price Of trans porting PRO-
perty for three hundred and fifty miles, one half will
have important bearing upon the result. IL there
fore becomes an exceedingly interesting question,
enlargement OF the Ere canal should
not be prosecuted order to enable to retain that
trade which now produces such a large portion Of
2 eat accessions The struggle with our rivals may
be close and severe, and we may need every advan-
tage that NAV be fairly secured.
The Canal Board. in their communication to the
Legislature in 1886, ASSEMBLY Document No 9S.
rive the following for canal Of 20 feet by Il
1st That the idea Of a second enlargement should
rot be entertained, IN consequence OF the derange
that wosld be inc dent to change ofIts bounda
hes.
I'd. That from the best calculations and obserya.
ions tina, could be made, the greatest economy IN
he traction Of canal, would be found in Of 20
eet by7.
3D. That the expense Of transportation, exclusive
n tells. would be reduced 80 per cent.
After having once decided upon a canal Of 60 feet
" q. the board, on review OF the subject finally
hanged il TO 20 ieet by7.
These are reasons, certainly Of great weight CT.
les and villages will be adapted TO the dimensions
,nce fixed. The farmers and other owners Of pro.
,erty along the line will arrange the subdivisions Of
heir land, and will erect their buildings in re-
ference to those dimensions. The vexation and in.
Jury to individuals, and the enhanc ed expense 10 the
Stae. ofaay change in the boundaries OF canal to.