Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1841-03-23

jeot- II Is OF the highest Importance 70 the public gen
eraily that composition In the business of trade and
navigation should be lef unchecked, al least by legis-
lAuVe interference, IN the way of granting monopohcs,
or special favors to one place, a; the expense, OF mani-
fcs, deirtDcnt OF uval places. For not only does the
city or town which - made 10 feel more directly the
~blighnng effects Of such a policy, suffer by 1t, but the
community al large arc subjected to the serious evils
OF thds disturbing a useful and hcalihful competition.
What a strange anomaly too would I've exhibited on
the pant OF the Legislature Of y. York, IN passing on
act, authorizing any obstruction 20 the free navigation
Of tie Hudson River, when the general government
have appropriated and expended considerable sums Of
money for rctgoriHg distractions TO such navigation.
And again, the City ofTroy having been made a port
Of entry by act Of Congress several wears ago. and by
request and with the votes OF the delegation. II may be
presumed from that state, and for aught that has APP
peafed, been unanimously acQuiesced 10 by the legIS-
laiute and people, It may be assumed as a postulaie
not 10 be controyefted, that the right of a free and I'M
obstrucied navigation Of that river between the cities Of
\. York and Troy, inures 90 all men, and tina, il is not
competent for the legislature Of that state 10 pass any
law TO interfere herewith.
The project Of Draw to this bridge, to obvia,e the
obstruction to the navigation of the river, which 1t is
admitted that tho contemplated bridge would otherwise
occasion, would I've found IN practice, | have no doubt,
to be altogether falacious. Such is the great varia-
ton in the rise and fall of that river, and the frequent
changes which take place in the location of the chan
mel, by reason of the loose and sandy soil Of which its
bed Is composed, that vessels would be liable to ground,
from the formation OF a new bar at the very place where
the draw might be situated, or in their approach 10
such place.
render IT difficult and dangerous, and even impractical.
BILE 10 pass the draw; for all know, who are in the least
acquainted with the navigation of the Hudson with
vessels propelled by wind, that they oftentimes need
all the sea room which that river affords.
The idea of a Draw therefore, as a panacea for, or
preventative 10 the evils which a bridge would occa-
sion to the navigation, considering the nature of the
river, and the quality of its bed, is in my opinion alto
| na,b,r p,ontau II ma npa ulapSibla in tbanry bu,
would be found in practice, have no doubt, exceed
lngly fallacious.
But lest the foregoing statements in regard to the ru-
inous effects to the navigation of the Hudson, which
the contemplated bridge would be sure TO produce
should be regarded by ome as merely unfounded as
s~umptions Of my own, | will here quote from a remon.
STRANGE unanimously adopted by the Mayor, Aldermen
and Commonalty of the city of Albany, and presented
10 the Legislature on the ith day ofMarch, 1914. This
be it remembered, was in opposition to the prayer of
$ petition got up then, as now, by the citizens Of Albany
ia favor of bridge at this same place.
The authorities above mentioned, appointed a com
miitee from their body, whose report they unanimousl,
n ! adopted. After setting forth many and cogent objec
tons to the erection of such a bridge, they proceed
y "In addition TO these objections there is another whicl
t your committee feel bound to lay before the corpora
; ton, and that is, the inconvenience to those who ar
n concerned in the navigation upon the waters of Hud
sons River above the bridge. The merchants residing
II in the villages Of Troy, Lansingburgh and Waterford
T have a deep and extensive interest in this navigation
u W ii shh 10 'I''" NV '~ ''SiNSN VI
e large and fertile tract Of country, the produce whereo
is rendered much more valuable by the navigation q
Hudson's River from those villages. Although it ma
o be said that il does not belong to this corporation I
+ protect those interests, and that it would be advanta
geous to the city ofAlbany to have no navigation abov
> tit is difficult fer your committee to maintain tn
y corporation in giving a pertinent answer TO argument
p so wicked and preposterous." Can any mind, infiuen
ced by the slightest ray of honesty, for a moment tolel
ate the idea, that 10 advance the interests of this city
the navigation OF Hudson's River should be shortene
u nine miles, and that too accompanied with the consid
Grafton of the entire destruction of three t%iourshing vi
lagos. That this would be the inevitable consequence
ct no reasonable man can entertain a doubt, If he has be
slowed on the subject any reflection or adopted an
means TO obtain correct information. Your committc
ere well a~pprsed that upon tide waters vessels ca
pass a draw bridge, though attended with considerable
inconvenience. But they do not hesitate to declar
that in every instance where the experiment has bee
:. tried in current water, the navigation above has bee
totally destroyed"
Such is the strong and emphatic language OF remor
is STRANGE against the erection of such a bridge, unan
o. mously sanctioned by the corporation OF the city
he Albany on the occasion of a similar application TO Il
c legislature of that state, at the time above mentioned.
And can hardly allow myself to believe for a m
at ment, tina, a project which would occasion such VIE
be spread mischief. vii. find favor with the wise and e.
NJ lightened legislature of New York. A. G.D ID.
no PHILOSOPHICAL RESEARCHES.
, cra,, cl,ura hoe rartaiply talan ulace in the r.