New-York daily tribune., 1844-07-04
Ohio-hEiami Canai-Trade ofthe West, &c.
Correspondence Of The Tribune.

PRESENT teIHt'nuS 20 DclthCe, lis PoHit vi eoh
junction with the Wabash and Ere Canal, OF
the first day of November next, will mark mos
important era in the history OF internal improve
ments both in this State and in the State 0
New. York. So far as have been able TO learn
the probability is that the entire work will b
opened for navigation during the latter part o
the coming Autumn-at all events, that II vii
be in perfect order in the Spring of '45. Thi
canal will afford direct channel of communica
ton from this city 10 Toledo on the Maumc'
River. 1t passes through regi"n unsurpassed
in fertility and the greater portion of which :'
comparatively densely pepgled The entire leng'f
oi the work from Cincinnati to Toledo, which
or all practical purposes may be regarded ss In,
northern terminus OF The Wabash and Eric Ca
nal, is two hundred aud forty four miles; or S'I
~ tUe miles less than that o The Ono Canal ,
By avoiding the dividing ridge Of this State, tbs
Miami Canal passes, in The main, through Il Level
region, 20 that the amount of lOckagc, as | am
informed, will be but about hall great as II Is
on the ONO Canal, extending from Cleveland tO
Portsmouth.
For some years past, three several routes
nave entered into competition for the carrying
trade nj the central portion of the valley Of the
Ohio. to wit; the ONO Canal, Lake Erie and
The Erie Canal-'he Penns, lvanja Canal, and
the OHIO and Mississippi Rivers Within the
last eighteen months, II new rlval has presented
itself, VIZ. the Baltimore aod Ohio Railroad
The States OF New York, PENNSYLVANIA and Ma
ryIand, have looked UPON this contest with widely
dissmlar degrees Of interest. While the frs
has manifested stclid apathy as 10 the result
the remaining States have put forth their best
efforts To secure the prize; and the consequence
has been that both Pennsylvania and Mary land
but tespecally the former. have strengthened them
selves at the expense Of N. York Will the Empire
State suffer the sceplre 10 be wresed from her
grasp2 Is she willing that her great CONNER
cial Emporium shall assume secondary place
among the cities Of Amenca2 II nor, let her
+" shake the poppy from her brow" and at ono,
90 forward to the completion of her great canal
The vast prospective increase of business, from
the opening Of the Miami Canal, together viii.
the par. mount facilities which will thus be- placed
within the reach of New York, for h farther vi
limited extension OF Eer Trade with This sector
NJ ;he country, wouid seem 70 render the presen'
peculiarly appropriate occasion for an appeal
20 lhn People III behalf oi the enIaf cement ni tn
Erie Canal. 1t DOES lnot ed app-ar as if III
trcemen ol New Yo'k cannot longer be imposed
Upon by the shallow s"phstrcS OF such men
Senator Dcnnsion. Take tor example the iol
owing specimen of his lugic -
When rhe pr.le.t OF erlorging the Erie Ca
lal was first advanced 10 the rubic mind, wha
7ds Understood by the idea pf charging? Whe'
n individual speaks of enlirging his house, h'
means adding wing 10 IT, ortrcctlng an add
;on j story, or some similar increase of hs ac
cvinmndailons. The idea of incurfing an "a
ponse greater than the cos. OF new house OF III,
sane size, a:oulh scarcely enter hi mind"
And this stuff Is put forth III grave argument
rpnn great question of pnbl,c policy. WI
nol an intelligent people spurn such tom-iooer,
is an insult 10 their understanding "ha
must be thought 10y any raan $40 will give hut
self the troubie OF Z moments r.tie"''", - =, -
the enlargement OF the Enc Canai, the'c
fore, can only be pressed for the purpose 'i &c
the business OF the Tar West. J.
NAV be an object of great Importance to secure
hat business, in commercial point o' view ; bll'
Il is very evident. that while we are enlarglng III
canal for that purpose, we are bringing The chedi
ands of the far West III direct competition WIN
he high.priced lands III our own State" &.:'
Now | beg leave in all humility TO ask tins
Salon in legislation, whether he expects to dc
>trov the producuveness Of the Great west bl
refusnu an outlet through the Enc Canal for he'
snrnus prrducts and thus To secure monopoly
:, The h,uh priced lands IN our own State =
docs the man actually brllcvc that such Il pollcl
y;1 have anv Other tffsct than 10 bulid mp rlvai
.c,ks and 10 turn stream Of wealth INTO the
IAN ri other States Al some other time MA
r..,urn 90 The honorable gcnticman's Report, bu'
cnourh :oF The present..
II u.,y be SAID lha; the existing Canal pos
,rs,rs lfiirlcnt caEacy ior ali the business th''
,.cs.ris iI.ei and c"nsequ My tnit there Is IA
,ccessi:y i,,r the enlargement ol lis dimensions
I'm answer 10 this reasoning, the TACT nny be sta
cd that at certain seasons OF tue ye.- :" hen n,
nress Of business Is greatest, and despatch De
comes an object OF the first Importance 10 snip.
pars, the capaciiy othe present cnthhel Is tothit
insufficient for the proper TRANSMISSION VI Ihef
chandlzc and that ",h=r routes are on this ac
count frequently preferred. But another argu
men, in favor of the enlargement, and one which
:, would seem ought to BE- conclusive With al
enlightened and enierpnSinG people, is me adVan-
raoc II would rive the State OF n Ynrkincompet-
w with other States FIR the iilimltah.c trade o the
ya.ley -. the Ohio With canal extending IRON
he Hudson River to Lake Ere, Serenfy fret
~ ,ridfh bu sepsn ia depth. boats OF improved
construction, carving from $50 10 200 tons o
merchandize, d-suned ur this section OF the
Great " st, would he loaded in the port OF New.
York, and by means OF steam power they w"u'o
ne ,owed to Albany and thence by horses To But
islo. By then furnishing these boats with TEN
oorarv bui,rarks, it is The opinion OF Intelligent
prscrical men with whom have conversed, that
they may be towed with entire safety, by steam,
nonts. during considerable portion OF the ) ear,
rom Buffalo TO Cleveland, Sandusky CITY ano
roledo-,hus securing increased expedition IL
the transportation OF merchandise. b.sIde avoo-
ing both the expense and the wear and tear "'
twice transh,pp,ng it The chief advantage
xeuld, however. he derived from the d'mnu'i"f
IN the cost OF Carriage upon the Canal, when
.vou,d amount 1t is b,licvei. to nearly my pei
,,nt from the present rrt-s-experehce having
ho,un that II ton of merchandise may ne trans
no,,ed bv meals Of hursr power upon canal "a
c-rtain dim, n>ons AS cheAfy as II can be BY tn'
| AID OF steam ui"n river.
Fniniully yruis AMERICANS.
TRIBUNE JOB rRlNTlNn OrFiCE,