New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-05-27

ported on the Canal from these points of III ,O4t
tons, or more than sixty per cent.
So take the tolls upon the merchandise des
tined for other States, going from West Troy anc
Albany to Buffalo and Oswego:
1910. l843
R,aslo Sl22 232 S2I2, 53l
| Oswepo l200S Il ,06S
Total ..SI3I,240 $229 SOC
1t shows an increase at these points of S95, 3j9
or more than seventy per cent"
II the enlargement (of the Erie Cenal) were
completed, it is estimated by the former Canal Com.
alissoners that il would reduce the expense Of
transportation fifty per cent II this be so, then
there would be no fears about The capacily OF the
Canal, the expenses OF repairs would be lessened
and il the rates Of tolls were increased equal 10 the
saving in the expense Transportation. II would add
million of dollars 10 the net revenue for this very year
without any additional expense 10 those navigating
the Canals or if the tolls were increased only tvs en-
ty-five per cent. the additional tolls tS500,0O0j
would pay the interest upon an additional debt OF
ten millions, while those navigating the Canal would
save in the reduced expenses OF ransportatons, the
Iik. amount OF half million OF dollars.
The Mil Tag, unnecessary unequal and unjust
When it is thus demonstrated that the same
amount OF tolls as were realized in le43, Without
any increase, will pay the entire debt, and the
certainty of that increase, it follows as matter
OF course that the tax was unnecessary.
But second, it is unequal and unjust 1t would
seem to be an obvious act and rule OF justice that
the burden for the expense Of any local improve
ment should fall upon those who are Immediately
interested and benefited by the improvement,
and that it would be unjust to make the burden
equal, while the benefit was local. But let US
hear what the party who are now the sternest ad-
vocates for the tax have heretofore said on this
subject.
The Canal Board, of whom Messrs. Bouck,
Wright, Flagg, and others were members, in a
report made in 1890, say II would seem Ia be
an obvious principle of justice that the whole
State should never be subjected to taxation on
account of the Canals. 1t cannot be imagined
that works which are principally beneficial in a
local and individual point of view. should impose
a tar upon the whole community, and 1t doubt
less would be doing great injustice to that portion
OF our citizens who inhabt the canal sections, to
imagine that they ever supposed that their
brethren in other parts of the State would be sub
jected to taration to make or maintain the ca
nails, or to ertinguish the debt"
And so in the Comptroller's Report for 1874
he saws (page A. The Taxpayers, and parti-
cularly those in sections not farored in The En-
penditureS, which have created the Canal Debts,
have right to ask when they may expect to be
relieved from the burden OF the mill tax p
But ii this be an obvious rule OF justice as be-
tween our own citizens, what shall be said of the
Justice or propriety of taxing our citizens indis-
crimnately for the benefit OF the citizens OF other
States, nay OF our ripals, so far as agricultural
products are concerned
If on, Canal Deb. was paid off tomorrow, the
tolls would not and canno. be kept on for forty
eight hours of legislation. The Chairman of this
very Committee would hasten 10 frame bill 10
reduce the tolls to the mere wants OF the Govern.
ment, which would then be less than million of
dollars, including all the expenses chargesble to
the Canal. The citizens of other States who
could reach our Canals would hasten hither with
the incalcuable millions Of their agricultural pro-
ducts, grown upon lands purchased at ten shil-
lings 1928 per acre, and even more fertile than
our own, and, penetrating every accessible corner
of the Sta,e-traversng our Canals toll free
and made free by the grinding oppression OF our
tax law, avaiEng themselves Of the cheapest and
safest navigation in the world, and to which they
have contributed nothing, to come into open CON-
petition with our farm, costing from ten to thirty
dollars per acre, and enabled by the very opera
ton of our tax law to undersell our own farmers at
thsi. very doors: Is just that our own farms
and farmers should be taxed, to hasten the period
when all this shall be accomplished
Let us hear again what the very advocates Of
the Tax have said upon this very subject, when
speaking for different object and purpose.
In the Annual Repor, of Messrs. Flagg, Young,
Barker, Harrington and Jones, as Commissioners
OF the Canal Fund for lS44, they say;
he justice and policy Of fastening upon the
people OF this Stale debt of twenty or thirty mil
lions OF dollars and taxation for an underlined period
Tor the mere purpose OF cheapening transportation