The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-06-09

Canal Open 4lh week in May Total TO June /.
1872. April 90, $lO8,5lI S546 005 |
1871 April is. l29 257 773l88 |
1880. April % l2l39l 602,328 |
I849 Nav /, 1862 6l5,ll0
l848 Nav l. l38227 6l2,255 |
l847, May 1, l69483 70969S
1886. April is, 1905 59S,760
The canals opened five days later this year
than last, but the above shows that the tolls thus
far received fail below the amount received IN
previous years, when the canals v ere opened
at much later day. There are various reasons
assigned for this unlocked for occurrence. The
Oswego Times publishes table of the exports
during the month of May, and speaks OF the re-
suit as follows:
"The canal business exhibited in the table,
for the month of May, shows a considerable
falling off as compared with the same period
last year. The most remarkable feature in this
exhibit is the fact that the decline in both ex
ports and imports is mostly upon articles on
which the tolls were reduced the present sea
son. On LUMBER the tolls were reduced 20 per
cent. and on pork, lard and bacon, so per cent.
and vet there is heavy falling off in the export
of all these articles On some articles of up
freight the difference in the same direction is
scarce y less striking. For instance, of mills
merchandise on which the tolls were reduced
one half, the receipts in May were 4646,447
lbs against 5,8S3,752 lbs. received in the cores
pondng month of last year. There is also
large falling off in tho freghts OF salt and coal,
Railroad iron forms an exception TO the general
decline, of which the receipts in May were 49,
555649 lbs. against 1887 ,OO7 for the same time
last year."
The explanation of the decline in the tolls OF
the New York canals, is we presume, the aboli.
ton by the legislature last winter OF canal
tolls on the railroads. Heretofore the State has
required the railroads along the route OF the
canal to pay to the State the same tolls on
freight which are charged OH the canal, and in
fac the railroads were not even permitted to
carry freghts at all, except in winter, when the
canals were closed.
This stupid and illiberal policy was abandoned
by the legislature last winter. The Erie railroad
was not subject to that burthen by its charter
and it became necessary to exempt the Albany
traffic between the sea and lakes to the Erie
railroad. The result is that already the cana
tolls are reduced nearly One.hird. And we
have little doubt that in time, and not remotely,
the principal transportation of freight as well as
passengers will be made on the railroads. his
done with 30 much greater despatch, and better
order, that merchants can afford to pay higher
We think, however, that it can be done quite as
cheap.
This is result not contemplated by the ad'
vocates of the nine million bill to enlarge the
canal, which has been recently pronounced un
constitutional by the court of appeals in that
State. For the argument in favor of that mea-
sure was, that the canal was not large enough
to admit the passage of the commodities seek
ing market. It is true it was cantended that
with a wider and deeper canal, larger boats
could be used, and the prices of freight reduced
so as to defy railroad competition. But we
apprehend this is mistake, as the interest on
the increased cost of the work would have to be
added to the coat Of transportation.
Our readers will remember that some time
ago we demonstrated that neither the canals of
New York in the aggregate, nor even the main
line from Albany 10 the lakes, had ever paid
six per cent on the investment 1t is now quite
certain they never will; as an investment, there
fore, the whole system of internal improvements
In New York is bad. AS to the collateral nd.
vantnges, they have hardly been greater than
the investment of an equal amount of money in
the ordinary productive pursuits of people.
The only argument, then, that remains for
such works by State is, that although the peo-
pie are subject to increased and perpetual taxa
ton for constructing them it is probable that the
people might spend the money in some other
way still more unproftably. The truth is that
there is generally tendency to excess in all the
pursuits which are ranked as enterprising-
commerce, manufacturing ard internal improve.
nent. They are almost always ovcrdone; that
8, they seldom pay They stimulate to action
however, or they find employment for, many Of
the most powerful faculties of people-and
the result is that the principal benefits are en-
Joyed' not by those who engage in them, but by
those whose property and products are enhanced
In value by the now demands they create, aud
the Increased iacili ty of access to markets
EB The Augusta (Ga.) Consti,ut;onaHm
and Republic, an able Southern Rights paner
a. H. H.