New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-02-11


Engineer was sent in to the Legislature Thursday.
1t is document of unusual interest 1t considers; !.
The progress Of the Public Works Of the State. ,.
Tie Canals and Railroads of the State 3 The extern
sion of the channels of trade and travel beyond the
State t. The cost and charges for transportation on
these channels s. The comparative cost, capacity
and revenue of the Erie Canal and the parallel Rail
roads and tie cost aud charges of transportation
thereon. 6. Analysis of the present business Of the
Canals T. comparison of their present business
with that of former years 8. comparison OF the
business of the New-York Canals with that of other
lines. . The organization OF the Department for the
construction and maintenance ofthe Canals.
The chief points examined are thus stated in the
concluding portion of the Report:
The natural features of the country suggested at very
early day the lines upon which the main works to be
constructed and the people of this State, avang them
selves OF these natural advantages commenced and com
rleted q system of internal improvements which was
carried on partly by the Government and partly by
private enterprise in advance of any similar Undertaking
in the UnOn q greater extent than any State OF equal
domain and with success that has excited the emulation
not only of her sister States but also Of the Governments
Of Europe
This system of public and corporate enterprise has been
business of expenditure which has been rarely exceled
THE natural water lines surrounding and penetrating
tie State indicated the artificial lines for connecting and
extending them the interior while the commercial tv
ity and enterprise Of our people and e rapid development
Of vast inland and fertile territory brought into existence
an adjunct system by of which the secluded districts
which could not be reached by artificial water lines
connected with the accessible of those lines by spe
co Of second only canals for cheapnes of
transport
The suTerory of railroads for the rapid conveyance of
gers and those descriptions Of freight too pershabe
or too valuable be forwarded by the slower but cheaper
movements Of water Ines led to their establishment
over every section of Tie State and to the paraeling of
almost every water line
The benefits which the completion of the Erie Canal
confeCd the citizens of this State led 70 the extension
Of the the pOrt6Ces between the western
lakes and rivers
1he sparseness of the population the ready accsssi
by t. the natural water lines and the home demand Tor
the products of the West by the muttudes Of sot
tiers prevented these canals first from proving
muLeIue their projectors anticipated, but the time
distant when they will realize all their ancplons.
The difficulty Of constructing passable turnpkes
through The rich soil Of the West the facility and cheap
ness OF Building railroads and their exact adaptation to
the impusve energetic and social character of the peo
pie united make ibis species of conveyance favOrte
one IL that region and railroads have there been built
fast that the guide book almost yaaeess 1t be three
month"; old.
w
Of railroads 1t is almost hazardous to enter into an adyo
cacy OF the superior advantages of the water lines for the
conveyance Of The internal commerce of the country The
slow, oddng canal boat with It's cargo nearly equal TO
Lat If locomotive and it6 long dashng train Is almost
forgotten, until reminded by the daily arrival oi
these boats at this City that would require the daily ar
rival of hundred and fifty locomotives and fifteen
miles Of TO perform that business done the Erie
Canal which hardly attracts the attention OF either the
passing traveller or OF our own citizens.
The comparative cost OF transport by land and water
discussed in the report of the last year a considerable
length and the subject further examined in the present
aThe experience and Information obtained during the
past year in relation to the by the various channels,
have Confined tie statements formerly presented.
"1he application Of these general results showed that
New York, with her canal enlarged, the cheapest
channel from the Ohio and Mississippi valleys to the At
snc, ard the further examination of the present trade
with the West showed IN she had formidable compel
itor for their trade until tho cheapnes Of transport down
the Ohio and Mississippi intercepted il in their great
basins
would be 10 place within her grasp the traic Of
tent Of territory vhch would afford one half much
as that already passing through her canals.
AS tie public mind had become somewhat disturbed
By the assertions that the railroads OF this state d
yeTLg large portion OF the canal and would probably
prevent increase in the revenue sufficient 10 pay Tor
lie completion Of the unfinished works without resort 70
t0xatiOn it considered proper to carry out compar
between the cost capacity and revenue Of the canals,
aid Of those roads, and the cost and charges for ranspor
taton thereon winch resulted IN showing that the aggre-
gate Of the Central and Erie roads much greater
than st Of the enlarged Erie canal while their capacity
less tLan one fourth greet and also thar inc cost
OF tram ToItdon on these roads three times that OF
the canal end the charges more than double.
The Of tie statements which were offered t.
prove that the railroad diverted the business from the ca
ls exhibited by showing that the receipts Of the
canal CONF aTed with hose Of the railroads, under
stated hail while the railroad receipts Oyerstat
Cd one Lrudrt pCr cent
1t shown that these errors were again doubled BY
making the receipts Of TIE railroads the standard for
mIarsOn, instead Of tie tunlsge, when the railroad
ohrles Were more ihan double those on the canals and
that when y this comparison Of the proportion 8eg ID
was reduced 10 one eighth it was subject 10 further
reduction IN consequence Of more than one half Of the
Teht carried BY the railroad being Of character that
would prevent il from being carried az all on the canal
That more then one half Of the remainder should be
deducted ior hat portion II the freight carried by the
abroad = eu The canals closed agd that Of the very
81 az rtmonler very large proportion local freight
which could not bear the expense land transportation
20 the canal ard finally hst the railroads brought very
large amount Of business the canals far exceeing the
tmotIi Of al OF tie legitimate canal freight which hey
carried 10 market.
In the continuance Of this subject il was fo1nd no.
cessGly to anaze ho present business of the canals IN
ac Ttln The reetye proportions If 1e different nds az
ana ne derived hererom Of the receQts
ana 81 mems rom various localities For this puro6e
t4tersNe tables have been gepared which exhibit o the
hst tine the cyeMent of'tse different articles and me
tftof Of such SIMILAR deductions made from the tables
Whlel nave been hitherto mace, was shown
lie compa.zon o. the present business with that Of
% nc last ten years has also been made and some
~ ne 'sues ioT reduction in the revenues while the
1nh1ge va so rsFidly Increasing. have been given.
me neapeciiy Of the canal % perform the business
Las ed 10 TIC diversion Of portion Of the western trade
me Way OF Oswego which, with the reduction of the
. IL mas DIMINISHED Tie revenue without producing SINH
or eflect unon the tunnage.
The edgciionn the amount Of tho tunnage Of vegea
pc iced from tis State has been ascrbed O. the change
q ne articles cultivated and in IL pursuits II the uOpus
h ~ means q which the iunnaee Of other articles AMI
o ctirarG ier ,-iorn agricultural products has been
Iltllftl fl4 a4s lugl he'd td1liJLa reasons tor IN