New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-01-03


pass the laws necessary to carry out its requirements The
condition Of canals renden Il exceedingly important
that fixed, definite policy be ct once adopted with re-
also earnestly recommend the measures for the tenn
poary mprovementofthe Erie and Oswego Canals which
urged upon the attention Of the last Legislature. They
can be made before the opening Of navigation nexsprng
They viii cheaper transportation facilitate the passage Of
boats now In and induce the construction Of ones
OF the enlarged size and thus prevent the continuance of
the diversion Of commerce from Canals which
pointed out by the Commissioners in their last annual
port TO the Legislature This diversion of IL
doubly disastrous. II strengthens rival and competing
routes while drninshes the revenues applicable 20 the
completion of public works 1t increases the liability
Of resort to direct taxation to pay present in
debtedness that which may hereafter be created II
IL Of great Importance to the from the injury
which would be inflicted upon them by an insuciency Of
boats to transport domestic commerce. appears
from the report Of the State Engineer that only about
10 required to the advantages Of great
increase in the capacity Of Canals and to avert the
evils with which threatened unless these improve
ments made Ofths amount 100000 would be sp-
Piled as to advance the completion Of the enlargement
The balance Of 100000 which would be temporarily ap
Piled would be less than years interest the debt
which proposed to create while its application would
add at least half to the capacity of the Erie and o.
wego Canal.
Ii appears from nvestig CATION that the number and tun-
hsn in 1915 This alarming result demonstrates the ne.
cesty for adopting immediate TO admit Of the
new and enlarged vessels Otherwise the cost OF trans
portation will be increased, and business diverted into
other channels
The Canal Commissioners in their last Annual Report
dnrins the past embarrassed
for the want Of breadth = The Cana. points allow ths
the the enlarged bosis
thai nf asss will be multiplied . III.
d bos drawing than three and half feet of water
State largely her e, the HAT three
Of The and direct aggregate
boat has been inadequate do the busine offered for
irssI yeau the Of edae
thu. been forced into other channels
% the & the public Expectation The
canal would have capacity M larger boats rendering those OF
The necessity for improvement in the channels of the
Erie and Oswego Canals made more urgent by the fact
that during the last summer line Of enlarged locks be
tween Buffalo and Albany was brought into and the
locks on the Oswego Canal will soon be completed.
Boats Of the enlarged size have already passed through
the canal from Buffalo, carrying 1870 tnns and great
number OF this class Of vessels will be built in the
Of year II they placed the canal in its present
condition. they will inurcusly obstruc It's commerce 1t
proposed the first instance merely to lenghen the
remaining old locks upon the Erie Canal, that they
would admit Of the passage Of boat; 20 feet Longer sn
Legislature in 1851 states that the frightening of the
"locks rendered corresponding enlargement Of the sec
tions necessary than before" These locks have
not only been heightened was contemplated at that
time but they have also been widened and unless the
channel improved at the enlarged boats will not
be able to each other the most parts Of the canal
The oss to the revenues which will be occasoned by the
detention of boats and the diversion Of commerce. will
coed in single year the expense Of making the required
improvements.
also recommend appropriations to complete the Black
River and Genesee Valley Canals. Only small amount
is required for the purpose and feel that is due to the
citizens interested in these works that they should mme
dately be brought into complete The appropriations
made distractions from the channel of some
of rivers in the northern part OF State, have in
creased the of the canals and have proved ben
efcia in other respects commend this class Ofimpr0ve
ments to your favorable consideration.
The opinion is entertained by many that the commerce
the Western and the Atlantic States vast aud
that the capacity of the Enlarged Canal when completed
will be great that it is unimporant how much 10 ex
pended upon it, This mistaken impression is eacu
States Is indeed Of immense value and extent and it is
difficult estimate its increase when the population Of the
Valley Of the Mississippi shall be doubled No one can be
more deeply impressed than with the importance Of
this carrying trade to the State of New York is Of
the great sources of our prosperity creates the bust
ness and wealth of commercial emporium and makes
II the center Of the financial transactions Of the United
States.
believe the great natural advantages Of NewYork,
ang from its geographical position, and its control OF
the natural Of trade between the valley OF the
Mississippi and the East not heretofore been appre
cated Neither do undervaue the enlargement nor the
advantage Il will afford The honor and the
interest Of the State of New York require its completion
and that Of the other public works But it must not be
supposed that in their management the principles OF econ
omy be violated with impunity. Any system Of ia
vorsm toward individuals localities, any neglect to
loans upon the most favorable terms and to expend
calamous results The canals belonging to the State OF
NewYok, no longer monopolize our internal commerce
other States and that through Lake Ontario and the st.
Lawrence but also with the enterprise energy and skill OF
its citizens
The report of the Railroad Companies will show i'm
mspse increase their receipts for the transportation of
freight Many entertain the opinion that they will in few
years great extent divert commerce from the Canals
do not concur in these views but If they should prove
TO be true the Canals would be of great value in control
ling the rates Of transportation While they are in good
order and under judcous management combinations can
not be successfully formed to the denment OF the public
interest.
Our public works require constant watchfulness against
expense Of construction and management
Every dollar unwsey expended creates an injurious tax
upon their commerce While moderate expenditures, judi
cousy applied will finish system OF internal nayga
ton unless rigid economy is exercised the long lines OF
our unfinished Canals the amount proposed TO be raised
by the amendment to the Constitution will be expended
without eiecting their completion, leaving them encum
bered with with increased debt and heavier charges
upon them for interest and sinking fnnd accounts.
The history of canals prior to 1895, and since that
period show how much can be accomplished by an eco
nomcal and judcous application of moderate sums Of
money and how little Is effected by pro use expenditures
miles internal navigation, connecting the Hudson River
with the Erie Ontario, Cayuga. Seneca snd Crooked
Lakes at cost Of only e1l65265e 80. The Erie Canal
connecting the Hudson River with the great lakes cost
s7l437s9 &C. The successful completion of the public
works in 1885, and the extingushment Of the debt
ted for their construction just cause for congraula
ton None of the works commenced since that time have
been finished, although than s26,0OO0o0 have been
expended upon them These facts show that the efficiency
of appropriations depends less upon their amount than
upon The wisdom, economy and fidelity with which they
are applied. "
When in 1885, the State officers advised the enlargement
of the Erie Canal they stated that the net proceeds of
the tolls for 1895 1896 and 1897 would probably be su
bursements the contracts for doubling the locks and
after that period the net proceeds Of tolls would be suh