The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-11
FHE CANAL CUES TON.
->~y>>>>~~>~~~~~->~~~~~
YORK INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS,

fyOr, Prepared by WIN, - M Aip'Ao
State Engineer and survsyor, ana
lifted by john II. Clark, state Engi'
bad Surveyor.
omission 10 the people, for their hnh decision
,sstion OF an altsraiios Of the fundamental Law
h,e, 40 As TO permit OF speedy completion o.
shed canals, Asd the euty imposed upon thu
n islsture q carry ing into effect their decision
i've, have suss sstsd t. . propriety of presenting
Subject relating to tbs public works In Q more
form thAn has been customary in the reports
9 apartment. The citizens Of this state, q
snhabitants Of . large portion Of the Union,
>eat An interest In our public works, that II ID
peeessary to fui nlsh . brief retrospect OF
history. their pressst oonditisn, ane the sfisc,
spmpietion, uncsr the following general heads
Progress Of the public works OF the state.
annals and railroads Of the Safe, - dependent
State.
ost and charges for transport on these channels.
comparative ccst, ospseity and revenue OF tbs
\ ana the parallel railroads. and the COST and
" transpo rtation Ahsrson.
.aaJ sis OF the present business OF the canals
ppsriaon Of their present business With that Of
M a,b on Of The business Of the New York
a that Of other lines.
Organization OF the departments for the CON.
fnd maintenance CT the canals.
PROGRESS OF THE PUBLIC WORKS IN THIS STAIR
hh II this SsAss nave mostly been constructed
fnse o. the State government, and the railroads
capital, aidsc In some instances by loanI and
Prom the government.
pris are more remarkable for their extent tina q
kural obstacles over NO, and req aired in their
ynore ability firm their financial than from
feering managers.
tr have in mot Gases been res.raiaed by the
lm expenditures for any purp 20 not d,manded
Ut rigid utility, and hence NO opportunity has
led for those ex hibitlons OF engineering talent
70 dating uisAsd ,he profession Ia other ooun-
works especially have besa c,astructei WITH
y 81 expenditure that IL hardly oredited BY the
~ Europe.
Is Il the Dola ware And Hadsou canal, built BY
rated company, asd those OF the Chensngo "a
~ the Stass, furnish the met favorabls 5 ,eci
fisidly economical application Of expe nditurs,
no oircumstancet OF the respective cAssJ.
loads Of this SsAss show every variety Of con-
y ON that which Involved the largest expeAdi-
Il which WAS executed with tho most rigid econ
former has Sen cEieay caused BY ths pro
sprovements which have been made in the oon-
this species II internal improvement
reers OF this country began the construction Of
~ following the plAns laid down BY their Euro
Sren, - the l>tter had Unlimited Command Of
so long as their plans wero folio sed 10 this
progress OF the railroad System was ,mparA
because capital could not be obt,iaed, and
constr ucted we're not rsmunerativs.
,ltution OF gravel oAd be- and wooden CROSS
Sexpsnsive foundations Of macadAmiz I'd stone,
u crossties Of the English roads is due to an
this State. This substituaon has caused .
.nge In the system Of railroad construction, not
= COZ ntry, bat In Europe.
pws brisf but interesting outline Of the pro-
- fhA ant md a. a1ust Inn
! canals, and also Of she railroads and other
forks built in this Slate
AIS AND RAILROADS OF fHK STATE AS A DEPENDENT
els and railroads Of this State are arranged to
ine different sections Of the interior 30 as to
tenn Of Improvements the support Of which
Sm mutually de Sendent.
khting business is chiefly performed by the
ale the travel Is con6aed to the latter
fmon high ssys o. the country perform the
lof the interior, and carry the surplus to the
I'D minor water lines, which convey 1t to the
14RgresAted population and the main water
jars OF which .ney can bs carried to 10 Sea.
distributed 10 oIelgn marts
bss . description OF the natural and artificial
ant railroads OF the State.
observed that every portion OF the State L.
by these railroads and nAvigAble water lines,
ftion lying At the SOURCES Of ,hs Delaware,
D., and Mohawk, and another sestion at the
D.
tHuoson and Mohawk.
II Of these lines II As follows:-
Nils
vigation on the AtlAnt, and greAt lakes 800
Il rivers and minor iak es............... 40
IND improved wafer channels, including
fSSress... '.................... l,0Vv
competSo. .................... z,ouV
in progress Observation-Disclosures. 1000
total lsI 9Th Of 1. $50
An ave- age CT tbr,s miles square Of territory
70 In length Of railroad and water Knss with
4 TxNoE or THE CHANNELS OF TRADE AND TRAVEL
M BEYOND THE STATE.
tly west Of the SSase OF New York lies the
OF the lakes, and oontigu Gus to II on the
Vest lie the Ohio and Upper Mississippi basins,
atsr magnitude. These bAsIrs are enclosed
ktlantic By the Allegheny Aouotains, except
fall of 70 the level plains extending through
" New York.
kon Of the map embracing these basins shows
Ide the chain Of great lakes from the further OK.
hyperion, tending extraordinarily TO the lower
iErie and on tbs other side the Ohio river,
lotion with tho Mississippi, tending northeast
: source In Western New York, and al Of the
Iral direction OF the natural water lines OF
: has given the same opurse to the Artdo iAl
filroad lines constructed through them and
) in tie marrow gorge lying between the north
h the Allegha any Mountains and the eastern
Erie Diff, OF trade and travel watch is not
elsewhere on this continent.
kptrAtsd traffic, collected BY these far spread.
nst DO conveyed between the lakes Anc the
Tough the Erie canal and the central and
Ilroads OF this State to it's commercial empo
thence IL can be distributed BY the ocean
Amers and sailing vessels to evcry port on the
VS. . description o, the lakes, rivers, canals,
Ia OF the West.
s,or OF the water and railroad lines beyond
New York form connected lines OF nAviga-
10 miles BY lshe, coo miles by rivers, and
.ilroads completed, and IS much more In pro.
TIE COST AND CHARGES or TRANSPORT.
CATION OF the comparative advsD tagss OF the
'nsls OF cor munioation between the seaboard
.rt'r requires An examination into the cost
OF transport b. the various modes OF land
ss cannot BE- relied upon In this investi alton,
huctuate on the various rousss and on the
Licles conveyed competition reducing them
Im and mosepoly raiIing them to . maximum.
however, furnishes Q more reliable basis for
q the elements upon which II dspsnds, are
bied alike On the different routes
hts OF the cost OF transport are then stated,
NE make the following extraots:-
coAvsya ncs on the ocean IL cons amt, but
are the isast from that port ~ which 10 oou
q largest amount OF trade and which possesses
climate and the grsa,est advantages for reach
SEQ.
possessing these Advantages, and thsse Of
a q. its hArbor. through the influence Of the
n channels OF commerce, the trade OF the
Ia fertile district OF the interior Of the coan.
become the ohio. commercial csatrs Of this
OF Western lakes Terminating on the borders
3, furnishes transport fecond only to that
10 affords m example OF tbs best description
cation, in consequences Of tbs uniformity Of
the smooth sess and depth Of its water, a.
u.e Of either sail or steam vessels, and Of
thereby issrsssing the proportion Of the
= cargo 70 the whole weight moved.
X movement on . canal depends upon tbs re
bai areas OF the beat and the canal upon tbs
the two, and upon the elevation 70 be over
4 movement uptn . rallr Sad depends Spon
~ ths amy atura the In cIin tiou nj TIA 0Ya.