The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-06-20

crease Of $ll009l IS. larger per cent Of the 70
ceipts In May this year, from passengers than
last.
The rates for the transportation of freight on
the Now York Central Railroad have lately been
greatly reduced, to prevent les going over rival
routes, which have now become numerous and un-
oontrollsble, but not enough to comply with the
Jaw limiting the dividends to ten per cent an.
nually on tho amount of capital actually ex pended
in the construction Of the same-which does not
exceed fifteen millions Of dollarsor to justify the
suthority given to the company to stake private
property for the purposes Of the road upon the
paymen. Of q fair compensation" "The eminent do
main remains in the government, or in the aggre-
gate body the people In their sovereign capacity
and they can resume the possession of private pro
perty not only where the safety but also where the
interest or convenience Of the State Ia concerned,
as where the land il wanted for road, canal. or
other public improvement" In confederation Of
the exercise Of this right by railroad companies,
and the grant Of the franchise or privilege of
making the road and taking tolls thereon, the pub
lie become entitled TO the use Of it in transporting
persons and properly OF equally reasonable and
cheap rates, such ss would keep the road in repair
and pay the stockholders seven per cen; dividends
and it Is tho dnty OF the Legislature to maintain
and enforce this right There can be no more equi-
table principle established than that which requires
railroad companies to do their business on 81 n
cheap and accommodating terms that tho benefit
to the public, from the use of them, may bs Of
sufficient Importance to justify the resumption of
the possession Of private property, and granting
the privilege Of making the road and taking tolls
thereon.
Vessels now convey large quantities Of freight
through the weiland canal, to and from the ports
i. nj Rochester, Osweso, Saekotts Hsrbor and Csps
Vincent, on Lske Ontario, and Ogdensburg and
other places the river st. Lawrence where there
are railroads running to Boston, by way Of the
0gdensburg and Northern, and the Montreal and
Plattsbnrg Railroads, and New York by the Roches
ter snd Genesee Valley, and Syracuse and Bingham
ton fair oads, and Philadelphia and Baltimore by
tie Elmra and Williamsport Railroad; and from
Lake Erie it is taken by the New York city, Buffalo,
Corning and New York, and New York and Erie
railroads, to the city Of New York. No compro
mise or satisfactory or equitable arrangement OF
all those conflicting interests can possibly be per
manently made, as the trade and commerce OF the
four most populous and wealthy cities in tho Union
are involved Ia the competition. Tho whole cost Of
reasonable charges liberated. Baltimore, Philsde.
ph;a, New York and Boston, the respective railroad
companies and the places where they terminate, as
well as the people inbabitng the intermediate, aud,
IN fact, the whole country trsversed by or having
occasion to use them, are vitality interested The
Erie canal can always, however be made to regulate
the rates on such freight does not require speedy
transportation, by reducing the tolls during about
eight months Of the year, which the Legislature
viii in future be compelled to do, from time 10 time
By the competition Of the above named railroads.
Reductions Of canal tolls have heretofore repeatedly
been made on account of the competition Of the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad, which as eight tun-
rels altogether two miles in length, and many high
grades, and the Pennsylvania canals and railroads.
which pass over the Allegheny mountains on high
grades, where until recently there four inclin
ed planes, three half mile each, and one three
quarters Of mile in length, on the east side,
and three on the west side, each half mile 10
length over which the railroad cars and canal boats
In sections on trucks, have until lately been hauled
by stationary power, when Q circditous railroad,
passing through tunnelling on which locomotive en-.
gines are used, was substituted, the expense Of
which is little, any, less than the inclined planes
The range Of the Aeghsny mountains extends
through the Northern and Middle States from dty to
two hundred miles in breadth, nearly parallel with
the Atlantic and from nfsy TO one hundred and
thirty miles distant from it, affording no passage
through II between Canada and the Tennessee river
as level as the Mohawk valley. Previous TO the
completion Of toe Erie canal In 1925, vast trade
was carried on bet ween Baltimore and Philadelphia
and the West through Ohio on turnpike rosds con.
necsipg with the National road, which afforded to
tten facilities the New Workers DID not possess,
and the citizens OF those places entertained great
hopes from tho extension Of the National road
beyond Cumberland until they were convinced that
they could not compete with the low rates Of
freight on the Erie canal And the reduced
amount Of the imports and exports and
business Of those cities subsequent to the above
year. furnish unmistskable evidence OF the diversion
Of the business Of the West 70 the city OF New York
through the Erie canal, which has continued up TO
the present tine. And the State OF Pennsylvania
bss ever since been endoavoring to open conmu-
Dicstions BY railroads and canals over the noun
aps TO transport freight and passengers al the rates
bsrgcd on the canals and railroads tn the State Of
New York; but many millions Of dollars have been
sacrificed In the business, and public works which
cost the Sta.s over thirty millions Of dollars are nov
offered for sale at seven and shalt millions, With no
prospect OF getting buyer, - the Stsse has sunk
many millions In the use Of the same, and higher
charges would materially lessen tho trade now car.
lied on through those channels, which IA doubtless
Of sufficient benefit to the inhabitants individually
TO compensate for she Incredible expense and loss of
the State In constructing and managing the same.
And now when the rivalry Of tbst State no longer
materially interferes with the business Of the Csn-
irsl Rslrcsd. the above mentioned roads, recently
constructed Within our own State Of much less cost
tran the Central, which was originally 20 frau that
The tracks were reaid after the pins rail and fat Der
bad been used about six years, will each take away
portion Of its freight sad passengers, at still more
rduted fsfee
The South Boy Steam Navigation Company, char.