The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-09

tenn, without knowledge expectation OF deficiency,
and that II was impossible for n to ascertain the true
state Of the accounts and the fact that there would be
deficiency, until after all the accounts of the year
were settled and the balance struck which must
sarily require work after the close Of such year
nifty th utand dollars OF which advanced by
the former Auditor before the accession Of tho present
It will be necessary, therefore, that the pa yment OF
such contribution TO the general fund for ths support
OF government be withheld hereafter uatl the canal
fund has been refunde ed the amount thus o7crpsid.
IL much TO be regretted that the revenues OF the
canals for the past fiscal have not ben equal to
the constitutional charges upon them. They have,
however, met all the requirements made upon them
Tor the beneht and protection OF the holders OF the
State stocks issued for their benefit aud the general
fund only suffers With diminished ~ unto
ward causes, arising from the unexnmped CONNER ,ial
embarrasumen nts in the country which no humaa fore
sight could anticipate knowledge could avoid with
an imperfect navigation and unfinished canal strng.
Cling under every disadvantage, against worxs and
facilities furnished for private corpora ationa and nc
vdual enterprise adapted to and keeping pace with tho
wants and Demands Of trade and commerce. aad bur
thened with unurunlly large expenditure for colsc
ton superntendence and ordinary repair, the result IL
not surprising.
son TO doubt the wisdom and foresight OF that financial
policy which governs with rigid iron rule nnyicldng
| and unaceommodating TO any circumstances. In a
country such this where everything betokens pro
gress whore improvements are constantly being made
or demended TO meet the exigences OF the times, aud
where, not made trade IL forced to work out and
other channels 1t appears astonishing that public sorts
such should he crippled by policy which has
denied them for the opportunity and OF do
yeloping those resources which alone wanted for
the realization Of golden harvest. But tn. late
amend ment OF the constitution however and the Judi.
cious application OF the which thereby appra
priaied for the Improvement aud completon OF TIE
canals, these great state works will soon be
placed In a situation in which they compete
fully with their iron bound rivals and with
all the constitutional demands placed upon them.
IMPROVEMENT or TIE REyESufs--NcRElsE Tolts.
In view Of the insuicsncy OF the revenues OF the
canals TO meet the charges imposed upon them, II ap
pears incumbent upon the public agents to whether
such revenues cannot be improved
Upon examination Of the amount Of tolls collected
annually IL appears that up TO and including the year
1891 there was steady and gradual increase in the
venue, until In that year II reached the OF 81 1o3
800 % During that year the Legislature released the
railroads from the payment OF tolls and the Cana Board
In 1852, made large reduction OF toll upon many
articles which then and s are largely transport
ed upon the canals and formed considerable source ~
revenue the result which been that In tho next
hscal year the declined half million Of
dollars, and have remained nearly stationary since
In the OF navigation for 1851 the amount of
tonnage upon the canals 2, 3,bs2 733 tons and the
tolls the amounted to tJ,329, 72J In the
son Of 1852 the tonnage amounted to s83 All tons,
being increase Of 2s0,70S tons, while the tolls
amounted only to 81 s,24i, being dminutoo OF
1891 OF 605 10 tons there was falling OIL In the tolls
below those o. 1851 of Sl25, 900 Upon the tonnage
1852 at the rate of toll Of 1851 the OF tho
nails tor 1882 would have been s. $780, 0l2, which
ceeds the actual revenues si72 36s. The following table
shows the reductions and the losses cccaoned TO the
revenues thereby, and 1t exhibits concusy.y that the
reduction OF tolls at such time practically operated for
the benefit of forwsrdcr TO the injury OF the state ani
not upon articles which needed the reduction 90 In
vitr and increase their tram sportation.--
Between the years 1851 and 1882 the per cent of re
duetion on all merchandis. reduced IRON and
Per Of reduction in total tolls s5 5:a, ,i77j for
Per cent Of reduction in tolls on down freight 4si5
There bo doubt that iudicous revision Of the
rates OF toll and reasonable increase upon many
tcles which too low would add much to the
/ revenues
And is perfectly .yid,nt that the tolls in 1850 AMI
| 1851 much the most productive revenue
standard than they have been NJ any I'm. since
TOLLS rruN EAilHoADs
There can be question that the revenues Of the
canals arc much aud seriously affected by the carrying
tradc Of railroads. running through this state portions
OF IT. These roaas have been built aud are owned ~
corporations the creatures of state legislation and sub
! jcct 10 control
Under the law OF the State they enjoying
dnary rights aud privileges, ami II appear T. the Audi
tor, that under the present condition of the Inanes
and the state Of the canal justice equity
demand that those ppratiDps should canal
i completed, b" required 70 pay, upon equitable
basis IN the form of tolls the transported
by them bonus to the state for such ngut- aud pr
It's not right that the people should 10 taxed to
make up deficiency occas"nd In part at least, By the
privileges enjoyed by such corporations. Of the right
TO impose such toll, there be doubt. all such
railroad corporations the creatures of state legi-s
tom they indebted TO the state through tue acta ot
the L"gtature ior th'ir existence and vitality By 20
other power could thoy have been brought into esl.
In their creation il in the power of the ieg.
hture g. vest them With "a much ~ little power
right ana privilege might be deemed proper. The
Legislature c0ud then have Invested them With power
10 carry freight or prohibit u altogether Having The
right 70 confer or scny that power natural con
sequence being sovereign they could In roufer-
ring Il. pre,crbe the conditions on which Il could be
exercised.
ryht IL exclude must and does include he right 10
tax BY section 81 article 81 III. constitution n this
state, the people have reserved % the Legislature the
ght, from time T. tim" 10 alter repeal all special
ac Or general laws In relation 10 the creation o. such
corporations.
The right Of regulation prohibition has not there
fore been exhausted by the Legislature and ne power
sil remains with thsa ~ prescribe The conditions
restrictions upon which u" ncofporat0ns inay carry
freight A. necessary consequence, the Legislature
mas now the ful right ami power Ia prescrbing thoss
conditions 70 impose such tolls a. " them may appear
right snd proper anil may b demanded ~ The Interest.
OF the stats.
Its to DO hoped, therefore that, onder ths present
emergency The Legislature will taks tnls subject i.
CONSIDERATION, and mpote such tolls upon the tonnags
~ the scyersl railroads diyering trade from tha several
state canals. wll serve, in a. Ias pro.
tsct and maintain the 81 The state, and be
neither unjust o. nequiiabe towards the railroad corpo
raiionY
Such protection Ii needed nov whiis the canal.
unfinished and by reason " their Incomplete condition
unable 20 compete successfuly with The iron bound
roads. But after the enlargement shall ts eomplete9
the necessity for demanding tols upon railroad. vii
have ceased and then, without Doubt tte caba All -
able 70 maintain ihemteses sacc.ssniy rrottably snd
trinmphanuy.
carried one mile upon the Nss foft State sana during
the year 1856 Clat ~ 1904 has not Jet hem s'csr
faEedy 20 $50 o33 tons rhe amount of ois oil
ected that year upon Al properJ, etela'y" o. 1ats
was o., 2,p55 gag Dividing such amount - toll by the
o,sl movement Il gVcs The ayeragsto psr Dn rsr tnis
In that year At - mills By ~. report u The ss~
York CsLtral railroad Tor the hsea ysar ending sept
90 1854 spp.ars that The Total movement * freight
number ~ ons carried mile. that road aarng
such year II ltk cs0 tins Multiplying such total
moFsmeB ~ ty Az mills the average rate ol tol pr
mile AMI i furnske. the sum " Ss&2,b.pl9 - bsng
the probable amount of toll uhicn would have teen
hxsa during the last fscs year a. fui canal toll rates
IRON he Nev Yors Central line alon..
by the annual report ~ The STATE ~ srssr ani Sur
fey0r Tor 1863, appears that tbn several railroads
hereinafter mentioned reported for ne seal ysaF ending
september 20, 1853 thslr ,on8Ag. and Total movement
of freighi, a. follows-
Roaroadf T0Rnag>. Teat noc<st>Hf.
Nor,bsrn .................. en4,sif le,sss1g
Rsnnselssr and rAratoys., $500 37oTsi