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

for the corresponding month last, showing an In.
crease Of $1,000 IS. larger per cent Of the 10
ceipts in Nay this year. from passengers, than
last.
The rates for the transportation of freight on
the New 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 % the amount of capital actually exp pended
In the construction of the same--which does not
exceed fifteen millions Of dollars--or to justify the
suthority given to the company to "tske 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 ofthe people In their sovereign capacity
and they can resum. the possession of private pro
Perty not only where the safety but also whore 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 property Of equally reasonable and
cheap rates. such a. would keep the road in repair
and pay the stockholders seven per cen; dividends
annually on thu money acsusly invested by them,
and it Is the daty Of the Legislature to maintain
and enforce this right There can be m ore equi-
table principle established than that which requires
railroad companies to do their business on su n
cheap and accommodating terms that the benefit
TO the public, from the use of them, may BE- 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 tho Wciiand canal, TO and from the ports
of Rochester, osveso, Saokott's Hsrbor and Csps
Vincent, on Lake Ontario, and Ogdensburg and
other places ON the river st. Lawrence where there
are railroads running to Boston, by way Of the
0gdensburg and Northern, and the Montreal and
Piattsburg Railroads, and New York by the Roohes
ter snd Genesee Valley, and Syracuse and Bingham
ton railroads, and Philadelphia and Baltimore by
the Elmira and Williamsport Railroad; and from
Lake Erie 1t 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 OF 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 the Union
are involved 10 the competition Tho whole cost Of
all these railroads will sooner be sacrificed than IN
reasonable charges liberated. Baltimore, Philsdel.
pbia New York and Boston, the respective railroad
companies and the places where they terminate, as
well as the people inhabtng the intermediate aud,
IN fact, the whole couatry trsversed by or having
occasion to use them, are vitality interested. The
Erie canal can always, however be msde to regulate
the rates on such freight as does not require speedy
transportation by reducing the tolls during about
eight months Of the year, which the Legislature
win 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 has eight tun-
pes, altogether two miles in length and many high
grades, and the Pennsylvania canals and railroads.
which psss over the Allegheny mountains ON high
grades, where until recently there were four inclln
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 o mile 10
length over which the railroad cars and cana! boats
In sections on trucks, have until lately been hauled
by stationary power, when q circdtous railroad,
passing through tunnelling on which locomotive On.
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 dfty to
two hundred miles in breadth, nearly parallel with
the Atlantic, and from fifty to one hundred and
thirty miles distant from it, afording no passage
through IT between Canada and the Tennessee river,
as level az the Mohawk valley. Previous 70 the
completion of tne Erie canal In 1885, Q vast trade
was carried on between Baltimore and Philadelphia
and the West through Ohio ON turnpike rosds con.
rectipg with the National road, which afforded to
item facilities the New Workers did not possess,
and the citizens Of those places entertained great
hopes from the extension Of tho 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 unmstskabe evidence OF tho diversion
Of the business OF the West 70 the city New York
through the Erie canal, which hes continued up 10
the present tina And tho State Of Pennsylvania
bss ever since been endoavoripg to open conmu-
picatons BY railroads and canals over the noun
tAins to transport freight and passengers al the rates
thsrged on the canals and railroads tn the State Of
New York; but many millions Of dollars have been
sacrificed Ia the business, and public works which
cost the STATE thirty millions Of dollars are nov
offered for sale at seven and shslf Millions With no
prospect OF getting buyer, - the StAss has sunk
many milliens In the use Of the same, and higher
charges would materially lessen tho trade now car
tied on through those channels, which IA doubtless
OF sufficient benefit TO the inhabitants individually
70 compensate for the Incredible expense and loss Of
the State In constructing and managing the same.
Ana uov wben the rivalry Of that State mn IonRar
materially interferes with the business Of the Gem
,ral Railroad the above mentioned roads, recently
an the Central which was originally 20 frsil that
.he tracks were read after the pine rail and fat bar
bad been used about six years, win each take away
portion Of its freight aad passengers, at still more