New-York daily tribune., 1858-03-18
SHALL RAILROADS. UNDER Phor-k 80
STRICTIONS, PAY TOLLS TO THE
STATE

To tie Edi'o- Of TAs " y T,bsne
SIy The history of the Erie Canal, ron ts h
conception BY the almost inspired sages Of ocr Ca
monwealth up TO It's completion, reflected blaze q,
glory upon It's projectors and the eminent statesmen Of
that day, TO whose wise and enlightened forecss. hs
mana ge ment was ntrused II constituted the brgb,se.
gem in the diadem of the Empire State Al the. the
arguments and sophistry of its most able and bitter
enemies, the Apprehensions and fears Of "a weaker
opponents, could suggest, were disspated. As i.s
utility began to be developed and its commerce snd
rolled up dispensing it's great benefits TO our
sister States and Territories in the West enrschng our
own State, and sealing, beyond perSdyea.ure,
the City of New-Yoik as the grea. com
mercia metropolis Of the Union--iu regard 70 rev.
enue, far overlapping the most sangulne Pre-
dictions Of its most ardent and devoted freDds-
then was demonstrated that its capacity was made
quate TO the requirements of ts commerce. u now re-
qured no prophetic mind to forete its future. Hence
the policy Of Enlargement--wsely adop.ed, bot, ~
the 5. que has proved most sadly and dissstIoosy
prosecuted.
The State having constructed. at what was dec med
a great financial hazard, the several Canals looked
upon the PROJECT of Railroads along their lnes with
jealousy but permitted their construction for the p
pore OF carry ing Passengers Glone-nhibitng pefemp-
toriy most OF the companies from carrying rfeght on
any terms, lest The Canal Revenues should be IN
diversion of business from the Canals.
In 1874, however, certain roads were pcrmt.e 70
carry freight during Winter, upon paying to the CArai
Fund the same tolls as il said freight carried
upon the canals. The tolls thus collected not
only technically but justly and really part OF the
Canal Revenues. These revenues had been pledged
by the laws of 1871 and 1912 for the payment OF The
Public Debt. Certificates were issued and then n
the hands Of the public creditors bearing the
fact upon their face, and the Legislature coasd not
permit railroads to carry freight free OF tolls without
violation Of its faith plighed TO such crediton.
A Convention Tor framing new Cons.tu.on wss
held in 1886. Railroad tolls in fact portion Of
the Canal Revenues and for long series OF years al
these revenues were appropriated and sec apart 20
form a sinking fund 70 pay the existing Canal Debt
then amounting to $l6OdO,Ocol, general fsnd debt
of about $s OO0) and portion Of the curren: el-
penses Of the Government, and further, the sn:.c-
pated annual surplus was pledged Tor the conpeton
{ the Enlargement and the two Unfinished Canals.
In 1917, il was represented to the Leg sislature
that the public interests and convenience would %
les Of persbable nature, that would not Otherwise
carried at an OF by allowing ths Raireads 70
transport any property during the season Of suspended
navgatiOD aud law framed, with great dsb0er-
alton, allowing the Roads along the lines Of The ,u
portsn Canals to carry all kinds Of fregh, at any and
all times, upon paying over TO the COMMISSIONER OF
the Canal Fund the same tolls would have been
paid had the same property been carried upon Tho
Canals.
This was in harmony with the Constitution; the
public convenience promoted; and, il tie Law
should be fairly obeyed, ths Canal Revenues would
not be impaired. On tho contrary they would, 70
some small extent, be increased.
But the law OF 1851 disreRarding the guarantees Of
the Constitution released the Railroads from the con-
dition upon which they had been permitted TO carry
freight.
Whatever may have been the object of the passage
by the Legislature Of the law of 1851, this unjust act
has entirely failed to produce any public benefit; on
the contrary has resulted most dissstronsy to tho
public interests.
That has depleted the pu bile treasury augmented
the State Debt to an alarming degree, robbed the
cslly shown by reference 10 the Auditors Report,
an extract from which may not here be smss. 10
ply TO resolution OF the Senate requiring the Canal
Board to report what would be the effect Of restoring
tolls upon the Railroads of this State reessed by tho
act Of 1851, and the amounts which have already
been subtrscted from the Canal Revenues since the
passsge Of said act table carefully prepared ot
the Department with view Of presenting 20 the
Legislature q reliable and comprehensive view OF tho
subject, and which could not be assaed or re-
futed. Estimating the toll receipts from those kossis
on correct basis, there would have been pad INTO
the Treasury account of the Canal fund
eepenber 80
September 80 fNN
September ~, C0o
b-ptinDI ~ Wu
September - 1856 .......-......'.' sbfs
TctL for years ,b0
Of lS6......... .............'............. sAys4
And we have total Of o. 507ss3
This s the sum that has been subtracted from tho
Canal revenues by the passage Of the o.: of 1851,
if these roads have carried the amour. Of freight
II al. tl.