The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-09-13

4 Canals and Railroads.
| TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
Our canal policy is kept in agitation under the popular
cry Of Estate works." but in reality for no other purpose
than to allow set of hungry politicians feed the pub
| lie crib.
Every tax imposed to complete the canals is drawn d
recy from the pockets of the people The people
plundered for the benefit Of political canal obbers and
their satellites. 1t is scheme well understood, that the
canals will remain to be completed long they
remain State works is too good and profitable job to
work at to close hup 1t pays well to keep unfinished.
II is too lucrative mine for the politicians to be closed
up Not so to the taxpayers. The question for them
TO consider is: the canals profitable to the Slater
say they are not They public burden, loss to the
State, and benefit only to horde of idle oungers and
designing schemers who make politics trade.
Taxpayers, without distinction of party, who do not
look for Office expect TO benefit directly indirectly,
from this notorious public plumber, rally to the rescue,
and vote down this barefaced everlasting robbery Our
canal policy is rotten and bad and the people gain
nothing by its continuance but increased taxation The
matter is rank of corruption and rotten to the Look
at the business of the canals for the last ten years and the
diminished receipts will tell the tale.
Sell the canals to the highest bidder apply The proceeds
to the reduction of the State debt and you lessen taxation
at once not alone by cutting off extra that
santy imposed under the special plea of completing the
canals but by thus reducing the State debt reduce the
yearly interest of that debt and thereby reduce the
i taxes.
Again you reduce the by reducing the number of
Office holders, who draw their substance from the public
purse.
These are common propositions easily be un
derstood Look at the facts, and judge for yourselves
And let US inquire who the that adhere
closely to our present ruinous canal policy and boldly
advocate increased taxation. classify them thus:
l. Influential politicians and their satellites.
2 Contractors for the work and their friends.
B. Contractors for materials and their friends.
Numerous superintendent, engineers and their as
s. Gentlemen the line of the canal who have few
rods Of land TO sell to the State whose valuable property
and privileges are damaged by the State works, and
whose claims TO be adudcated by the canal ap-
praisers.
These suffering gentlemen their friends adhere close
triotc motives.
Sell the canals, and they will produce something; lei
the State retain them, and they will not The State would
gain largely by the sale for the State debt would be
duced and the increased the canals being sold
would become taxable property The State would derive
from the canals without the expense Of main
tanning them Let us look at the probable result in
| the canals were Sold
/. You would reduce the State debt and consequently
| the amount of yearly interest to be paid
You would save the expense of maintaining the
mails.
8 You would reduce the public expenditure by means
OF reducing the number of office holders.
T. You would derive revenue from the canals tax.
| able property.
s. You would op off all claims for canal damages &C.
But the political obbers the canals cannot be sold
that the people will have TO abide their time which
is, think about six years But, allow to inquire
does the constitution also provide against the leasing of
the canals If not the canals could be leased for term
of years under proper provisions TO the highest bidder
This would probably produce the beneficial results
TO the State, and insure revenue instead of loss
To my mind the question presents two phases
!. Canals as public property, and increased taxes.
Canals managed by private enterprise and reduced
taxes.
Under the first these two provisions they are worked
for the exclusive benefit Of political canal obbers; under
the second, the benefit would accrue TO the State.
The policy advocated by these political jobbers to toll
railroad freight to sustain the canals, suicidal policy
II robbing Peter Che peope) TO pay Paul (he canal
jobber you increase the rates of freight by tolng
railroads, you enhance the price Of produce to the con-
ratio you increase the cost of transportation bring
his produce to market Again. you increase the of
transportation through State, you successful
competition favor Of other routes tide water the
detrimen of mercantile interest You would damage
the producer the merchant and the all for the
benefit of the canal obber The money you raise
by taxation the more you put in the pockets of idle
and designing politicians. II would be an act of grace
to cut of the supply and make them honest men.
The canals operated by private enterprise could
nomcally managed, and afford cheap TRANSPORTATION
which wholesome competition with railroads would
| be 10 effect
Another important question presents itself in this CON
nection. Our lake trade rivals in entire TO-
reign commerce. Canada backed by English capital is
straning every to throw this trade from the
great Northwest upon Lake Ontario and the river St.
renee, the shortest, by several hundred miles
sequeny, the cheapest route to tide water The Grand
Trunk Railway the Great Western and the Weland Rail
carriage Of the freight Portland is the of the
Grand Trunk; and the Great Eastern, it is surmised
will in connection. The competition for this enor-
trade, destined fall upon the Ontario BASIN will
be strong To facilitate its transit to this city should be
aim, not to impede by onerous restrictions. We
want the canals economically and effectively managed
and the shortest railroads from the Lakes
NEW YORK MERCHANT