The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-09-04

The agss. tonnage appears have been In 1885,
amounted to or SSSeso more .asn IL asSs
incrss:s q 1858 over the tonnage Il The
result perhaps Of adjustment Of tolls made in the
former year But, upon the whole the business Of the
canals attending downwards We propose IN this article
glance at OF the Causes Gnd Indicate the policy
which ought to be pursued in view OF the circumstances
OF the case and the fants before us.
busness Of tho canals win ever again reach the point
touched in 1885, except the tolls should be greatly reduced
the nrs place. must be borne mind that several chan
nsis Of communication between the Western and the
Eastern cities have been opened during the last six years.
70 do the business done upon our canals ss are the
canals theni elves, or those engaged IN forwarding
ss Sss. es Of ,s.d
and Chicago, by which the distance between New
York and Chicago has been reduced Oil miles, or 40
deiphia is 1874 miles Chicago than New York Bal
t,more Is miles Chicago than New York. The
St. lawrence river, by tho help Of several canals
along Margin furnishes outlet 10 Western commerce
Then have the Ogdenhurg Railroad finished something
than six years ago distributing the products Of
West through considerable portion Of the New EnglaRd
states by means Of their railroads connecting with the
Ogdensburg. The Rome and Waterto wn Railroad, con
Meeting with the river lawrence 81 Ctpe Vincent Is
competitor for the Canadian and Western trade, do
ing large and remunerstive business The came may
said OF the Oswego and Syracuse Railroad which
meets not only WITH the New York central a. the latter
which last ioteraecs the Erie road at Bnghamton and
thence communicates with Northern Pennsylvauia by
means Of the Pennsy lvana railroads Nor have
We referred to the New York Central ard Eric roads
the two great competitors for the trade OF the West
which, though mentioned last in ORDER are far from
beng least their influence and potency. Tnese roads
have been built several years. thoroughly equipped
prepared for, and are doing heavy business, winch
they Of the way would be done upon the can
Now all these avenues have into existence since
construction of the Erie canal and they com oeors
for the was sa nit to do Without doubt they
divertng trade from IT, and destined 10 divert still
Of 1t heresfter It natural and proper that they
dhould do IT, It s result That might reasonably have
been anticipated Individuals who have Obtained from
legislatures acts Incorporating railroad companies have
done in the expectation OF making money out Of them
and those who have subscribed for the stock
governed by similar considerations They have expected
they would in some way prove remunerRtve The
primary obeCs IN most Cases has been furnish
and rapid mode OF travel 70 those who might desire
veYanoe from point TO another, but a second and
equally important one has been the accommodation OF the
public in the mater OF conveying products to, and
chsnd 80 from market. Commerce consists in the e1
change of productions OF various kinds and
required TO those productions 10 points where
our railroads, such canals They are botn use
fn in their way, both needed for the purpoes TO which
Of The country That there would be competition be.
tween them was TO have been expected. ought to
prise no one that railroad and canal running parallel
10 each other Should be competitors for the same busi
nees
We are not all surprised that the railroad lines in ops-
ration should compete with the canss and affect their
tonnage and revenues Wnen the main ohanne bot .esn
Albany and Buffalo was opened, 1t had rival Proper.
~ and persons travelling East or West, took that
route matter Of course Tho cheapest add mos:
comfortable, II not the most expeditions among
Tie packet boats made the trip In about four days. and
vent loaded. II was respectable way Of travelling
But, after while, the railroad was completed
through to Utica from Albany, and then the
packets between those points were withdrawn but con
tinued to ply between Utics and Buffalo AT length rail-
road communication Was opened upon this route vaen
the packets were laid up converted into line boats
The rArosos took most Of the passengers soon as
they went into operation, and 10 short time tho whole
In little while they ao we'd carry freight paying
canal tolls between the first Of May and 6rst OF Deceber
and afterwards the year round. without the pay Of
tolls fne Erie Road was never required TO pay tolls;
neither was the Ogdena0urg Road. The Central and
wego roads were he only taxed for shc support
Of the canals But ct last ali the railroads the State are
placed upon an equality IN respect 10 tolls and enter into
vigorous contest for the carrying trade between the
Atlantic cities and the fruitful Weat Several Of them we're
built In the expectation that considerable portion Of their
business would consist in the carrying Of freight and we're
prepared 70 take TINT was offered The Central hitherto
many passenger road now embarked extensively In the
freghtDg busness. The following Ia statement OF IL
IN mao n tta lantA iv