The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-09-04
OUR CANALS AND OUR RAILROADS.
rrrom Hunts xeroh.n.s' xasszlps, for August ]

FFrom Hunts Merchants Magazine, for August
insimas'on Of doubt ~ = % being tne ras policy
State complete tho anlargeest II our canals,
ding 70 Me plan Of thoss Who favor the measure
rgsided BY many a rank politcs and commercal
spps uded In ne Empire STATE ~ are those u George
Wall ipgton IN The United States rhe two names seaud
ups nearly ME same level % far ~ our population are
concerned. And 20 arc wnlisg that they shoud. We
stee, fully admit that both Clnson and Washington per
formed good service We endorse their wlsdom their -
nnd % n Ss
later though apparently animated BY the same noble I'm
pulses and patriotic zsai SO, sso do we crave pardon
ht stase exoi prudence and sound judgens OF
eveyy individual who sess himself up ss canal man
Tasb pgon wss good man for the place be was seoc1
a,ed her re- Usc,,ve missions With mmense credit
shoud be tho smUon OF thoae who have charge OF me
oDbbc Aans to-day 70 perform tho responsible duties
h hAve been assigned TO them In the Same credhAo'o
me Ere canal was noble work a. originally construct
ssa 81 y ;,
vide extent Of terrNofy of festiiy-was
sp'endd The Ssa1 Of New York entitled 10 Eros
cfeo for engs gng tue prse and for prosecuting
Il TO the completion OF chsDnel rhc project wss co
trey prscscaele a. time experience have fully do
:, ne safe because isdsvaoss Ssa nos The rsqulss
capital 70 epgsgo costly Al enterprise rho invest
menss made wcre judieus Investments real estate 70
In portions Of the Wes commanded prizes approxaung
those realized the Eastern markets And MT o1y DO,
hut the State Obtained great portion OF tne frying
trade between the Atlantic cities and the Western couasry
whle numerous peraons found employ ment upon the
Nor do we complain Of the opening Of the
seversl lateral canals Though they have nos
all been paying enterprises apprensy, the,
have benefited the people resoax Ia their neigh
borhood by Increasing toe Price Of their farms
and products. Bssde they have served ~ tributaries 70
be main artery, ana IN some cases contriouted largely 70
the derived tberefom. Possibly some Of the
should nos have been constructed; So 20 be ~ We II
press opinion upon the point. Nor DO pretend 70
judge Of the propesy Of the enlargement Of the Erie and
4 certain extent their enlargement may
have been demanded by the wants Of commcsce, and
therefore BY The true interests o. mo Ssase
The inquiry oesire raise is whether tue State haa
done much In the way Of BUILDING Ant charging canals
ought TO pc DONE in view Of their business AID the
vowed ana duipg ear has been greatly
least u has bssn short OF funds applicable 70
the enlargement and drafts have been given 70 conrso
others which have not only been honored and
paid but the question y 70 be submitted TO the people ~
the eIsuing election, whether or no. they will au
inese drafts and the iursner prosecution Of the
enlargement Assuming That they win decide It
In the sfhrmasive-and We consider Il far from
the issue presented, 70 wit: Reputation loan
should be inclined 70 think the loan would be vo;ea
loan, how the cement be plesdG Toe state
viii have little or no money applicable 10 tina. object and
the work must be continued il continued shall be- by
system Of direct taxation Three quarters Of million
70 be raised this year for tue prosecution Of the public
work.; next yesr like amount will DO required and
cd isfniti un. the Of about s. COO 900 ahsll
have been realized for that amount or something like
it, viii be needed according to the recent estimates the
present Indebtedness OF the State ncludog tse floating
debt) ID between $s6 900 and $40 900 600, and
,oeo required TO complete the enlargement the
last 10 be raised by taxation or borro wing.
Now, II ID necessary thai the enlargement should be
completed The works which ID proposed to enlarge,
believe have nix feet OF water Tho present Season
10 II important thai another foos and grester width
be sddedY VIII II be sound policy 70 expend more
money upon the enlsrkementS Do the wants Of
commerce require Hf We make these inquiries NOT
party men, for we have nothing 70 do with politics.
but Interested in the commercial and pecuniary
welfare Of the State We win nrst at the business Of
the during the last ten years, stated in the
port the Auditor Of the Canal Department. ansmilsed
TO the Legislature In Janusry; 1859.
The total tonnage af all the property the canals
cendns and descending, and the amoun Of tolls collected
is foloWs:-