New-York tribune., 1867-08-21
THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONVENTION.


THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONVENTION.
Mr.. PRINDLE Rep, Chenango) presented
six several petonsn favor Of the separate submission
OF prohb bitory lquorlaw.
Mr. CASSIDY Dem, Albany presentod memorial on
the subject
Mr. CHURCH Dom, Orleans offered resolution that
the report Of the Committee State Finances and the
Committee Canals be made the special order for Tues
day next and for every day thereafter until disposed Of
Adopted.
Mr.LAPHAM (Rep., orleanS presented a memorial
from the Committee Canals giving their reasons for
their report The following s abstract Of the report
REPORT or TIE COMMITTEE ON CANALS.
The Committee Canals report that they have taken
and with exceptions TO detail which win be stated
concur in the foo%ng eTS SSG' ~ tne oT nt nbSer po
Of August 81 The Committee then proceed &c, ,tS 70
subjects thus considered they present statement Of the
reasons which have covered their action in submittpg
The Committee that the canals to remain the
property of the state Such the determination OF the
adopting the present Constitution That expression was
renewed in the amendment OF 1884 The unanimous
in The presont Constructor and in that they entirely
With respect TO the resolution az TO the eTpe
dency OF providing by an amendment 10 the Constitution
for the leasing Tor a term Of years Inc champiain
Canal or any other OF the lateral State canals,
they OF the opinion no suCh disposition "a
treated as part Of the entire system which as
whole is sesstaining, and highly Tcmnneratye 10 the
doing injustice localities and iucurrng the serious and
merlted dispeasure OF large portions OF he people
Ties have proved nSnP3yng ye no one ~ ao56SE 6S5e
ment. Assuming the canals arc 10 iomalh
state property the question aIi,es as TO wh9t sh e
tenn OF internal navigation aud commcreo with other
States, through their agency To adopt system
which will prevent their further improvement out OF their
own earnings would be the hight of hnancial folly and
inexcusahie The Committee =, devoted much un'o Io
what improvements are heceSsaly ana wnsenof ~
such improvements without resort 10 taxation aud aban
dOnment Of the existing Consuon II appears IN the
enlargement Of the Erie Canal about 20 miles OF the
caseTn section we're constructed with what termed
wall benches" aud is from Elk to ten feet narrower
Channel I The reverse should be tho ease aud
the eastern the wider porten To- Accommodate the oeen
mutation O boats they come IN from the other canals
ard approach the Hudson River The removal OF these
capacity of the E1e anal Ibe locks on tne Eils, 1s
wcCO and Cyuga and Seneca Canals do not 10 he
The locks will not admit OF the passage OF boats
carrying over about 900 tuDs and Tor cOnsdoaOle por
10 accommodate the business now offered Returns show
that 50 per cent Of the capacity Of the locks
are faacous practice BY the mode In which the bust
ness is now done the locks arc taxed during inc
season from harvest 10 the close OF paygR
ton TO their full capacity, and at times beyond that
TO obyiae all the dieues u ls proposed 70 construct
a. nn Tie hats now in use can be passed through such
moferial when there arc double locks nearly per
hnps quite sufficient for the new structures. Carrcrs
viii be enabled TO take freight reduced prices, and
steam be used as propeling power 10 90 an elua
amount OF business the number OF lockagos VIII be III
Ihuishcd. Tho change will diminish the cost ot trans
poIaton gyg TO u ne npIg and secure 10 ne tie
rapidly Increasing commerce OF the West ana NOrthWet
Already other avenues are opening, ana unless we act
promptly and wisely, the Hood may pass IN other diree
lions We must depend on ths commerce Or our iutuIe
revenues The history Of canal ap9ndaM s ny
proves this IN lsi7 there were only 5000 tIns rom VIC
West reaching tldcwater, while from within the STATE
bad dminsGed 10 2s7 oss tuns while that from the west
had Increased 20 236 tuns.the largest ever received
cxcopt I'm 1861 and 1863 With these exceptions the i
crease has been gradual from the opening Of the Erie
Canal 20 the present time, az Is shown D nget EVins
the tunnage passed from 1887 10 1906 80 the ttalS
show like gratifying increase upon the tnnnage OF n
the canals during the same period IN 1887 mere were
d,iv me- revenue for tolls OF q 292G23; while In 1866
The amount 5,77522O tnps valued NJ S1ugo'otne
Us"gI InUs resched tiWater from the Erie and Cham
plain Canals This was more than me rhe iGIegn de
mands for more ample facilities OF transportation
require anfnceased capacity OF the loess ana
and Tho removal Of the wall benches The suggestion thh
fhe business can be accommodated by the con
struction OF railroads is entirely impractcable Whst
NewYorR by rail- The Atlantic Docks, and the mmenso
expenditure which has been maze mhst Is 70 ie DONE
with those The increased expense by ran II ah0shgd
objection The actual cost to the railroad io h re
turns made IN behalf Of the NewYork Railroad So mas
been double all the charges the Erie Canal and N e&
OF the water carriage 10 NewYOrk. pdere loloW
tables to prove this etatemcnt) The figures al
show that the cost OF repairs on railroads mas
been 10 per cent Of the cost OF the road, Wme
the cost OF superintendence and repairs On the Eilo
only about oneteHh OF that less than one per
cent IL will be unfortunate day for the people OF s
State adopt and act upon the idea that the
canals have fulfilled their mission" The Central road
ed itself the utmost in the carrying OF freight our
ing the season and yet only about onefi OF that taken
by canals could be cared for The entire cost OF all
feeders and canals $2l0093,602 70, while the en-
tire income and interest has been SOG956o o. leaving
the canals debtor only e7473992 a. Inc canals pro
noscd 10 be Improved creditors TO the amount Of over
tSs OOoOOO The estimated cost for enlarging tho
iocEs is A. 100000. An experienced Govern
menf Engineer thinks the cost will not be moro than
stated or for all Of the contemplated improvements as
follows .ooo ooo
For Champain Canal. sJO0 OO0
Enarging locks. 'VOo"0
Additional water and basins. 4OoDe
RemdTal OF wall benches. iofsols
NIT, sas4iai4
Tn, canal debts payment of which has been pTcv!hed
for, are a follows; A oer ooo
Canal debt Of 1916. ~ eg o0o
Canal Enlargement debt. 90 90
Floating debt. ,
q -, ........ si5,T72oOO
, tIioing nlal, is submitted meet all the obiga'
,n ~ The canal as well as such are suggested 70 DO
made for improvements
Cash on May l, 1867 as a. s,o 7a1 as
stated by the Auditor '''-'' '-'''''' "
Interest OF same TO Jan ~ cia "A
nary, 1868. A. M. II.....cc ~
Net receipts for 1907; ..... sSoVc'VV"" 1859
Less interest on Canal
Debt from April, 1867, 1000.
10 June lsGs......... .S6s4,e5s 10 '''''' '''''
Less interest on General
n.rk- - -. n.fn