Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-12-19
RUTLAND HERALD.
MONDAY, DECEMBER l6, 1867.
ohamp,aIs Canal Convention.

Qulte respectable meeting OF for.
warders and merchants was held at Fort
Edward, N, y, on the 10th instant, "to
take into consideration the interests of
Champlain Canal"
The meeting was largely attended and
will doubtless be productive o. good re-
suits. There was unanimous expression
OF opinion against the contract repair
system OF New York as now conducted,
aud an urgent demand that the repairs
of the canals OF the State be again put
in hands Of competent resident engineers
and superintendents, as they were pre-.
vious to the adoption Of the preseat
method,
1t appears rom remarks made on the
occasion, that ST least few Of tire good
people OF Troy who attended this Con.
Vention are induced to petition for a re.
peal OF the act passed by Congress last
winter, establishing post route across
the railroad bridge at Rouses Point.
These parties incidentally OF coursel
complained bitterly that the New Eng.
land railroads, by the use OF the Rouses
Point bridge, are diverting freight from
its natural channels, to the serious detri.
ment Of the business OF New York city.
The disinterested l7) zeal manifested by
the Trojans In their solicltude for the
interests OF their metropolitan neighbors
exhibited q more sincere regard than we
had given them credit for. We fail to
see how New England roads can divert
business from its wdt4rol channels to any
considerable extent, so !ong as these
natural commercial highways are op-
Grated with reasonable regard for the
interests Of their patrons. 1t certainly
does not compliment the managers O.!
these suffering corporations, If, with all
the advantages Of superior location, they
cannot successfully compete with New
England roads. We are inclined to the
opinion, and msy as we'll express it, that
the Convention in the interests CT Cham
plain Canal will have accomplished its
legitimate mission when it has secured,
by enlargement and jaiici0us manage.
ment, the needed increased means Of
transportation over this valuable outlet
for Northern products.
We do not believe Congress will con-
sent to take step backward in the mat
ter OF postal facilities, by disseminating
an important and necessary post route
which has been in practical operation
Tor the past twelve or thirteen years.
Concerning the letting OF the repairs
Of the canals 0: the State OF New York by
contract, there is no doubt but the legls,
lation providing therefor was an egreg,
ious Cumberland we are glad to see an
organized effort FOR return to the old and
better system. With an enlargement OF
the Chsmplajn Canal and reasonable
rates for freight over the rAiIroad from
Rutland to Whitehall, large and con.
stantly increasing carrying business will
De dOne on This route POSslOly the com
pletIon o. the competing Bennington
and Lebanon Springs road now be,
ing constructed, may prove to b. the
necessary incentive which shall eject
the latter desideratum.
This suhjec. the people Of Vermont
are indirectly i. not directly interested in,
hence we have given the results OF this
meeting, tha; the plans and purposes OF
those engaged in canal transportation
may be made known, as twenty years
ago the people Of Rutland county would
have been foil as much interested In
giving expression to their opinions Of
the canal management, IS are now our
New York neighbors.