The New York herald., 1869-01-13

ply, Cassidy, Clark OF Rochester, and others, VINO
repudiated the idea OF taxing tolls upon canals FOR
any other purpose than to pay Tor tie cost oi con-
NATIONAL CHARACTER or THE CANAL.
The truly national character OF the work and OF
It's value Is shown by the fact that the commerce
passed over II and belonging TO the people OF its own
State h only one-ninth OF the aggregate. the re-
mainder coming from the western and Central
States or Canada. The State OF New York does not
furnish as large an amount OF tonnage Tor tne canal
Is supplied by either Michigan Illinois or Wiscon-
SIN singy. NO less conclusive ID the testimony OF half
century az to Its unequvocai success, present vaue.
and the certainty OF the continued increase OF trade
The magnitude or the present annual productions or
the states bordering on the lakes ts not entirely un
known to che public; but few know how fertile Is
the soil and gcna The climate OF the vast areas to the
northwest of Lake Superior, to become settled
and increase that yet undeveloped commerce OF the
lakes which Will pass through our own territory, en-
rich onr merchants, employ our own people and ald
IN diminishing our national burdens ~ we are true
10 our own Just and faithful stewards Oh tne
public trust committed 10 our charge.
Already the average annual Income OF the canal.
after deducting all expenses Is s3 100000, carefully
applied to the extinction Of the debt incurred by the
construction. At the present rate OF income, not
computing its prospective increase, the deDt WIN 90
wholly discharged IN eight years subject 70 sne ex
listing lien on II the canal could now De readily soiu
for al least 500 000,0 900.
IL has been seen that, in the rivalry between the
carrying systems of the 81 Lawrence river ana the
Erie canal or hudson river, the route through our
own county is incomparably the most successful
aaSrng even 70 'srsc ~ noo. =.
nicatmg with Atlantic ports and the world al large.
Yet Is said that with certain cnlarRements oil her
canals the st. Lawrence would bear away the palm
of victory; and British Canadian capitalists are
urged 10 invest IN the doubtful experiment sun
small iu comparison with the cost OF the Erie canal
expended In judicious improvements upon II so as
to permit the passage oil boats OF greater size.
would reduce By .one-half, or nity per cent the
present cost OF transportation on IT, similar saw
Ing has been actually effected by similar means
already applied, and competent engineers and status
ticans bear testimony 10 The repetition OF equal re-
suits from further improvements.
PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT or THE CANAL AND ITS
NATIONAL RESULTS.
Under the liberal system hitherto adopted by the
state OF New York this reduction In the cost OF freight
would inure W the benefit OF The western farmer By
practically diminishing distance between him and
the Consumers In the cities and manufacturing dis
trcis la tile East and customers throughout the
world. Tie state, after nll her expenditures s yet
only the friendly channel or medium between tile
producer and consumer and IA Interested for her
own citizens only 80 far M they constitute rt or
the whole people OF the Union.
In previous report the attention or Congress was
called towards securing the realization OF the pro-
posal Of the state Of New York now embodied IN y
iaw) to adapt the ET,e aud Oswcg0 canals OF that
state 10 the military nsos OF the national govern.
mcnt. To obtain tba object only small sum Is
necessary compared with tbat required 10 overcome
tie natural obstacle OF Niagara Fails. The desired
result could be attained In one-tbrd the time and
and nj onehrd OF the cost necessary for the coni-
plcti0n VI any practical WORK that could carry