New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-09-22
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
TIE CANALS.

INVESTIGATION INTO THEIR MANAGEhENl'
Three Committees, representing the Cltzehs
Association the Chamber Commerce ana the frouuoe
Exchange Of this cty-met az the rooms OF INC Cnan
of Commerce TO devise, possible hieauS W o"e' '
fraud and corruption IN the Canal system aud improve
the Canal trade The Citizens Association was repre-
sen,ed nv Me,srs samuel wilets Nathaniel Sands VIM
Wood Joseph +. DAILY, and Richard Nd henS Messrs
nitee Of the Chamber e % p Romnson William H.
Fogr Paul n. spOford ana W.an II. uuon S Mns s
omnitee of the Produce Exchange comprised SiessIs
navid bows NJ NJ Caleb Jesse Hoyt. Carlos CODD anu
Edward Uiucken The appointment OF me COmnltecs
49, INV tbe citizens Association, who had previously
cent committee OF inspect ON throughout tne 1 ' be
n6le 81 ntiinent 10 their MANAGEMENT ana sohIo;
This committee returned laden WIN ovue1e that the
call for Joint action was issued Inc tle9 VV,
MIttses Wiets Chairman and Mr. Joseph f. DAILY
Secretary The report OF ne Cltzens AssoGaIloH was
rnot and fraudulent combinations OF canal contractors
and state officials in the giving out OF contracts anu oD
by winch the Treasury was depicted 10 he eA'et
~ several hundred thousand dollars; report upon the
present dsgraceul and decayng condition OF the canals
bridges. locks, &c, which are SUFFERING I9r Iepai,
although over g. 100000 annually devoted 10 their
maintenance it showed how the trade OF the canals
who keep M the tolls while the railroads are IN eager
competition undertaking for treghti oio t Tssi
there was an average Of COS boats built per year
SEQ The yeTce was only 3ls per year that the total
ORIGINAL cost Of the canals was &7,34Sl 49, ana that
while their total earnings have been but SlOj5I36o 6Oi
that the Erie Canal alone pays profit over lts running
expenses while tho other canals together were last year
e656776 behind their current expenses that snort
sighted interested policy dictates the actions OF tne
State officials who manage the canals, and the result VIII
soon be their total extinction; that instead OF applying
upon the appropriated from the POCKET
OF the taxpayers, Il 10 wasted or hnds ats way
into Interested private hands; instead OF towering
the tolls TO obtain freight, they are kept
MP and the State railroads owned Oy private mOnopoSs
take the whole business else goes through the Can
ndas and instead OF encouraging steam appliances
for obtaining speed in navigating the canals the olu
horse drag system OF fifty years ago is st used showing
That the Empire State OF America Is behind even Ine
smallest European countries in such improvements Inc
report suggested reforms needed and pointed out
the officials guilty OF neglecGng their trusts IN
these great Mr. Sands addressed the committee
subject showing the action already taken by the
Citizens Association, and suggesting the courses open 10
the community 10 secure the needed reform
The following resolution then unanimously ad0pen
ored Chairman and Secretary invite individuals through
delegates mot than Eve from oo RON
through the State Interested IN Toe manage
this Committee 10 the CITY oil New
October 1863 and confer to general organ
the for the ofnsung reform III the manage
81 the canals -,
The meeting adjourned after long session. in which
The experience OF the various members was developed
aud various respect of the objects 10 be acco
pished were brought forward The invitations Tor The
General Convention Of the 18th OF october are being pre-
pared under the direction OF Mr. DAILY the Secretary at
the rooms OF the Citizens Association.