The New York herald., 1870-01-06
CONMsRcE OF THE ERIE CANAL.
Diversion of the Western Grain TrafIic-Star;.
ling Fucis and Figures.


ling Fucis and Figures.
From the Rochester Union and Advertiser. Jan. 81
The annual statement OF the commerce OF Buffalo,
furnished by the courier OF that CITY, for 1862 pre-
facts and figures as to traffic upon the Erie
Canal The imports OF grain ana Hour treduced
to nushes) 6y lake are aSoo7los against
five million bushels. The total OF exports uy
canal shows only 2s,6i2,s47 bushels choosing
that channel to the seaboard, against 80, 763. 6o5
bushels last year. ne aggregate OF all articles ship
ped by canal s l2sl,7oe TONS against l4162 29s tons
last year; aud OF tolls received Is t4
against S2,oi0Oi5 received last year. loss TO the
canal revenue oi nearly s4oo 600 for the year.
The lumber trade stands aD0ut as last year the
receipts 22 9s5 4s teet being an increase OF nearly
1900 900 feet over last year hle lhc exports by
canal 1G5 l9717S or over 1000 900 feet less tnan
last year. falling Off OF nearly one han Is notice.
able IN the trade In slaves.
A comparative statement OF the receipts at the
five principal lake ports shows that the gram trade
OF the West continues to expand IN Its proportions,
although the STARE Of Buffalo IN Is annually shrink
ing. lne receipts ut these ports Chicago Milwau-
kee, Toledo Detroit ana Cleveiand) iOr the present
year amount 10 064 bushels OF gram and hour.
ALI increase over last year OF nearly 100000 of
bushels. II thus appears that OF the enormous to-
tality OF Western gram receipts, OF which formerly
the great bulk reached Buffalo, there are now
scarcely thrce-eighhs snipped to that port, while
less than Oneiourtn OF the same seeks t3 way To the
seaDoaId by the Erie Canal.
New York State has therefore to make note OF
two great phases Of diversion OF trade which are
now IN operation TO her detliment the first belng
the tendency Of gram 60 avoia tue canals the second
courier says III lis resune.-
the difference between lake Imports exports
Si o. e n sesse 70 o%f WHAT I Il to i
report OF the Eric halfway that nearly l0O000
alone during year now closing But admitting that
eaqh The @ sa 81 G ss M s has s
present year. there sti nearly 900 bushels
the commercial metropolis A large amount OF this OF
course absorbed for nome consumption bn. the far larger
board at other points than New YORK In confirmation Of
a q sSa Of 70 The
points would doubtless tell similar story il
ss OF e cereals starting on ha route o eapsraon OF
,h. aggrcsac 45O7 bushels rs.eh this city BY lake
2O0OC0O conveyed New York. Thus tic
Is being diverted from thai channel and from thu
state These su-s are Interesting 10 Bdao but they
Their forcbc teaching that II there be such thing
policy ade uatc to the retrieving Of what lost the
enion for New York OF commercial supremacy, had
better be tried at once.
There Is certainly much food for reflection, as the
courier suggests IN this exhibit OF Buffalo CON-
lnerce reatinV TO the canals; for the canal COM
merce OF Buffalo, standing at the head OF canal
navigation, Is the commerce OF the whole line OF the
great Erie channel. There Is no doubt that If New
York is to retain her position with her puoc works
as the main cnanna OF tue grain and other bulky
Ducts oi he West Dound East she must lose 10
time In making an eiorr toward the end in view.
How much Of the gram trade diverted from the
Erie canal may De chargeabe 10 the rapaclty the
Buffalo dock men in levyin4 gAtes OF elevation, &c,
Is question which among the others con-
neced WITH this subject viii bear investigation.
One tntng Is CERTAIN and that rs that the carrying
trade must he made the objective point. All tax OF
entry at the point Of transhipnlent ana all tolls OF
transportation must be reduced ana varied as cir
cumstances may require III suoServiency to that
maintenance OF the canals in proper repair, with
free channel and sufficient depth OF water, going or
course, before all. These are the deSlderatG OF the
canal situation. The men at the head gates OF Buf-
filo the state and all other parties in interest
the productive classes Of navigat0rs, whose compen
satlon Is regulated IN great measure 10y the law OF
supply and demand must yield OF the income they
are deriving from the canals, and allow more to 20
to the account OF construction and repairs aud re-
muneraton OF the f0rw arders aud boatmen, Or very
the bulk Of the tralc will have flown in other
directions aud there Will little pront for division
In any quarter.