The New York herald., 1870-03-10
THE STATE CANALS.
Discussion Of the Funding Bill! Before the State
Legislature at Meeting at the Chamber
Of Commerce-V on the Subject 90
Expressed in Speeches and Resolutions

OF the Commercial Union, Chamber or commerce.
New York Produce Exchange Shipowners' Ass0cla-
tion and Citizens Association to talk over the sub
Ject OF the bill now before the state Legislature In
reference to our State canals and discuss the best
policy TO pursue In regard to this important branch
of interior navigation. Some twenty-five gentle
men, representing the various organizations named.
were present
Mr.. PETER COOPER was called TO the chair and on
calling the meeting order briefly stated the object
OF the meeting as embracing most important ana
far-reaching Interests. They owed half that New
York was to-day TO the Erie Canal. They had met
to interchange views uDon the expediency OF fund
ing and consolidating the canal debt, 30 as to leave
tolls unncumbered and thus secure full canal tran
sit from our seaboard to the waters Of the Mis-
sissipp
Mr.. ISRAEL 7. HATCH was the first speaker He
said that he should not detain them In lengthy
speech, his views had been carefully written out
and were now In process OF being printed In PAM
phlet form. He could not refrain. however, from
giving brief rGsu,ae OF the situation. In the first
place too high tribute could not be paid TO Dewitt
Clinton Gouyernear Morris Robert Fulton Stephen
Van Rensselaer, and Others the great fathers OF the
Erie Canal. This canal. as likewise most OF the
state canals had been eminentIy successful. 1t was
tn, design OF the orginators of this great prof ect
10 make the canals free as soon the
expense OF their structure had seen paid.
Long ago such expenses had been paid into
the State Treasury; but this great original design
had not yet been consummated. IL remained with
them carry out this project by securing II possible
the passage OF the Funding Dill now before the State
Legislature. IL was only necessary to change the
state consultation. He referred 10 article seven
ton twelve OF the State constitution and claimed
that under this section they could borrow money for
this purpose the same to be funded and paid in
eighteen years. This proposed change OF the con-
fttrtfn I'M pbA Tim,
He referred To the canal system rs prevailing In
Great Britain. Russia Prussia. France and other
the constitutionaty Of the bill before the State
Legislature. In the course OF his speech letter
read from George F. Comstock, endorsed BY John X.
Porter and John Ganson, and another from William
ii. Eyhrss dec arlng The bill constitutional.
Mr.. MoULToN, OF the Produce Exchange, made
lengthy speech on the subject. He pronounced this
as one OF the most important subjects thas now
before the public Tor consideration. He reviewed
the business Of the STATE canals for the past two
had been failure. They were now returning to the
old ideas. Everybody began to see the necessity OF
Tor the time, but what will be productive OF the
greatest benefit IN the long run. Referring to the
the Erie Canal was what they had ia contempaton
to-day. This bill was drawn by Clinton Morris and
Fulton, and shows the wisdom OF those men on this
matter. He quoted at length statistics showing the
growing amount OF transportation on the canal and
the diversion or trade connected with 1t. The great
tax to make up this deficiency and thereby give dis.
trouble In the way was the general opinion That by les
sening the tolls on the canals would be lessened the
70 'hn a
way the constitution Of i846, which IL thought
would prevent them carrying ont their purpose in
the way proposed He alluded to the progressive
movement in this matter and the counter element ut
work against them. sixteen years ago the canal
two hundred and ifteen millions. 1t was plea.
SAINT to Know thai the spirit or opposition
fa,ii, nad greatly ~, dessened One cause OF tner
which he was glad to state was being remedied by
the organization oil the commercial union and tts
action and lndefatigabe efforts in the interests OF
inland navigation. In continuing his remarks he
insisted that the canals were not intended III any
way TO be placed in opposition to railroads.
Mr. ERAsTUS BROOKS was the next speaker. The
Constitutional Convention OF 1876 was composed Of
able and patriotic men. Their notions were pure,
some cases. He also referred to the last
Constitutional Convention and the provisions
Of tue canals for the enlargement Of the
canals ana paying the state Indebtedness. There
way; but all these obstacles would be overcome.
They owed TO the originat0rs OF the Erie Canal .
debt that could never be paid in 1855 the value Of
exceeded TWO hundred millions OF tons. IN. amount
exceeong all the freight brought to this city from
m 90 aroa o Thev ne eo Was no an
and canals. The Erie Canal had paid into tie Trea-
sury OF New York twenty-three million dollars over
and ABOVE It's cost The Seneca and Cayuga had paid
It's entire expenses and three hundred thousand dol
lars besides. The Oswego Canal had paid into the
treasury OgcI uall ullllOu Ol QOliaFS IHefe were
some nonpayng canals, but taken together they had
yielded to the STATE revenue OF some seventy mil
lions OF dollars. As showing the change IN public
sentiment ne called to mind the fact that when the
bill for the Erie Canal was brought before the State
Legislature committee Of seven went from this
6 on the ground thai by opening gSS thus water aer
channel business men would pass by New
York and MAKE their purchases elsewhere.
After charging further upon tue benefits derived
from the canal he spoke in conclusion earnestly IN
favor OF the Funding bill, TO which reference had
the state Legislature. the canal debt hung ike a
milestone about their necks; but the way mad been
laid open for getting over this obstacle. The conss-
tuition OF 1886 could be changed and this indebted
und and the principal paid at the end OF eight
cen years. The scheme was entirely practicable
Messrs. Nathaniel Sands, Carlos Cobb, jeremiah
r. Robinson, samuel Hazlct0D Jr., ana Francis B.
Moulton were, on motion, appointed a committee on
resolutions
General ELIJAH F. WARD, ex-member OF Congress-
next read a lengthy speech Mainly 1t was con-
current with the remarks of the previous speakers
countries IN the Old World, and while there studied
the causes of the rise and decline Of national pro-
gress. He was very greatly surprised TO find that
ceded TO explain detail the present condition OF our
inland commerce, insttuting comparison between
canals and railroads. Tracing next with prophetic
eye tue coming destiny OF our country and the
growth Of its inland transportation, and In this
future view taking into &C all the great arteries
OF trade throughout the length and bPeadth o; the
country, he presented an array Of facts not only
highly interesting but most convincing in establish
HIS remarks, which In fact were exhaustive on the
subject were listened to with the closest attention.
Resolutions named above presented series Of reso
lutions for the action OF the meeting. These rcsou
tions endorsed the Funding bill In every particular
and satisfaction not only with the consrltuttonality
Of tho same but assured and complete confidence In
lts passage being productive OF great and incalcu
liable good to our inland navigation. They
were adopted without discussion. and after
o few remarks by the President, recitng some in.
teresting experiments made by himself some nfty
tn fhn Hast rv tn fhn Iy,xI
ton, the great steamboat inventor, showing new
motive power Tor pr0pelling boats, which the design
then was to introduce on the Erie Canal, the meet
Ing adjourned.
TUE PROPOSITION TO MAKE JERSEY CITY A PORT OF ENTRY
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
WASHINGTON, D. O., March 8, 1s70.(
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
noticed in your paper OF yesterday communi.
cation signed "Knlckerpockern stating that bill