The New York herald., 1870-10-22
TEE CANAL REFORM.

Meeting the Produce Exchange Yesler-
day-speeci,es ny Mr. Evarfs and MIR.
Cooper.
A weattended meeting was held yesterday after
Aoon at the Produce Exchange. Mr.. Reed In the
char In favor OF better management OF the State
canals. After short address IRON the chairman
the following resolutions were proposed
Whereas there win be people at the COM
Ss eeeon November IN this state the question whether
10 permit reduction the tolls canals
Resolved That Il Is the duty Of every .iecsor in his State
STATE debt 70 provide for the payment OF the canal and
Resolved, That said act by the last Legislature
to the people as worthy OF their sanctions and
by vote Of loo to6 and the Senate UNANIMOUSLY
be consiered as removed rom he Disputes nd esiosie.
Of politics and worhy Of ihe peoples sanction upon higher
Resolved That BY the adoption of this the coming
ani enriched BY The increase Of Western
suction Of iois consequent cheapenn. of trans
esoved That the adoption Of this act extends the pay
mrn OF the canal and general fund debts to eighteen
stand il not sense or ate any new debt or i'm
pose any new burden upon our people nor does impose
on Of the tolls will he sufficient to the principal and
other II the adopted large amount
Of additional taxation fan the citizens Of the state
Resolved That the reduction the canal tolls (Which the
adoption Of this acc WIN secure is the only measure BY
por,ston inland command the Of
The great Vest cheapen oreadsns in our cities and EN-
demand our most earnest efforts to accomplish.
The Hon. WILLIAM NJ EvAgTs was then intro
duced and made short address. lie said that all
classes were Interested in speedy reform OF the
nonstrous abuses that now disgraced the canal
posed Canal Funding bnl was especially
needed. This would ensure the return OF
the canals TO the people TO whom they
properly belonged. The position OF New York made
her The natural outlet for the produce Of the West,
and TO lay burden upon the people OF the West
was emInently foolish and unwise.
Mr.. PETER COOPER then made the following re-
marks:-Gentlemen OF the PioGuce Exchange
When the lar-sighted statesmen, OF whom De Witt
Clinton was the cnlei, planned the great canal sys.
iem, TO which this State and this country owe so
much their OBJECT was no petty one Ihcy sought TO
draw the tralc of the West through this channel,
not Tor the lnconsiderabe overflow which could be
diverted Into the public treasury, but for the rich
deposit that would everywhere fertalize and enrich
our state. AS thrifty as tney were bold, they in
tended TO make this great work a self.supporting
one, but they did not intend, with the narrow
policy that In nelghborlng State has seemed so
selfish and unwise, 10 support their own govern
fnenJ by taxing the persons and properly that
owed least TO IL. Their wish was rather that which
inspired the fathers OF the federal constitution to
Facilitate, and not to impede, commerce between
the states. once paid Tor they wished the canals
pe free. with the Erie Canal at least, that cOndi-
t0n is fulfilled. it has earned in tolls 5000, 600
more than ts total cost, ana the only debt left to be
pad is that incurred Tor the lateral canals. Since
the time OF Clinton rival to his great canal has
come into the field. Iron roads through every State
now compete with the water way which only
New York could IN that water portation-nnst
to deprive the canal OF this advantage by
grasplng and tlmorous policy and thus
TO drain up the channel through which tra1ic
could otherwise most readily fow, and send 1t to
seek an outlet through the st. Lawrence, through
pennsylvania, by the MissIssippY Out OF our dlth-
legal principles and economic results OF this
measure have been fully discussed. II Is enough
Tor me 10 say that n affords method OF completing
the work for which Clinton labored OF lesseDing the
price OF every loaf and increasing the pay OF every
Mr. Brooks and Mr.. MoultsD also spoke in support
OF The resolutions, which were ultimately adopted