New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-04-01
ALBANY.

RAILROAD PR0JECTS-HOMhofAih' AM
TNsANIrY-CHEAP FERRIAGE-H0URS OF La |
nor = THE STATE CABINET OF NATURAL |
HISTORY CANAL OFFICERS - SECTARiAN
sCHooIs-THE NEwYoRK CHARTER IN THE
sENATR-ERIE RAILROAD Wharf.-The iNo'h-
ANCE INVESTIGATION.
A,RANY March 31.-Speculations are plenty
and exciting about the course that will be taken
An the Senate concerning the New-fork CITY
Charter II Is believed that essential amendments
will be made providing for some security Tor honest ecc
nons among other things, in which the charter Is deecE
i've as It passed through the Assembly. IN
deed it is now stated that it on the positive peoee
of amendments in the Senate. that many hep'onoa"s
were induced to vote for il in the Assembly
The Railroad Committee OF the Assembly had another
lively time this afternoon in the Erie warfare MI n""
on tehalf Of the British stockholders haa announcer h'"
ing and Mr. Crouch occupied considerable time IN rePH
INC n such matters can considered reply on behalf
of Gould and Fisk. The Committee will report some
time next week
The Insurance Investigations are nearly closed and
report will be made probably during the next week
whatever may the result Of discussions concerning
the Canal debt so az TO allow abolition Of tolls. and
rendering cation free between the Atlantic and the
Lakes there is point of even greater value about
which there conflicting opinions and to when all
rightmnded practical men, inside and outside OF ehe
Capitol should turn immediate and perseverng atten
ton The introduction Of steam towage is the greatest
want of the Erie and OswegO Canals Any Improvements
which would quoKen transit to forward cargoes In
half the time required between the Lakes and tide
water-equvaent to annihating haf the space Ovid
ing the Hudson from our inland seas-would be the
greatest measure Of Improvement ever adopted
In our internal commerce and navigation since
the enlargement Of the Erie Canal With all
its present disadvantages-with even its snalpace ID
comparison with railway trans-the Ere Canal in It's
short season of seven months, transmits about
100000 freight than the Erie and Central Kali
roads combined with all their vast capital and immense
appllances, operating every day through the whole
twelve months Reduce the time between New-fOrK
and Buffalo ouehalf enable voyages to be made with
certainty six days instead OF the ten or twe'e
now ordinarily required and then behold the great re-
suits The dreams oftho men who early advocated the
"Eulargement' would be realized and the present
prophecies of Auditor Bell and State Engineer Richmond
would quickly become practical realities And what is
necessary thio benefcent commercial revoiu-
toni Nothing but tho introduction Of steam-towage'
for securing speed Of three miles, instead OF the
present eand- ahaf hour 1t may well amaze the
commercial world that this great object Is left
unaccomplished ill this year 1870. while steam
has been effccting miracles almost everywhere else
during years since the Erie Canal was enlarged
The Auditor and the Engineer, III their latest
reports concur IN urging adoption of means for i'm
medately rodu cling steam III even TINS moderate eA
tent Assemblyman AlabeDs resolution, referred to the
Canal Committee last evening proposes large reward
for the mode of steam-tOwage, and not less than
four bills have been introduced by othef members i0r
The Joint Committee Of Conference discharged
to-day having agreed 10 recommend senatorial concur
had the if the bill had been returned to the
Assembly. seemed evident from the urn tone OF lew
have been defeated; and the knowledge OF this doubt
specimen Of the prevalent feeling concereing the
need OF applying steam for quckenng canal navgstof
bill for allowing privileges Company for Introducing
the European mode of canal steam.towage "-parucu-
bni was introduced Two other bills, introduced in AS
seby propose to accomplish the great object in other
An animated though brief discussion arose in the As
.."hy to-day bill from Mr. Flagg OF Troy for amend
lug t IcTed Statutes concerning the rate OF interest
subject and the emphatic course of the HOUSE f
proper that this movement shall be clearly understood
The bill provides substantially that the rate of interest
shall be per cent for and after
That rate for greater or less sum or Tor ossr v or
written instrument. fix different rate of inter
s $40 upon 90 for one year and after that rate for
of the bill said the measure was presented
and urged by HIM IN the interest OF me boz row era ana
repeal Usury but only provided that by special
agreement, in writing the rate might be increased TO
isw, he said had the eject Of sending large Of
capital the seek Investment; while with the
proposed modification In operation more OF mat money
would remain here, and contribute 10 the ease OF the
of the Usury laws IN Massachusetts and Rhode
Island, the rates Of money had been regulated by
prise Of -four and loans could be negotiated IN those
States easier than under the stringent Usury laws. Al
the present time, he added, the rate IN thus state was
above cent under the hane II drafts
on New-York. brokers' commissions, large fees for
clerks searches Of and by Runner
Gus other devices which the devil was whipped
would pass. Tie measure was also advocated by Mr.
Van Seenburgh of Greene County, and by some others
but It earnestly and successfully opposed ny Messrs
lttlejohn, MOsely and Hustled The prevalent senti-
the Assembly was manifestly not ripe for favor
able consideration of the proposed change III the Usury
laws and the bill was killed by being recsninltted To the
Judiciary Committee.
The bl changing the police system in Brooklyn long
hanging suspense, has been pushed through both
with degree OF speed anest rivalng the steam
legislation the New York City Charter The senate
cOncurrng to-day IN the amendments OF the Assembly
that matter Is ended.
Concerning the supply OF jurors, bin Of Senator
Wnsov authorizes any Circuit ConIt Court OF Oyer
aud Termner 70 require the Sheriff TO summon additional
pett urors exceeding whenever additional Jurors
are But this not TO operate In the City OF
increased fees allowed the York Sberh for summon
sBg, Will be sufficient 10 inDe fun supply III jurors for
The spirit Of railroad Improvement through State
quite as strongly now as at any former period
ittest organized are follows In addition to these
already mentioned III Northern New York two Others
Railroad" and the other the Black River and Morris
town Railroad" The FIRST Is 70 run from OgdeBsDargh 10
Carthage IN Lewis County about 90 miles WIN capital
O0oO The Directors reside mostly IN or near VIEW
York Ira Hersey, j.. s. Calhoun, b. r. sealey M; NJ
Rounds 1hales Lindsay John G Hersey. b. r. Seeley.
Brooklyn Mason tIexis Of tMoDtcalr, H. W. Moore Of
:y ana The h Shr acrtsen route runs
from Morristown, 81 Lawrence County to point on
,n Jchs<son County-leDgth 20 miles, aud capital
tOO. The Directors oil residents along the route
road OF about 20 miles, and with feO0o capital
with John C. Devereaux A Is. johnson of Utica among
the Directors), is projected by the Utica 6eorgeown,
Hartford, ard connecting with the Utica, Clinton,
end Buglamton Road, aud with the Utica, Chenaogo,
and Cortland Road. road Is also projected by the
Attica ana Railroad Company" running about
Is miles those towns IN Wyoming County, with
tese short OF Importance greater than their
Ieugh Notwithstanding connections with and between
no ~, 80 Ist viii tnrn increased ate zion 70.
a.. nah "