The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-25
TIE NIAGARA SHIP CANAL
Meeting at the Produce Exchange Resolutions
Antagonistic to the Project-Lively
piscussion-Fierce Denuncia-
ton Of Buffalo.

The course OF business at the Produce Exchange
was enlivened yesterday by somewha, spirited
meeting that held at little past one O'Clock to
consider the question OF the Niagara snip Canal.
The meeting organized by electtng Mr. John
Boynton Chairman and Mr.. J. McCulloch Secretary.
the CHAIRMAN explained that the meeting was
called 70 place before them the questions involved
by the proposed bill now under the consideration
OF the Legislature ceding to the United States, sub
ject certain formal conditions, sunicient land IN
the counties OF Erie and Niagara to construct
ship canal ana thus open another route TO the sea-
board from the West While It was the in
terest Of our city TO cheaper the tolls and
increase tho facilities OF the Erie and Oswego
canals, II ought 70 be kept mind that the adv0-
Gates of this ship canal expected to divert trade
away from our city and send 1t through Montreal,
Portland and Boston.
The bill having been read, MIR. CARLOS COBB. in
short speech, proposed the following resolutions:
Resolved That in the opinion Of hi, New York oduce
the United States eminent such lands
Fails sassrs Sn. Dy o Us oSct Ss yso
trade from this city ana statc in fact with Its most demon
Resolved That while the realization of this scheme
6 far than the diversion OF trade from canals
sns aopsd os In ms ana
ths State ''00' not DC " the
sGy q q sS
Kings county IN the State Legislature.
Scarcely had MIR. Cobb finished than Mr.. w. b.
BARBOUR rose, and, In somewhat excited speech,
denounced the resolutions as mean and iliberal In
their place he proposed the following substitutes:-
Resolved, That broad enlightened public policy de-
the the opening Of additional taonsh which
commerce Of the country
muncatons the eaboard demonstrated by the
and persistent Efforts maize to open new routes from the
Resolved, That the opening Of ship canal around tho
vor Of our own Citizens would be great national benefit
as The Sats and city ., New
esacons upon grain passing through the western gateway
There was then for a few minutes an episode OF
the most amusing parliamentary confusion. carried
away by Mr. Barbours constant alluson to the "peo-
pie OF the Great Northwest and the patriotic duty
OF opening up every possible highway from the IN.
terror to the coast the meeting decided to adopt his
avowed purpose OF the meeting reversed, and
the partlsans Of the antagOnisc resolutions found
themselves 10 their very great surprise the mi.
nOrlty. Convinced thar something must be wrong
somewhere however, they succeeded IN defeating a
motion TO ADJOURN and then proceeded to recon
| MIR. COBB this time spoke with much earnestness
and to the point against this scheme, which he de.
clared to be another grand land-grabbing plot on
the part of interested parties. II tns highway were
really needed, capitalists would cheerfuy come Tor
proposed to issue bonds and make land grants, and
thus get the State OF New YORK 10 bear the expense
OF turning Lrau0 away great his was
certainly cool proposition.
Mr.. BARBOUR again spoke IN favor OF the canal.
He contended that though the city might lose per-
haps, the handling OF ten or fifteen millions OF dol
lars worth OF grain per annum, yet this would be
many times made up Dy the increased wealth OF the
''Great Northwest" and the stimulus their demands
would give to our manufactures ana general trade.
We ought 70 look at these questions from higher
standpoint tnan that OF mere Immediate interest.
At present only three or four per cent OF the pro-
ducts OF the West were brought TO the
seab0ard, and this was conclusive proof
of the need for new routes. Indeed, there
could be doubC that the "Great Northwest"
were determined TO have this route, and as they
held the political power OF the country they would
get 1t. He believed this opposition was organized
In the interest Of the city or Buiralo-a miserable
little village, which might be swept out OF existence
and none scarcely be the wiser or miss It, The peo-
pie OF Buffalo mad been robbing New York mer.
chants by W xlug grain on its passage. Buffalo had
indeed been q damning curse 10 the city OF New
| York, ana II was about time that her rObberles
were stopped IN some way.
Mr.. HAZELTINE said II was very nice thing for
the people OF the Great Northwest" to invite them
highways being opened, but he did OBJECT to the
West asking US 10 pay taxes to give them the opp0r
tunty to send their grain through other cities. The
great purpose OF this cana was TO 20 round New
York and ignore It, and he hoped therefore, the bill
| would not pass through the Legislature.
Finally the vCte was taken on the resolutions and
! Mr.. CObbs, against the scheme was passed, ana a
| committee OF seven appointed to meet at Albany
with the Buffalo Board OF Trade and confer with the
| Legislature in regard TO 1t.
| BY unanimous consent OF the meeting this COM
mttee was also authorized to defeat In the Legsla
ture any bill giving the stockholders OF tue En-
change power over the members.