The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-08

emgrant landing depot at Castle Garden, and
hospitals, refugees and ether buildings SUFFICIENT
acres OF land on Wards Island. All alien passen-
gers, on their arrival at New York, for whom COM
the Commission Tor period OF five years from the
date OF their arrival. The Board, after an expert
fee Of 81 50, to which sum It was reduced from
So so by the Legislature in 1871 inadequate to the
legitimate and necessary expenses OF the depart
ment, although carried on as the Commissioners
state, as economically as 1t was by their predeces
sors In office; and they ask that the attention OF
the Legislature may be called to the subject. Their
annual report will be submitted before the LIST OF
| February, containing all information In regard to
their receipts and disbursements.
The revenues oftte canals from all sources
for the fiscal year ending the aoth Sep u :.
And the payments for ordinary repairs -. -.
and cost OF collection. ...........:,s. 1S75,67d
The surplus would have been larger by the sum
OF $577, 181 3S, but for deficiency to that amount
expenditures upon them. 1t Is hardly fair to them
consider the real deficiency quite so large, for
products which would not Otherwise have reached
and the tolls collected on the transportation Of
these products on the latter should be considered
as reducing the apparent deficiency to that amount
Nevertheless the lateral canals fail to yield sufilcent
revenue to meet the sums expended for keeping
on the State Treasury to supply these deficiencies,
The payments OF $l,S75,676 II above stated do
not include extraordinary repairs. In the
Comptroller's report there will be found q full
statement Of expenditures for the canals includ-
Ing ordinary and extraordinary repairs and new
and it will be seen that the total disbursements
on oil OF them, In excess OF all income amount to
$3l4 1913 07-a deficiency to be met by loans or tax
For nearly half century the Erie Canal has
been one OF the chief commercial conduits be-
States and Territories, and until the Introduction
OF railroads was the sole channel of communica-
the wealth Of the State and to the convenience of
It's inhabitants, and has been justly regarded as
or Of OF at the The
Its completion w8s, with nconsiderable exceptions
on this side Of the Mississippi River. 1t
Is now on the shores OF the Pacific;
and an immense population covers the sur
face which was then only marked by rude and
widely scattered settlements. Although railroads
have superseded canals In the transportation of
passengers and lighter products Of industry, the
latter are still relied on for moving bulky articles,
and are likely with the progress OF Improvement to
yield as large revenue as they earned before the
business OF Carrying was shared with the former.
railroad lines which are now penetrating the
west Tor the purpose Of carrying on its CONNER
duce the rates of transportation to the lowest
standard Of profit, there Is always.a possl-
these nsy may S wSa9 Maa% %
fair compensation: Partial agreements OF this
kind have more than once been made, but they
breach of faith by some Of the parties for the pur
pose OF overreaching and gaining an advantage
over the others In this point OF view it becomes Of
canals, and to hold them a security to its inhabt.
ants against The possible consolidation of other
lines Of communication, and as affOrdipg an ulti-
mate measure Of the rates OF Transportation which
without such control, might be indefinitely and
doubted, If the State were to part with
the Erie Canal that 1t would soon pass
into INTO the b hands Of some great railway corpora
imposition OF exorbitant charges for freight. While
therefore, we appreciate the immense Importance
OF the railroad system in ministering to our com.
Tort and prosperity, In stimulating our growth and
adding to our wealth, and while our legislation in
regard to 1t should be liberal and just IL would in
my Judgment, be extremely unwise to disarm our.
selves Of the power to protect the people of the
state against contriyanoes to which great corpo.
their profits, forgetting that the principal object OF
their creation Is to promote the welfare OF the com.
holders.
In order to render the power of restraint more
effectua, 1t Is desirable that the time required for
the transportation of heavy freight from Bufialo to
New York. by the Erie Canal should be so reduced
that II may not, In any great degree, differ from
that needed for the transportation OF like freight
by rail. But the question or rapid transit In.
wolves other and higher considerations. II the
time taken for the transportation OF cargo from
Buffalo to New York can be shortened from fourteen
days to Ave. there will be a saving of nearly two.
thirds in certain items of the cost. Such diminu
ton of time can only be effected by the substitu
ton OF steam for animals, as motive power and
In giving the canal the enlarged dimensions
the constitution, that is seventy feet in width and
seven feet in depth. Though it was declared, in
and constitutional requirements referred to.
It is well known that, by the accumulation
OF earth IN the bottom OF the canal 1t does not
possess, through Its entire extent, the required
depth These distractions should be removed as
speedily as possible in order to admit the ireer
passage OF boats and to facilitate the success or
the experiments recently made under the ACT OF
the Legislature OF April %, 1871 with view to the
INTRODUCTION OF steam as motive power. With
dimensions we
doubt the ultimate success of those experiments
without an impeachment Of the ingenuity and
warranted by the Improvements they have ef.
fected IN the past. To accomplish the greatest At
tainabe rapidty OF transit from the upper lakes to
Toe water and to create the least possible disturb
ance OF the water or the canal change will be
necessary in the form OF the boats employed in this
service, by making them sharper, and this will
transportation To obviate this last objection IL
has been suggested that 1t Is possible to lengthen
the locks by the introduction OF gates OF different
construction, thus enabling the boats to receive
the form necessary for rapid transit without any
y, on OF tneir carrying power am not pre-
PaIeu 10 say whether this Improvement il feasible
but you may, In view Of its Importance, deem 1t
advisable to require the State Engineer to report
ut what cost and within what time.
our neighbors In Canada are making arrange
ments to enlarge the welland and st. Lawrence
Canals as to admit OF the passage of steam pro.
peters OF eight hundred to one thousand tons from
the Upper Lakes to the Gulf of st. Lawrence with.
out transshipment. l. is not the sole object OF this
Improvement To turn into new channel the
trade OF the West, seeking outlet to the ocean,
tween their own people upon the great lakes and
the city OF New York as the most convenient and,
during a portion OF the year, the only seaport
where their products can meet foreign merchan.
disc for the purpose OF exchange. With this view
project is on foot to construct ship canal from
the St Lawrence into Lake Champaign, so that
vessels o! the same class may reach Whitehall
without unloading The further hope is no doubt
entertained that the Champain Canal may at