New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-05-02
WASHINGTON.
CANAL AND RAILROAD PROJECTS.


THE GREAT ROUTES TO THE sEABOARD-THE PRO-
POSED INQUIRIES oP THE SENATE COMMITTEE
ON ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS RELATIVE ADYAN-
TAGEs OF THE SEVERAL RIVER. CANAL, AND
RAILROAD ROUTES TO BE ACCOMMODATIONS
TANT INFORMATION TO BE EvELOPED-sEARCH-
ING QUERIES REGARDING TIE ERIE CANAL
ROUTE.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRBusEI
WASHINGTON May I.-Since the adjournment of
the extra session of the Senate, the Committee on
Transportation, Of which Senator Window Of Min
nesota is Chairman. and which was directed to slt
during the recess 10 conduct Investigation on the
subjects before them have been in frequent session,
and sketch of the matters requiring attention has
been agreed upon. The Chairman and Clerk Of the
Committee will remain in Washington until August,
collecting and preparing such statistics as bear upon
the question. The Committee will give particular
attention to the following important subjects:
FIRST: The Lake and 81. Lawrence rOute-On this sub
ject inquiries will he made 10 the advantages which
this route offers for through transportation from interior
ports Europe, the praccabihty OF employing lake
sa ne and steam vessels the st. Lawrence River and
canals and the ocean: the commercial advantages
offered at Montreal for the transhiPment Of merchan-
disc charges the Canadian canals the capacity Of
those canals actual tonnage and number Of vessels
poyed this during the last % years. the actual
value and OF American productions exported TO
foreign ports via Montreal and Quebec during the last Is
years actual cost OF transportation " European ports
probable time required by sailing and steam vessels
from lake ports TO Liverpool the disadvantages OF
the route. arising from lee fogs, and other dangers as
well the shortness OF the season OF navigation,
freight charges, insurance, &c.
Second The Lake Erie Canal and Hudson River route
What is sought on this subject il 70 know the actual
freight charges lake ports 20 NewYork during the
Last 25 years Of transportation per ton per mile;
cost OF transhpment from lake vessels 70 canal boats,
including the general subject Of the storage OF corn and
grain. while awaiting the demands OF consumption;
length OF season OF navgation time consumed in trans
portaOn probable reduction Of charges by the proposed
enlargement Of the Erie Canal for capacity Of boats Of
600 TONS and the probable increased capacity OF the canal
as commercial highway by such proposed enlargement;
rates OF insurance, the relative advantages offered by
this route, and Of freight railways, &C.
Third The James River and Kanawha Canal route
Embracing the improvements OF the Kanawha and Ohio
River; the value Of the Ohio River as a commercial
tributary OF the canal the geographical limits and
population Of the territory seeking this outlet TO the
board probable amount OF Western products which
would pass through this canal II now completed; prob
able cost Of enlargng and completing the James River
and Kanawha Canal and its connections probable time
required complete the same, and cost OF such con
strucon and improvements length OF season Of nayga
ton, &c.
Fourth The proposed Georgia Canal route-Inquiries
on this subject will made 70 the value of the Ten
nessee River commercial tributary OF this route
the geographical extent and population OF the territory
seeking this outlet 20 the seaboard the probable amount
route probable or constructing the Georgia Canal
and making the required river improvements the prob
able required 20 complete the same together with
the length OF the season OF navigation and any other
commercial advantages which the route may appear "
offer.
FiJh: The Mississippi and Gulf route-In regard to
this route the Committee Will inquire as % the actual
fraf tfehar
during the last years the depth OF water for nayg
ton from several river ports 70 Sew-Oreans at al
seasons during the same period the prletieahiity "
TRANSPORTING corn and grain in bulk on INC Mississippi
River and It's tributaries ana storihg u at Ne"-Oreans
the number of days each year Of suspension OF nayga
st. Louis aud other Yer ports on account on ice
or low water; amount and value " corn and grain ex
ported from New Oresns ass years
aud pilot charges at cans rates OF ipsgr
ance probable cost OF proposed Improvements OF the
ohio river and the Misss ppi above ST. Louis aud the
rates freight from NewOreans 10 ports OF Europe
and North Atlantic ports during the iast - years.
Sxth railroad routes from the interior 10
5are as to the actnai cost OF several trunk roads
watered stock the actual freight charges per Ton
freight receipts consumed by actual cost OF transpOra
ton; ordinarily consumed IN the transportation OF
points seapOrts the cost OF ranshpment and stor-
age maximum speed aud profits OF freight trains; relA-
tive charges through and way reights, and other
duries the purpose Of acertanng nov the railroad
facilities for the transportation of Western produce 70
East be increased.
The members OF the Committee viii personally
each OF the water routes such examinations TO
be made with the special view Of determining The rela-
tive value of EACH they all have their advocates, who
OF receiving share OF the attention OF the
Committee. The KIND Of information desired can only
derived from personal observations by visiting the
various localities Inquiry Will be made 20 freight
charges from New-YOrk and other ports OF thu United
States European ports during the last p years the
value and amount OF corn and grain Imported into En-
gland and other and gram importing coun-
tries price OF corn az lake ports at ports on
| the Atlantic ana Pacific coast. and at various
| foreign ports during the last IS years; rates
of Insurance. &c. Inquiries VIII alhO De mae IN regard
TO Canadian commercial regulations which dis
crimluate British vessels, which operate
viii ascertain the annual increase OF products OF the
West requiring transportation 70 the East aud the rela-
tive railroad mileage IN the western states
and OF Transporting such products from
the West the seabOard. They Will also obtain the
most Trustworthy information which can be obtained
from official and other 10 the amount OF the
surplus products OF each O the Western States, aud the
demand Tor this surplus by geographical DISTRICTS W.,
the Eastern States, the Middle states, South Atlantic
States, the Gulf states. and foreign countries,
thus determining the relative value or the nome
! markets and foreign markets. While the Committee
have prepared for themselves chart embracing
the general scope Of their inquiries, the plan Will be
be required by tie results Of their investigation and
practical observation after visiting the various parts oi
the country. The Chairman OF the committee - pre-
| parIng blanks, schedules OF Inquiries &C. when Will
soon he 20 the proper sources NJ INFORMATION IN
various parts country In pursuance OF resOlu
ton the Committee, lac viii, about the 2Jth "a May
visit several the principal ports OF the Atlantic coast
and the lakes. After returning. Mr. window Will make
appointments for meetings VI the Committee al points
70 be determined upon.
uprt,c