, 1873-04-26
BuFFALO AND THE ERIE CANAL.

Thoro hayo boon several meetings Of NOR
chants in Buffalo on tho subject OF tho Eric
Canal, aud tho result has been tho passage OF
strong resolutions opposing tho contemplated
appropriations by tho New York Legislature OF
eight millions Of dollars to onlargo tho Cham
plain Cannl, with Wow to improved water COM
munication betweon New York City and tue st.
Lawrence River. The Buffalo meetings, whilo
opposing this expenditure, as strongly urged the
enlargement Of the Erie Oa1lal 80 as to give in
creased depth and admit tho passage OF larger
vessels. Quo Of tho best signs Of healthy
sentiment among the business mon OF Builalo
was tho almost unanimous rejection OF PROPOSE
tion to ask mid from tho National Government to
eu1arge the Eric Canal.
Tho proposition to enlarge tho Champlafn ca-
NIL WAS denounced as scheme to transfer the
commerce Of tho Wost to Canada !; but whilo
much may be conceded to local feeling, the On
largoment Of tho Cha1nplnin Canal 1R likely tobe
a necessity in order to retain to Now York City
hor trade in grain. There are twenty millions
OF producers in tho West who want road to
market. Ever since 1854, tho Eric Canal has
boon inadequate to carry tho Western products.
Tho State OF Now York has been asked to enlarge
hcr cannl go rs to admit moro and largcr-slzed
boats For this the pooplo Of tho Wost woro
willing to pay In tho WAY Of tolls, and tho sur-
nlus earnings OF the canal Binco 1854 would llavo
paid for stcnnlboat-canal from Buffalo to the
Hudson Raeer. Tho State Of New York has,
however pockotod this surplus revenue, apply
ing it to pay for 1ateral canals, the receipts from
which have not oqualled tho cost Of keeping
them III repair. During this twenty years, tho
! Wost has gono on increasing its products but
tho stato OF Now York has refused or neglected
to give them sufficient route acroRs hor torri-
tory, Now, the Canadians haro aet to work
| to give us uninterrupted steamboat nayiga-
ton from Lake Eric to Montreal and to
Lakc Champlain, and arc prosecuting that work
| with energy. When it is completed, corn, flour,
md wheat will DO worth aa much at Montreal "a
at Now York, aud tho cost Of getting them thorc
| will be much less than by rail or by the Erie
Canal. Thoro will 10 no such thing as scarcity
of water, nor interruption in tho transit. 1t ia
for tho Btato Of New York to determine whctho1
it will lot this trade so of by the St: Lawronce
River, or whether it will enlarge the Eric Canal
or whether it will socuro o portion OF it by con
nectinr tho Hudson River with Lake Cham
plain. It ought to enlarge the Eric Cana
oyon il to do so cost twonty millions O
dollars, and, aB tho Canadian improvements are
fixed fact, certain to be executed, it ought alH'
enlarge tho Ohamplain Canal. In no other wa:
can it hopc to keep tho trade of tho lahes.
Wo see by the Buffalo Commercial Adre'tise
that tho Eric Canal is rapidly losing it's loca
traffic, nearly it's whole businoAs being no'
through freights. If this through traf1io b
diverted to tho St. Lawrence, thon tho Err
Canal will DO as proAtloss as the Gonosoe Canal
whoso annual revenue ID $4,000, and cost Q
maintenance e225,000. Tile people Of tho Woe
want O route to market, and, If Now York ri
not give 1t to them, thoy will got 1t from til
Canadians.