New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-02-08
LBAN Y.
MAINTAINING NEW YORK'S COMMERCIAL
SUPREMACY.


MR.. WFFD's SHIP CANAL BLL--AN IMPORTANT
LINK IN NAVIGATION TO RE SUPPLIED.
PROM A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THB TRIBuNEl
Albany. Feb. THE bill introduced early
in the session by smith Weed for the Improvement OF
the navigation of the Hudson from Troy TO Fort Ed
wards and the building OF ship canal thence TO Wte-
hail. 10 be reported avoraby by the Canal Committee
Whatever may the fate Of this seheme-and the pros
poets OF its success at the present session are not
consdered very encouraging Is no question that
H. ia the most important bill that has been submitted TO
this Legislature. 10 project OF internal I'M
prOyement Of the utmost importance 10 the great west
10 the state Of NewYork and particularly TO the pros
nefV Of New York City and its supremacy as the great
commercial port Of the country. IL s wen known that
the CANADIAN Government has already let the
contract for the enlargement of the Welland
ConoI On az IN admit the passage OF YES
sels OF $50 OF 1000 tuns IT j. also settled tnaS the
Caughnawaga Canal is TO he enlarged so ~ admit
crafts Of the same tunDage from the ST. Lawrence River
to Lake Champlain Mr.. Weeds bill proposes TO com
plete the link OF water communication so that steam
propeers from any Of the ports Of the great West may
reach Troy Albany and New York without breaking
bulk order do this It provides for the improve
ment Of the navigation OF the Hudson River from Troy
10 Port Edward miles and the enlargement OF the
Cbamplap Canal TO width Of 40 feet at the bottom
and 100 feet at the top with depth OF 10 feet from
Fort Edward TO Whitehall distance OF "a
miles. Seven miles of the "a, however, are
included in Wood creek. which will only need slight
dredging thus leaving only II miles OF ship canal proper
10 be constructed Careful estimates OF the best engineers
fix the cost the enterprise not exceeding 100000
Mr. Weed says he will be able to show, when the bill
comes up for discussion that the business that must
inevitably be attracted through this canal will be amply
sufficient with the lowest rates OF toll to pay the entire
cost Of the improvement in ten years. together with the
cost OF keeping II in repair. There would be gain In
time Of az least five days, and saving in the cost OF
transportation Of between so and rs per cent In the
passage Of cargoes from the Western lake
ports to New-YOrk what now exists. There
will also be attracted through this channel
the business Of the Newfoundland and Labrador
fisheries, which VIII find a saving Of 800 miles in
distance with safe inland navigation all the way
The project VIII doubtless encounter the opposition OF
all whose interests identified with the Erie Canal OF
which il would seem, at first sight, 10 be formidable
not fatal rival but the the subject is considered
the less will be the opposition from this source As
Gov Dix says in his favorable mention OF the project IN
his annual message 1--WE need not fear that any new
facilities that may be offered for transportation to and
from the West will dispense with or seriously impair
any existing line OF communication" Mr.. Weeds bill
approprates s2OO0O the present year. aud $4,000 next
year and requires the Canal Board 20 make the surveys
and locate the Improvement without delay.