, 1874-01-20
THE St. LAWRENCE CANALS AND THE
ERIE CANAL.

ERIE CANAL.
As long ago as 1854 tho insufflcency OF the
Erie Canal as the route for tho transportation
Of Western products to market was confessed
1n that twenty years the State Of Now York has
rejected all appeals from within and without to
enlarge that canal; an appeal to reduce the tolls
was resisted for many years, and only granted at
last after a protracted struggle. Tie trouble in
Now York has been TINT tho State, some years
ago, under the lead of number Of local doma-
gogues, constructed some dozen or more lateral
canals, and mado tho cost of their construction
d lien on tho revenues Of tho Eric s; Oswego
Canal. Tho surplus eayningB OF the Eric Canal
now amount to over $40 000 700; thut is the State
has received that much moro revenue from that
canal than 1t Inns expended on it. Since
tho construction of these lateral canals,
NIL its surplus revenues havo been con-
eumod in making good tho deficiencies in
their receipts, and the money TINT would havo
Canal hns been used by tho State for other pur-
posea. During 1878. the State expended on all
tho canalH, except tho Eric, for repairs and
! management, 81, 1G9,4H more than WIS received
from them. The receipts from tho Erie Canal
over the outlay, was 1905, ,449, neatly million
| Of dollars, which sum WIS wholly absorbed in
paying tho deficiencies in the receipts Of tho
| other canals. Eyon then tho Stato Lost
| $17e,o24.
| At last the authorities Of New York aeom to
IN ofnp
! the trade Of the West through that 6sato. Tho
accumulated products Of tho Wost ltave sought
other outlets, md Montreal, Philadelphia, Port
land, and Baltimore hayo cach built up q trade
at the expense Of Now York. Tie State Comp
troller notifies the Legislature Of tho peril
which threatens that trade. In 1878, Of tho
wholo amount Of glain reachlng New York, at
within q fraction of ouo-half WAS by all-rail.
| OF tho grim shipped from tho lake ports, tho
amount delivered to the canals in 1873 was
only 80 por cent.
Within three years tho Canadian cauals will bo
enlarged from capacity for Vessels Of GOO tons
to vessels OF 1900 tons. Tho whole series Of
Canadian canals are but Ri1ty-nine mllos long.
In 1873, there were delivered by that route at
Montreal 18,000.000 bushels Of grain. moHtly
from ports on the Western lakes. When those
canals arc enlarged, New York will be in no oon-
l,tion to compete with them. The enlargement
of the Canadian canals will not only lncroaeo
tlcir capacity for trada but will admit Of great
reduction In freight. Theu tho freight from
Chicago to Montreal viii be s9.bo pcr ton. OF
about 10 cents bushol. The ayorage rate for
the last eoyon years Of freight from Chicago tc
Now York, via tho lakes, Now York canals, and
Hudson River, including State tolls aud carriers
profits, and exclusive Of Buffalo shipping aut
! transfer charges, Las boon about 81 per ton
, The average rate from Buffalo to New Yorl
l by tho canal and river Inns boon In th'
: same time s4.ge for wheat and 4A.o
t for corn per ton. It ia not possible
Q probable TINT lake freighss from Chicago II
0 Buffalo can ever be much leas than 41.50 Pc
ton. OF ~ centa per bushsl. This rate, Rada'
/ | II ths Aralazs fatsa On tho Ezis Canal, MI