New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-12-21
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
GOV. TILDEN's CANAL POLICY.

GOV. TILDEN'S CANAL POLlCr.
MS VIEWS EXPRESSED TO A COMMITTEE or COM.
MERCIAL MEN-HR SEES OBJECTIONS TO THE SALE
or THE CANALS. AND OBJECTS TO TIE REDUCTION
OF TOLLS.
The Committee OF the New-York Conference On
Commercial Facilities which organized recently as
the Chamber Of Commerce. met on Saturday morn
ing for the purpose of cOnferng together, and ult
mately Of waiting on G0vernor-elect Tilden. Tho
Committee was appointed at the last session OF the
Conference with a view to recommending the Gov
ernOr elect to incorporate in his message recon-
mendation TO tho Legislature to sell the lateral
canals Early on Saturday tho principal members OF
the Committee, consisting Of Messrs y. IL. Rugges,
George Opdyke, I. Il. Thurber. John L. Henry. and
OF ers, met and proceeded to tho residence OF Gov.
Tilden. where they were cordially received by that
gentleman. In few and informal remarks Mr.
Rugges stated the object of their visit to DO the
suggestion Of the sale Of the lateral canals. Tho
Governor listened attentively to tho remarks as
made by the several members Of the Committee, az
the close of which no said that there serious
objections to the suggested disposition Of tho
canals Ho was not prepared to 60 to that
extremity. but thought that tho question
was of such importance that il should
be thoroughly considered. He rather inclined %
favor the appointments Of a commission OF four com
potent citizens selected evenly from both polltcA
parties. who should investigate the matter ana ae-
termine the best course to pursue The saie OF IN"
Canals might involve serious questions as 70 "ia
rights Of landed proprietors along their banRs' anu
il they must be given over by the State TIE pest
method of disposing of them would No Dy qnio'
Abandonment He thought, however I.a' 'I'
question OF the commercial facilities OF New
York was being rapidly solved. Steam on
tho canals would rsyoutionize the course
Of trade. and the threatened diversion Of
traffic would not practically amount to
ANYTHING serious. He would give tho subject ths
consideration which it's great Importance demanded,
and nothing which he could properly do wonIl %
left undone to advance tho prosperity Oh the City
and State IL New-York. The Conference then took
the form Of an informal convsrsa;io1 during which
remarks Cd the question OF canals, railroad uanspor-
tation and terminal commercial facilities were n.s
by Mr. Opdyke, Mr.. Thurber. aud Mr. Henry
Mr. Rugglss recommended shat, If the State con-
tinucd its operation of the canals, the canals
should be enlarged, the tolls reduced. and instead OF
the present Board of Commissioners. that the con-
troll should DO placed in charge Of one competent
man, who should have power to appoint four depu-
ties, one for each canal This controller should b
held personally responsible. This would do away
with the fraud and corruption which have for years
dstin Uuisbed the Canal Board. and made the
elective offices the source Of parsanship and dis
honesty.
Gov Tilden said firmly that he was not in favor OF
the reduction in tolls; that he thought that they
were low enough. He did not think very favorably
of widening but thought that the channel might DO
deepened to advantage. file believed that the tolls
would be comparatively hight when the present
speed was moro than doubled
The conversation then changed 20 other subjects
regarding NETWORKS prosperity, its magnitude as
an export point. SC. The Governor asked after the
organizations which the COMMITTEES represented.
and gratIfed TO learn that IL embraced az tns
recoonized commercial bodies in the city The Com
mittee then retired. with the assurances from tho
Governor reject that he would give the matter his
earnest attention.