The New York herald., 1875-03-24

els. from which IL win pe seen that If - 600 900 OF
quantity yearly carried the canal, it would
require an accession OF at least lOOO boats
the number now IN use. On the other hama. II tht
Introduction OF steam. with increased speed o.
movement. should double the pCmDer OF voyage.
IN the year, 500 steam vessels might adequate
to the work, and until a iurther increase OF the
quantity 10 be carried. Practically, several years
must be devoted TO the building OF steam yesses
before they can inJuriously Interfere with tns
horse boats now In use.
!; is noped that the preceding statement anc
explanation OF toe facts may ala the members %
the CnaInuer OF Commerce OF the state OF Aew
York and OF It's associated commercial nodts IA
examining the question now far IL - necessary OF
expedlent at present To abolish or largely reduce
the tolls on the canals.
it is evident that the question is not one merely
OF finance. but That the highest consideration
both OF finance ana OF commerce are involved II
the establishment OF such rates oi toll as may pte.
serve the commerce ITSELF That complex measure
Is Itself vitay involved IN the inquiry now tar ana
now soon the efflcency OF the canals can be so lar
increased ~ securing TO them the depth OF seven
ieet OF water prescribed ny law, and the original
and fundamental plan OF the enlargement, as ~
Justify the state IN retaining portion oI the toHS.
at least enough to secure I, e deepening
which has now become so plainly necessary.
CANAL LEGISLATION.
With this view the committee wili proceed 10
furnish the statement specially directed oS {
Chamber, OF "tne legislation aud the Official acton
OF the canal authorities during the last siXeel
years, in respect to The depth oi water III the Erie
From the year 1si0 and up to the adoption
the constitution OF 1885, tue sole management
olrection and construction OF the canals haa bee,
lntrusted to a Board consisting, hrs OF nve, ana
aIterward or six Canal Commissioners. appointed
by concurren. resolution or Jolnt ballot OF tae
Senate aud Assembly. The lramerS OF tle cor-
stitution or ls46, III seeking TO reform our
canal policy and finances. provided tnai
three Canal commissioners should be CHOSEN by
the people OF the State at the general election,
and should hold their offices respectively Tor threi
years. Fortunately, however tne provision wai
added that their ''powers ana duties should bs
such" as then were or thereafter should De pre-.
scibed by law. The latter clause may, II il has
not already. become very important III enabling
the Legislature without the oiincu!ty ana delay
Of All amendmenC to the constitution requiring -
popular vote, which might be defeated by the
devices oil interested ana schemlng canal contrac-
tOrs) TO prescribe any definition or limitation VI
those powers or duties which, IN the unfinished.
incoherent and fragmentary condlslon oil tna
canais az present, having no common eAeeutva
rivals, may be deemed necessary 20 secure the
systematic, efficient and Judiclous management
SO plainly needed for preserving tue commerce or
the state rom iurtner diversion.
In July, 1855. tne death OF one OF the Canal Com.
mlssioners having lett Temporary vacancy IN tae
otnce, the writer OIL the present paper, who mad
nlled the office OF Canal COMMISSIONER rom 1883
10 1912, was appointed to I'LL the place until Tue
lst OF January thereafter by John a. King, tne
Governor OF the state. This interval OF nearly
SIX months afforded some opportunlt, Tor ascer-
tanning the general condition OF the canals. IL
was soon discovered mat the Erie Canal the en-
iargement OF which mad been Supposed to be
nearly completed. mad not unliorn depth even
OF SIX leet oI water, TO winch IL mad been limited
great dissatisfaction. delay and loss TO tae numer-
Gus persons engaged or interested IN Its naviga-
tiOn
In the month OF August OF the year 1888 an
earnest ana well considered effort was maze by
some Of the enterprisng citizens OF BunaIo TO III.
trOduce steam navigation on the Ere Cata
during whicn Il considerable collection OF beats,
some of them propelled by steam. took part in an
elaborate .Steam Canal Celebratlon," attended
by Governor King and other State officials. IL
commenced at Rochester and terminated at Bui-
iaio. where the event was formally signllized 10y =
general Illumination OF The clty. Alter several
voyages by some OF the canal steamers, struggling
with the difficulties OF new undertakIns Tue
enterprise was brought to an end parity b, me
expense OF the fuel required Tor the propell ns
power and the want oil adequate room IN the BOAT
lot q 'paylng" cargo, bus more especially by tho
frequent and veSatIous distractions in the chan
mel ana the lrregulartles ana pro. o.uoerances oi
the uneven bottom oi the canal, winch eitner
had been lett uneXcavated, or had been asloweu
to be died up oy earth washed Ia from the sides.
The report here repeats portions OF the report
OF the Canal commissioners at the close OF isoo,
concluding with the following suggestions:-
FfySt-IhaC tax BE- laid OF mil Ou the dollar
ana applied To the completion, FIRST, CI the en-.
largement OF the Erie aud Oswego canals, and
next, to the otner unhnlshed works IN just pro-
portions.
.Second-That s4oo,o 900 of that amount oe applied
without delay to the obtaining q chanuei oi
seven Icet water or the Erie Canal by the opealna
Oi navigation IN the coming spring. or as soon ~
Tnird-Tnat interest ue paid on any claims Que
Tor work done or lands or buildings taken Tor tGa
use OF tue canals
sufficient. by increasing the capacity OF the cauai
or otherwise to pay the intere,t on the exstin9
debt, the deficiency be annually ascertatned oy
the Canal Board anu levied by tax without IIrtheI
legislation.
be submitted to the people, allowing the Leeisia-
tuie " borrow the amount necessary 10 discharge
Oil existing claims on the canais aud 70 pay ior
their completion, with such a sinking aA
snail suiice to pay the interest and eXtinguisn iha
principal within term not exceeding twenty i've
or thirty years
1t Is a gratifying portion of our canal history
that the appeal tnus made IN 1859 TO secure addi-
lIonal funds ior completing the enlargement oi
the canals. and above all lor securing wtnouL De.
lay their lull legal deptn OF water, was received
passed an act on the Gtn OF April, 1859. laying
direct tax oil hve-elghths OF a mill on the dollar.
and from the proceeds apprOprlatlng SUl71U3 iof
the enlargement OF the Erie, the Oswe2o the
Cay uga and Seneca canais. This sum. having
been lound insufficient, a Iurther act was passed
on the 9th oil April, 1850. imposing u lurther tax
OF half mil on the dollar Ior two years, and ap.
propriatina $l,1ls III ior the tEree enargements,
ample supply OF water on tne KSme iever' Wnere
at all times seven feet deep"
In the Legislature or 1859 great desire was
manifested TO ascertain without delay the extent
OF the OostructlOnS IN the canals and to oDtalu
some definite information for estimating at least
approximately the probable cost oil securing the
seven leel depth OF water, and especially for as
certaining, by some unerring test whether any
considerable porlons OF the quantities required t0
be excavated or completing the enlargement to
the prescribed depth and paid for as having been
completed, mad Oeen raduenuy or carelessiy left
uneXcavateu IN the bottom OF the canals. 1t led
to the passage OF act the 10th OF April, 1859,
on the recommendation Of many OF the canal navi-
at aaa os 'e tS
and then y member OF the Senate, In which act .
saeaclous anc stringent section was inserted 10
respect to the powers aud duties OF the Canal
Commissioners, In the following wOrds:-
e s ae in n s sR s "a
contract repairs for time before the
sage the act, the close OF the 1913 Ito
kept in repairs in pursuance OF law shall be the duty OF
the Canal to cause boat TO be laden
least inches more water nan other boats
permitted to draw such boat so laden shal be
through whole length such canal often
thirty days, day an ght aud be weighed and meas
every weigh lock, ana the wei hit OF and
draft o water stated on the clearance report every
trip passage shall be made 10 the Auditor OF
Canal DepartLen without delay, accompaed by tuli
copy the clearance and the Endorsements thereon
statement of all the delays occasoned by ooslruc tons
IN the navigation or want OF wafer and the cause thereof
The Aulitor shall keep u record OF all such
monthly publish briet statcIne Mt OF the III
the State paper.
In Obculence to the requirements or thus act,
the Canal commissioners alter o delay OF NOR
than year, appointed inomas Golden Ruegles, u
civI engineer Oh experience ana ability, and OF
singular ACTIVITY and perseverance, TO personally
supervise ana direct three oil the monthly trial