The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-31
:, WILIlIAM T. IAMEhO
NEW YORK, March go 1878 THOMAS SCOTT.

The mercantile community seem to DO fully
aroused as to the Importance OF giving their moral
support to the Governor in his crusade against
the Canal Ring, and tomorrow they will meet in
mass convention for this purpose, at the Produce
Exchange, at two O'Clock P. NJ. The Board OF
Managers and the members Of the Exchange
some days ago conceived the idea OF this
meeting. and intended to con1ne 1t strictly to
members OF that organization, expecting that
similar organizations in other branches of trade
more or less interested in cheap transportation
would take important action. Since then. how
ever, the Board have been urged TO make the
meeting more general, so as to allow all
classes Of business men to unite in the Demon
stratlon. They nave consequently, extended
invitations to all organizations, such the
Chamber OF Commerce, the GrOcers and Importers s.
Board of Trade the Cotton Exchange, the Butter
and Cheese Exchange. the Cheap transportation
Association, the Maritime Exchange the Wine
ana Spirits Association. ana indeed all merchants,
to participate. The meeting Will be held IN the
large room on the second door. which Will accom-
modate 1000 persons. NUMBER OF prominent
speakers, 1t is understood will address the meet
ing. which was originally set tor yesterday but
changed by the Committee OF Arrangements TO
Thursday. The Exchange has appointed Messrs
Alexander E. Orr. Carlos Cobb and William II.
Philips committee to draft resolutions for the
consideration OF the meeting.
DE-. r. F. STEVENS LECTURE ON THE HISTORY
OF CANAL FRAUDS.
A meeting Of the Municipal Reform Association
evening at No. 43 South Washington square, for
the purpose OF listening to an address by DR.. r.
+. Stevens, upon the subject OF "Canal Frauds,
Their History and Results" DR.. Stevens, from
having lived long time at Syracuse and in the
central portion OF the State claimed especial IA
mllIarity with the topic.
Or. stevens traced the history OF the cana Is and
their subsequent enlargement growing out OF the
demand for increased facilities. In the DAYS when
the original canal was built laborlnR men were
accustomed to vie with each other as to the
amount OF work they could do each day,
but in later years they evidently do
as little as possible. Out OF this
grew the system OF letting out the work OF en-
largement in jobs and by contract to the lowest
bidders. Under the contract system men became
skilled in the required kind Of LABOR ana con-
tractors became experts, not only in The manage.
ment OF large bodies OF laborers, but also in the
means OF obtaining desirable contracts: canal
contracting became a business. and its leaders
were often men OF vast business capacity. BY
degrees some OF these men began TO monopolze
the business and to be called the "Canal RinQ.o
They became The most skul and shrewd p0tt-
cal managers in TINS State.
HOW THE RING MANAGED POLITICS
For many years nartnership had existed be-
Denison-the former republican and the latter
demOcrat-and these men with their associates
manipulated nominations in both parties always
number OF delegates to State conventions to
secure the nomination OF Canal Commissioners and
Others in their interest. Beyond this they had
usually secured sufficient number OF MEMBERS
oil the Assembly to organize that body by the
election OF Speaker, as in the present instance,
VINO would in turn appoint Tor them the CHAIRMAN
OF the Committee on Canals The chairman of
the present canal Committee IN the House Is the
brOther-ln-law OF the republican head OF the Canal
Ring. Their doings do not consist only or wrong
measurements OF eartn or rock removed in straw
bids in sighting the construction Of embanK-
ments or In false accounts, bat also OF the use
OF reprenensible means To procure legislation and
oh ain contracts upon their own terms.
No one accus omed to attend the state conven.
tons could have failed to note the presence of
certain prominent members OF the Canal Ring,
and rarely mad the irien0s OF candidates been
successful in procuring nominations except by
pledaing subservency TO the demands of the
Ring. During the present session the most prom
inent members OF the Ring nave remained at
Albany to watch the course VI legislation.
INSTANCES OF FRAUD.
The present Lieutenant Governor narrated to
MIN IN wnlcn the state was sued for
large amount for bottoming out one of the side
cut canals near Buffalo. They employed an en-.
gineer to determine the dimensions OF the en-
banEment that would ne formed by the earth or
sediment alleged to .have been removed and
founu that the amount would nave been SUFFICIENT
II snovelled back TO more than fill the whole
prism OF the canal. Upon visiting the locality
no evidence was found OF the removal of any con-
siderable quantity OF earth.
At the time OF the first enlargement OF the
canal there we're lett upon each side what were
gwen the contractor ample opportunities OF max.
Ing money. The process was perfectly simple. and
consisted urSJ III having COulTOl OF tue local eu-
gineers and second IN informing those officers
now much money 1t was desired to make by the
Job and his certificate of measurement was made
to state that the requisite hummer OF yards OF
earth had been removed to draw the desired
amount OF pay. In a large number OF cases it VIII
be found that the amount oil earth stated TO have
been removed would be sufficient to fill the canal
TO level OF the top OF the bench walls. The pay
ment OF such large sums as had been referred to
In the Governors recent message without any just
returns had greatly retarded the completion oil the
enlargement, for IL was perfectly true
that money enough had been paid to enlarge
the canal TO seventy leet in width and seven
feet in depth. Another effect OF these frauds had
been the necessity OF high tolls, which diverted
trade 10 other channels. They encouraged the
Canadians to enlarge the Welland Canal and
improve the St. Lawrence.
GOVERNOR TILDEN PRAISED
The nomination and election OF Governor Tilden
meant the freeing OF the canals from THESE corm0-
rants. AT the state Convention the Canal Ring
gathered IN luli force 10 defeat his nomination.
Now that the exposure has been made the people
viii be satisfied with nothing less than fastening
the guilt where the criminality belongs. with low
tolls and steam power on the canals New York
would continue to be the commercial metropolis
OF the country
Mr.. Aoranam L. Earle, Deputy Comptroller,
made an elaborate speech. tending to snow that
vicious laws were at the bottom OF the stupendous
frauds In city ana state He then offered res0u-
tiOns indOrslng and praisng Governor Tilden's
action. which were adopted. The meeting then
adjourned.