, 1875-05-04

THE CANAL BusINEsB FOR 1875.
Tho cltnrges ut 1}usralo for handling grain
llave been for several years cent paid by tho
grain, md ouo-fourth Of cent paid by tic
vessel, rer bushol. This Is tho chnrgo for
transfer through elevator. Wo understand
TINT oifera hRvo been received from Buffalo
and Oswego to contract for reduction Of
thfs rato to three-fourths Of cent ppr
bushel. Wo suppose this otlor Is made as
on inducement to forward grim by the cann1
The Buffalo Commercial, speaking Of tho
canal trade, says:
By reference to tho t&bs Of average canal freabtt II
Will be Observed TINT tho lowest average was 10 conts
That OF last season Tho railroads are nor carving
grain from Buffalo to New FORK for cents bushcl,
This lower than te kctual coal by canal a tho prss-
ens rata of ao. There Ia no prospect that much
higher nguro will be obtained when navigation opons
4na II such proves to be ths boaimcn Will not ii
Gut ~ au They will not commence operations with
positive loss staring them Ia the face. Unless re.
es comes In the ahnps Of lower tolls very lto grain
VIII bo shipped by canal this soason. VIII lhose who
object 10 reduction Of tolls On tho ground that Il
would roducc Tho rsvenues please toll III where tho
revenues would CONS from in caso there should bo no
ahlpments ~hateTer by cana17
This indicates TINT tho elevat;ng companies
OF Buffalo begin to viow with alarm tho de-
cline In canal transportation, and ofIor the
utmost concession on ti1oir part to keep the
tratlo alivo. Tho fact that the railroads aro
nowmoving grain from Buffalo to New York at
conts per bushol less than the lowest
froights Of the low ratos Of 1874, and arc
doing this before tho canal opons, does not
argue vol for profitable season On the
cannt.
But t1loro is another point where, 50 far.
there have boen no concessions made 10 sAye
tho grain TRADE to tho canal and to Now York.
The charges in the harbor Of New York
for tho transfer Of grain arc never less
than two and quarter cents por buslo1,
and frequently much creator. The handling
of grain in New, York harbor, as we'll TINT in
cana!-boats and that in cars, is disgrace to
the city. 1t has been so e1tortionate that
much of the diversion of tratlo from Now
York City may bo traced to that outrage
Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, and sIon.
trea4 mnke no Bllch confscations of grain
shipped to thom. So high aro tho expenses in
New York harbor Tor weighing, tugging,
domurrage, lighterago, and transfer, that
graiu Gun 10 moved to cithor Baltim ore or
Pliladolphia by oil rail, md put on the foreign
vessel for decidedly less money tlnn it can be
sent by nll water to New York City, and
transferred in that harbor; Willie to Mon
treal, by all water, there ia avon q greater
margin against New York. But nobody in
New York City proposes any departure from
tho old system practicod in tho DAYS of
CLINTON.
The Bostonians aro preparing to enter the
field against Baltimore, phi1alelphia, and
Montreal for tho trade which Is leaving New
York. They understand in Boston that
commerce no longer holds an exclusive mar
ket in New York. Chicago and tho West
generally import thoir own goods, and deal
directly with the New England manufactur-
ers. Tho trade Of the Wost now goes round |
New York. Tho West has Baltimore Philatlol-
phia, Montreal and Boston to which to
sond lts surplus products. Whon Boston owns
andcontrolsa railway yroute tirectfrom Chicago
TO Boston, she will become tile great distrib-
uting point for all New England Of tlie bread.
stuaa and provisions Of tic Woat, and will
bocomo tho market wherein tho West can
deal directly with the manufacturers, All
this portends tho decline of tho Western
trado through and with Now York City.
Tho policy of tho State OF New York, md
especially OF Now York City, has boon most
suicidal. It has used the Erie Canal as q
neans of revenue TO tho State, and as the
aourco Of corruption fund which for thirty
years Inns been divided among its politi-
cans OF both parties. It has souandored