The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-11
OPENING OF THE CANALS.

EFFECT UPON rRADE-THE REDUCTION OF
TOLLS AND THE REsULT-coMPETIrIoN AND
IT'S LESSON
The State Canal Board has virtually decided
upon opening the canals TO public trafic on May
!. This Will De welcome news to our merchants
who usually await this event with much anxiety
and interest as Kidding them for the time being
from the onerous burden or railroad ireights
THIS year, however, from what the writer could
gather, there is not the usual interest evinced in
an event which IN years gone by decided millions.
This may be attributed 10 several causes. In the
nrst place there never year in waich the
canals were so free OF boats THIS The win
ter came tate that the closing OF the
canals was decided upon at date when they
really were yet able to keep open TO tide water,
and in this way all the boats got through except
possibly dozen so which took the risk and
were delayed from various reasons. There mas not
1.-THE OF the number OF the boats TINS year
which last year were frozen in and unable 10 pro-
TO their destination. Thus one great cause or
annoyance and risk removed, and merchants
have no anxiety on the score OF cargoes which
may have been damaged during the long winter
by being frozen up; added 30 this, the cheaDening
oil ireights which has been inaugurated during the
past winter has enabled New YORK merchants TO
receive grain during the whole season, without
any regard to the canal being closed or not. This
transportation OF grain by rail- is a novelty and
formerly millions OF bushels would await at Buff
ialo and other lake ports the coming on OF mild
weather before being forwarded by canal This
was taken advantage ofby
sPEcULAToRs on THE PRODUCE EXCHANGE
who In various ways made their profit thereby.
This is now all changed and tne price or grain
can no more be governed by the canal. Indeed
tins very thing mas seriously injured the canal
tsWE.xs
never existed before. Even in the last summer,
while the canal was open, large quantities OF grain
were brought on by rail-, and merchants found
their advantage III paying higher freight so long
as they received their goods more quickly tnan Dy
the somewhat tedious process OF the canals. The
railroads on the other hand are said 10 nave at
last found out the wisoom OF taxing such freight
AT cheap rates. They saw that the limit IN prices
OF grain would only allow a certain price Tor It's
reignt aud putting tins IN conjunction with the
TACT that roillng stock lying lille rosted as
quickly as rollng stock in use wore away,
they frs entered into a competition win
the canals. The influence OF sgch policy
on the latter eau hardly DC oVerestlinated. rms
true that last season was the first THAT boat
owners ever sunk money. III losing money is 10
be IN the luSnre the order Of the DAY lcr men, it
from the business 10 which case thousands OF peo-
pie would De put out OF work. When railroads.
nave a competitor no more ana the boats nave
rotted then the irelghts could again be
ADVANCED WITH SAFETY,
and merchants would be LETT GeIenceless. To some
extent Governor rIiden used TINS argument IN MS
last Message, but lt Was elaborated upon = great
in hrs argument on the part OF the Boat owners
Association. before the Canal Board, and
tns is IN reaiIty the reason wncn un-
deriies the waoie question OF the re-
aucuon .n Of the tots on the canals;
10 reduce them One-third, which would make the
Ireights fraction over one cent bushel for grain.
This, IL is conceded, IS the only way TO preserve
the commerce 10 the canals and make i worth
the-wnne OF merchants 60 use the canals instead
Of the railroads. Otnerwlse there Will be repe-
uton OF the scenes Of last summer-hundreds OF
boats lying up Tor want OF business and charters,
and consequently enforced idleness on tue part OF
tue many VINO are employed III running mem.
The season Tor these Is snort, only stretching
niue over nan the year. anu they must .aks inli
time 10 earn lNelhooo A. is easy 70 see thei. the
troubles winch wouu arise from tnls source unless
the proposed reduction IS put in force Immediately
upon tue water highways OF the State being opened
10 public traIlic Tor the season.
ii Is stated by those VINO nave recently VISITED
the canais that m8ny repairs are needed oelpge
tney can be used. Otherwise tRey might Zoe
opened almost immediately. The water wncn
Was drawn OIL IN the iali onis left small re slduum
at the bottom, when was speedily turned INTO ice,
but this has already III great part melted, ana
water might safety be let IN without any further
Danger OF freezing over tins season. IL - not Ihs
when delays me openlng, but the repairs when
are necessary TO he proper condition 81 me banks
Tnc frost TOOK SUCH hold OF the ground during
the past utntcr and went IN 50 deep tlat y Is noe
ali YET out, ana unt II there would DC posi-
DIllry OF gong on wish the repaIts. THESE are
more pr less expensive according TO the wear and
tear o. tue previous season. Tae banks still
wot, ana must DC entirely dry before
THE HAgD WORK BEGINS
so that there is no PROBABILITY oil ANYTHING being
done until May / IA tle way OF pubic TRADE.
IL woulu he exaggeraiion, therefore, 70 say that
any anxiety exists At the Produce Exchange on
the subject oil the opening OF the canals. Great IN
terest Is ieit, however, Ia the reduction OF the
tolls, which Will oe material and declued benefit
10 tnat body. There Is said 10 De quantity or
wheat aud grain o. various descriptions awaiting
the opening ut Buffalo aud other ports in the West
which mas ueen detained from the railroads; con-
seqnently, upon the proposed reduction TINS viii
come through Just as the opening lakes
place. But prices mere are not likely 10 be Affected
IN the least thereby, anu no speculation
carried on IN consequence.
fne revived interest Ia tie canals, brought on
oy the Message or Governor Tlldel, is consnered
specially fortunate at THIS ume Wuen had
some popular discussion SET up on the question,
the same state OF aHsirs might nave existed merely
through general aDatny fhe reduction OF the
Hollis Is considered by many absolutely necessary
10 the continued prosperity or the canas,
bat tue SUBJECT would, perhaps. not have
been preached nan a. not been Tor this little
squao0ie Boat owners are. OF course. proper
tionalely JuDllant az promised revival OF their
traue ana merchants are glad at a saving or
money IN their freight rates. In less than month
we snail nave alt test OF what this reduction in