New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-06
Each year. IA, 823
HB PAYING CANALS.

THE PAYING CANALS.
Il will be seen that during the last three years the
income of tho Erie Canal oOncidered alone, has been
SS143536 81 and its expenses $5,079063 80; yielding
q surplus of $3,064472 81, or an average for each
year of $t,G21, 400 81. The excess of expenditure
income of the three other canals which are to
be retained by the State has been 81 $4,000 a. or
three ffths of the surplus produced by the Erie
Considering the four as system collectively the
surplus has been S1.244,470 n, or an average for
each year of $4l4,S23 SO.
THE NON-PAYING CANALS.
During the same three years the five other canals
to which the Constitutional amendment applies
have given an income of S119,S64 As, or for each
year of SS9,954 81. against an expenditure of
1896 400 H. or for each year Of 1882 l66 So They
have consumed all the net income of the paying
canals and have charged the State with a loss OF
$2S2l64 So or for each year S772SS IT, In addition
to this annual loss, the whole burden OF the sinking
fund to pay the canal debt is thrown upon the
State.
INCREASE INCOME BEFORE DIsCARDING INCOME.
A careful investigation whether the net incomes
of the canals retained cannot be increased ought to
precede surrender of what little now exists Ordi-
nary repairs should be scrutinized with view to
retrenching their cost and to obtain the largest pos
sible results from the outlay. Extraordinary re-
pairs include much which so regularly recuIs in
different forms, that they must be considered
part of the maintenance Of the works. No doubt
they also include improvements which are of the
nature of new capital These and all improvements
should be governed by plan and purpose leading to
definite results; and instead of scattering expend-
lures on imperfect constructions should aim to COM
plete and make available the speclhe parts under
taken. Unity of administration and OF system both
in respect to repairs and improvements, should be
established. If only by the voluntary consulta-
ton and cooperation Of officers having authority
over separate portions Of single work. 1t is worthy
of consideration whether any legislation can aid III
securing the unity in this respect which existed
under our former Constitution.
NETWORK THE TRUSTEE FOR THE INTERESTS OF ALL.
The State hearing all parties interested in the
of the canals will remember that itself, as an arbi
ter and trustee must look equtaby to the interests
of all This it will do in o wise, liberal and just
spirit To the last degree possible it will cheaper
facilities to trade. 1t will aim TO preserve for Its
metropolis its position the carrier merchant and
banker of the New World
CHIEF FUNCTION OF THE CANAL sYsTEM-NEw-
YORK CITY,
Inevitable changes must be recognized as the re-
suits of modern inventions and improvements in the
machinery of transportation. When water routes
alone existed products came to New York for distr
button to points which are now more easily and
cheaply reached directly by rail. Railroads cover
ing the country like a network, touch so
many points that they are more perfect and com
plete agency for the reception and distribu-
ton of produce than a water communication con-
Meeting few principal points ana where tho tran
sit from the producer to the consumer red1nes the
use of the rail to reach the water, or after
leaving the water. or both, the all-rail route
will often be preferred. New routes will ao-
quire the business which is naturally tributary to
them and take besides some portion of the general
business, The main transportation of Western
agricultural products is for local consumption IN the
East What comes to us for our own consumption
cannot be diverted What goes for consumption
elsewhere cannot be acquired. The exports of agri
cultural products to foreign countries are but
small part of the whole production. In those New
York will easily continue TO maintain her pre-
eminence.
The Champlain and Oswego Canals are. as well as
the Erie in some sense trunk canals; and the Cay
uga and Seneca Canal connects our interior lakes.
1t is noteworthy fact that MIR. Flagg who so long
and honOrably conducted the State finances when
the Canal Department was a bureau in his office,
always insisted that with the four canals now TO De
retained the system was complete Those it is now
proposed to abandon are not fruits Of his policy.
DISPOSITION OF THE NON-PAYING CANALS.
The adoption Of the Constitutional amendment
removing the prohibition against selling, leasing
or otherwise dsposing Of" the canals owned by the
State in respect to all except the Erie the Oswego
the Champlain, and the Cayauga and Sen
eca Canals. undoubtedly cOntemplates such
action on your part as will disincum-
Der the revenues of the canals retained by the State
and disembar the Treasury of the State from the
ton is withdrawn. 1t cannot have been supposed
possible TO sell OF lease those works on conditions
which yeQuiIe the parcha4ar 10 Wstutatn aud oDer'