New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-20
GOV. TILDEN'S MESSAGE TO THE
LEGISLATURE.

GLAZING EVILS OF TIE PRESENT sYSTEh-CoN-
TRACTS FOR REPAIRS NORMALLY GIVEN l" HE
LOWEST BIDDER, BUT IN REALITY CoSfRiFhD D"
.sro COST THE STATE TWICE OR FOUR TIMES Al
MUCH AS THEY oUGHr-sToP THE LEAKS k--
TRENCH EXPENsEs, AND, FINALLY, CO''i A.sIE
THE CANALS.
STATE OF NEw-YoRK. ExrCUTIyE CHAMHER
ALBANY, March 10, 1870.
To the Legislature:
Ihaye received petition from forwarders' boat
men. and Others engaged N transportation on the
canals Of this State representing that the depressed
sate of their business calls for legislation, and neces
states reduction OF tolls and requesting ne to look
into the condition of tho canal commerce, and to
ralSe such recommendations to the Legislature as
will lead to measures Of relief. Respectful consd-
Grafton is due 10 so large and important class OF
our business men. They proprletors OF about SIX
thousand boat which are said to give employment
directly to 3D. 900 persona and indirectly to UVOO
Others They are the peculiar relation OF partners
OF the State in vast internal commerce; owning
and managing the equipment while the Stato OWLS
and manages the body OF the canals. Inc STATE
therefore, not only has common interest IN the
preservation Of the joint business, but has distinct
and special interest IN the ability OF its partners to
continue to perform their functions, without which
the Oint business could not be transacted III can
not afford to suffer the equipment OF the canals TO
be broken up; to allow q dispersion of the frame
which, if once lost will not be easily regamed; OF
to omit any measures of retrenchment In eXp"ndl-
tnre or economy Of administration which VIII en-
able il and its partners to meet successfully the In
crosinp comOettion of the railways with each other
and with water transportation.
Impressed with the considerations which induce
81 ri Of L.
pal tners in the internal commerce it has seen lit to
undertake. am on the one hand, predisposed to
every practical and just measure for enfranchlsnp
trade and industry and cheapening the interchange
If commodities and on the other, to listen to the
riohtful complaints Of our people against the eX-
IRENE burden o. our present taxation and the prodi
OIL and wastcful expenditure in connection WITH
the canals which is OF the main causes OF such
Taxation | have, therefore, felt it my duty to de
vote the intervals of time could command to per-
sonal investigation OF the subject, in order to be
able to recommend to you such specific measures as
the exgency seems to require IN the direction lndi-
Gated in the following passage OF the message had
the honor to communicate at the beginning of your
session:
careful investigation whether the net incomes OF
the canals retained cinnOt BE- Increased ongh1 20 pr
cede n surrender Of what lttls exist. Ordinary
reprirs should 10 scrunizat with view 70 rerench
ing heir cost and 10 ootnng me aISe*t possible re-
should he overload by plan AMI purpose leading 10
d,nnlte results iute al Of scattering expo! fure.
on imperfect constructions, should aim TO comp te ana
make available the speeiic parts an lert!Sen: aity o.
administration and OF system, both IN respect epairs
and improvements, should Dc established
PROBABLE INCOME OF THE CANALS
Exhibit Ais a comparative monthly statement of
the tolls on all he canals for the years 1873 and 1874
II shows that during the months of October aud
November and few days of December, which fail
within the present fiscal year. in which period about
one-quarter of the tolls of the year were collected,
the decrease OF tolls is from $3.50 23 y to SOS &c.
or $751; 800 81. The decrease is about ouc-fourth OF
that portion of the tolls. corresponding decrease
for the months Of May, June July August, and Sep
tembcr 1915, "a compared with the same months OF
1874 would amount to 100000. That would leave
the tolls for the fiscal year of 1915 at S20S70J0 AS
sumlng them to realize $2.25oOO0 we are next 10
find the probable effect of the reduction in rates
which is now proposed
Exhibit is statement OF the ELECT OF the reduc'
ton in the rates proposed computed the tolls Of
the calendar year of 1874 IL similar computation
be made on 50 $4,000 instead Of S2,f3707O the re-
du,tion of receipts to be produced by the lowering
of the rates would be S53is33. Tho gross tolls
cruing from all canals for the fiscal year ending Sep
tember 3d. 1915, would be Sl,7l5,l6S. This diminu-
ton of tolls presents in strong light not only the
general depression Of commerce.. but particularly
that OF the special business of the bOatmen and
forwarders.
TAXATION FOR CANAL PURPOSES.
The public mind is apt to be confused by the
various methods in which tho complex accounts of
the State are kept. careful analysis and com
parison of those accounts for five years from Oct
1862 to Sept so, 1871 enables the following result,
to be stated in n simple form
Tho total amount OF the tolls on all the
canals during tue Ave fiscal years ending
sept So 1874 si5O5s36l rs
The aggregate or ordinary expenses and
ordinary repairs during the same period
9.2Oo43I %
The apparent surplus was........... $5,S55 92T 81
The aggregate OF Extraordinary repairs dur
ing the same i've years was.......... 10 960,62i 81
Deduct the apparent surplus........... 6s5572T 81
Real deficiency, being excess OF repairs,
ordinary and extraordinary, over tho
whole tolls tsIoss'7 81
Other pay ments were:
Cost VI gold. 703,t63 ~