The New York herald., 1875-03-24

temporary short comings or errors In judg.
msns aSns the early portion Of ns M
iact that II was not thought necessary
or or important % IN any census taken by the
before the year 1910 to report ascer-
tam the quantities OF the various cereals
portion OF our COntinentai Republic, and laying
the very foundation OF all It's wealth ana power
dormant agr, ,cul ural strength. that great alarm
was expressed by timld observers III 1886 and
1887, when considerable amounts OF breadstufs
were temporarily imported into the United states
rom several OF the European nations. 80 that the
.'wheat rom the Black sea" was paraaed IN par
tisan journals aud even III grave puoiic documents,
10 snow how little reliance could De placed on any
pl ospectiye estimate OF the productive power or
the grainhelds OF our own interior. Fortunately
these apprehensions did not affect the Official
ton OF all OF our public iunctiOnarles, some OF
whom, with instructive sagacity and by logical in
duction perceived, unaided Oy minute statistics,
the magnitude OF the iuture In store for New York
anu her canals. AS early as 1884 the Legislature
THE LOCKS ON THE ERIE CANAL
TO be couDled rom Albany 70 syracuse; but on
the Recommendation OF Governor Marcy, Zeaiously
seconded Dy tnat truly distinguished Canal COM
missioner, William C. Bouck. the law was repealed.
Albany 10 Buffalo, substituted by the act OF the
llth May, 1885. The dimensions OF the enlarge
ment were fixed by the Canal Board, first at sixty
Teet wlae and SIX leet deep, but were su0.e-
quenIy changed to seventy Ieet by seven. alter
BoucK to induce Inc Canal Board to fix tnem at
eighty 1eeJ by eight. He mad taken office during
SHORTY after the administration OIL Governor Gill;
ton, and mad then lmDoed, or naturally possessed.
much OF the large and comprehensive spirit which
had ever guided the public efforts OF Lhat clear
headed and Iarseeing public servant. 1t Is Justly
due 10 the memory OF Commissioner Bouck now
to state the act, that his removal In lS40 from
the ONCE OF President OF the Board OF Canal Com
mssloners he earnestly exhorted his successor
to stand hrIny by the enlargement as the greatest
work OF the age, and in no event tOgcOnseny to
any dlmlnutl0n OF Its dimensions.
With this brief preliminary outline, which, II nec-
eSsary, may be hereafter filled up by other hands,
TN nv
tables carefully prepared for the Chamber, with
condensed explanatory nOtes:-
FWSt-Ihe progress and cost from 1885 to 1875,
OF the trunk canals, 10 be permanently preserved
Tor the commerce o. the state and the country.
SecOnd-Tne COST OF the lateral canals, the
proper disposition OF which Is now committed TO
the Legislature.
Third-The total amount Of debt incurred in the
construction OF all these works and Its rapld ap-
proach to fnal extinction.
FOU1tt-Tne tolls vi the canals which have been
applied, and must yet pe applied TO the purpose,
to facilitate and cneapen the navigation Of the
canals by steam or otherwise.
FJth-lhe pre-emlnent and urgent necessity Of
completing the trunk canals without further delay.
with their ul legal depth OF water and the eroi Is
made during the last sixteen years to effect that
object.
Sirth-The leading particulars In respect to the
quantities OF cereals now carried yearly IRON the
interior states to the SeabOard, whether tt rough
our ,runk canals or by competing routes py land
or by water.
COST OF THE ENLARGEMENT OF THE TRUNK CANALS.
L-cosr DEFRAYRD WHOLLY SURPLUS TOLLS.
Dime nsons OF Erie Canal enlargement fixed in 1885 by
the Canal Board first at sixty wide by deep
aiterward increased to seventy leet by seven .
Construction OF the Black River and the Genesee Val
ley canals authorized III les6