New-York tribune., 1876-12-21
WHAT THE RAILROAD WAR MEANS.
DESTRUCTION TO THE CANALS.

DESTRUCTION TO THE CANALS.
BREAKING DOWN THE CANALS THE SOLE OBJECT OF
THE NEw-YoRK CENTRAL-wHAT WOULD HAP
PIN THEN-How TO PREVENT II.
To the Editor of the Tribune
SIR 1t is believed by many of the taxpayers OF
this State that the railroad contest which was
inaugurated by the New-York Central about the
time the canals opened last Spring, which continued
during the entire canal season, and which has been
closed just as the canals Closed probably to be re-
newed again in the Spring about the same time has
but one single object in view. They believe that
object to be so to cripple the canalboat men as to
make the canals Improbable a source of revenue
to the citizens of this State, and thus eventually
cause them TO be abandoned entirely sold TO the
monopolists. 1t is easy to that continued de-
fciencies in the cost of maintenance over tolls Will
naturally stimulate that feeling.
That the destruction of the canals. and not pro-
lection Of the merchants of New-YOrk, was the
primary policy of the New-YOrk Central would not
be a difficult thing to establish out Of MIR. Wander
bIlt's own mouth but it is fully established by
concident circumstances.
The protection Of the merchants of NewYork, 1t is
already apparent, was but thin vail TO cover the
real object. If it had not been, why should the
pledges of protection to New-YOrk be so suddenly
broken the moment the of canal navigation is
closed / predict that yOu shall hear nothing fur
ther about the protection of the mercantile interests
of your city till next April OF May, when the hght
against the canals will be renewed
Are the citizens of the State and City of New
York willing 10 sit idly by and their canals de-
stroyedi The present settlement of the railroad
war is striking instance of what protection they
nav expect when the canals are destroyed. Has 1t
occurred to You that the pth of the present settle
ent is the very essence of discrimination against
the people of this State and against the mercantile
and manufacturing interests of your cityi III the
New-York Central afford to carry flour and pro-
duce which are to he consumed in Europe as cheap
from Chicago to New-York as the Baltimore and
Ohio can carry them TO Baltimore why can't the
New-York Central afford to carry the same produce
the same distance between the same points on the
same terms when ii is intended for home consump-
ton Cheap living is necessary TO cheapeh IaDor.
IL you want to retain III your city ana Nlclnhty a
large manufacturing interest, you must not chaIGe
them more for the flour brought IRON Chlcag0 lor
them 10 eat than Is charged Tor tne same HIlR
brought from the place TO be sent 10 the other
side of the water tO be eaten
Mr. GarTett's policy is to foster the local manutac-
turing interests as well the MERCANTILE The pres
ent settlement, so far as Baltimore and Ihlladepia
are concerned is triumph of MIR. Garretts policy Ii
makes living in Baltimore, far as frelghts on bread
stufls are concerned, II per cent cheaper than III
NeV-YoTk and if the present discrimination Is long
continued, not only will our larger commission
houses like DOws x Co., send more ana more OF
their business 10 Baltimore, but manufacturing liz
terests will be driven there also.
If the State of New-York would protect the CON-
merce of your CITY, she must do it through The main
tenance of the Er1e Canal. How can she do thisi
BY late decision of the Court OF Appeals the
New-YOTk Central Railroad Company is Iahle 10
nav tax the market value OF It's capital STOCK,
less the value of its real estate. The latter is now
assessed at about $50, ,O000 900, leaving tax due on
an assessment of upward Of SGOO0O,OOO. The com
pany has never paid this tax, alleging IN Albany
that its principal Office was IN New-iork City; and
in New York that its principal office was IL Albany
Gov Robinson Is sperfcctly familiar with all these
subjects Let him secure the passage of an act
through the Legislature providing for the payment
of this tax ab0ut 81 S00000l into the state Treas,
rv 10 lie applied specifically to the maintenance OF
the canals BY this means the tolls would be cheap
ened to a point where the railroads would discover
that the canals can live When the railroads hnd
ont that they cannot ruin the canals the present
inous competition every summer, winch 10 now
waped solely against the canals, will cease.
dlbQny Dec. is, 1876. Yours,