The New York herald., 1876-03-17
CANAL TOLLS.

REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON CON-
MERGE ON THE RATES on TOLLS FOR 1876
MORE LIBERAL POLICY URGED-coNPARI-
SONS OF VARIOUS YEARS AND THE INCOME
THEREOF.
ALRArY, March 10, 1875
The following is the report tolls submitted the
Canal Board to-day
To THE CANAL BOARD
The standing Committee Commerce present the
following report the subject OF Of tolls for
the year 1876 The reduction OF tolls made by the
the policy suggested by the Governor for
the relief of the industries OF the State.
drawn OUT to use the language of the Message,
itself "by petition Of forwarders boatmen and
Others engaged in transportation the canals of this
State, representing that the depressed state OF
their business calls for this legislation and
necesstates reduction OF tolls The Gov
the claims OF this class OF our fellow citizens.
They the proprieors OF about 900 boats which
are SAID to give employment directly 10 30 600 persons
and indirectly TO 10000 others. They are in the
peculiar relation of partners OF the State in part OF
the internal commerce. owning and managing the
equipment, while the State and manages
the body OF the canals In order that he interests OF
these citizens holding close relation the state
might be protected and the commerce retained which
has been the OF general wealth and security the
Governor urges upon the Legislature rigid nyestiga
tion into the past management OF the canals and
correction OF such abuses as might be dscov-
ered with n to the reduction OF taxes,
not only AS It oppresses the boatmen, but all
other classes OF our citizens 1t is for the
Canal Board and the Legislature determine
whether this policy shall be continued or abandoned.
In discussing this subject we propose TO inquire
whether the present rates will yield such amount OF
as with economical administration OF the
canals will secure the taxpayers OF the state from any
unreasonable burden
THE REVENUES oP THR CANALS
collected during the fiscal year ending September 30,
1873 amounted TO 81 va, $50 eS The total expenses
Dent amounted TO Sl,467,3l5 95, making the
net receipts $45S,679 es There was, however,
spent during the time for extraordinary
repairs provided tor by taxation the OF 1913 313 80
making total expenditure upon the canal, over and
above the receipts thereirom OF 1896 9l6 49, without
taking into the interest upon and the contribu
tons to the principal OF the canal debt
PUTCtB RETURNS
We will now consider what returns may
expect for the future at the present rate OF tolls.
The for the calendar year 1875, during all
of which time the reduced rates were operation,
amounted TO the sum Of 81, 500, o32 II wlli
be remembered that these revenues were obtained
year OF unusual depression and during the shortest
season OF canal navigation known. II will GER
tainly be moderate estimate as to the future If
that the revenues of 1876 will equal those OF
the calendar year 1875. We therefore estimate
the income OF the canals for 1876 a. the
sum of $1,000 900, and We think that even
upon this moderate estimate. under the
expenses of tho canal be paid and the burden upon
the taxpayers OF the State will still be less than during
the appropriations for ordinary repairs and
for the expense Of management, including
uons were for the fiscal year commencing the lst Of
October, 1878 The large expenditures for ordinary
and extraordinary repairs made during the fiscal year
1875 were under the appropriations OF 1874
POLICY OF RETREScHMINr
began in 1875 did not therefore, make itself felt in the
expenditures for ordinary and extraordinary repairs
until the lst OF October, 1873 Assuming that the
pendtures are kept within the appropriations, the
canal will yield surplus revenue during the year
1876 which will bc applicable to the payment OF the
canal debt In the year 1875 the State expended for
maintaining the navigation Of the Chemung Crooked
Na1lox
canals the of $l97 $50 II being $17S6 Sc over
and above the receipts therefrom.
ANNUAL DEFICIT.
1t to be hoped that the Legislature Will soon in
accordance with the intent of the amended constitu-
tion, adopt some policy in reference to those canals
which will relieve the commerce Of paying canals from
the burden OF providing for this large annual
deficit The appropriations for the maintenance
and repair OF the canals during the fiscal
this session OF the Legislature estimated
at sll1s, 600 Supposing the commerce for that year
be the in the calendar year 1873 the surplus
moneys applicable TO the canal debt during the year
1877 may be stated at S5S2 o00 but it can hardly be
too hopeful an estimate TO suppose that after another
year the commerce upon the canals Will reach
the average volume OF the last ten years.
1t has been found that the commerce of
1869 represents the average OF the last ten The
of toll for 1875 applied to the commerce of 1862
yield revenue of 81 952 l55 Should that amount OF
business be done in 1877 the surpusbf that year ap-
plicable the payment OF the canal debt would
amount to s914,000 This viii be within $l70,0
of the needed TO make the pay
debt. II may be said that the policy there recon-
mended does not contemplate that the canals will be
debt Undoubtedly they Will not do so, unless there
should be increase of business, restoring the trade
m,de to the navment OF the debt for Years noss
have been delusive. The interest and payments
te the sinking fund were indeed paid out of the canal
revenue, but the great sums expended Tor extraor-
dinary repairs were paid by taxation. The average
amount OF the expenditures and above all rev.
enues the canals during the years last past was
a n wa in
addition to the sums paid during those years
upon the canal dobt Indeed, the average amount
paid by taxation for canal purposes during the five
years ending October l, 1874, 81 956 600 year
should anticpations be realized and the
be paid by taxation dwindc next year TO the sum of
Sl7o0OC the burden upon the tax OF the state
will be quite Insignificant Your committee assume
that the members of the Canal Board are fully
THR EAGER COMPETITION
which is now carried oRior the trade OF the West.
New York no longer possesses the channel of cheap
transportation. The Erie Canal was not designed
Tor revenue merely but 10 gather those in
direct but larger rewards which come from
the control of commerce. The success OF the en-
terprse has surpassed the antcpations Of its pro-
Jectors Let us be guided by their liberal foresight
they planned Not so as to make them yield the
largest revenue draw here those productions of
other States and OF foreign countries which seek
market
TuR LATERAL CANALS
Your committee are all of the opinion that It would
be well TO give TO the Canal Board the power TO apply
rates OF toll upon the lateral canals higher than upon
the trunk canals, wherefore your committee recon-
mend the adoption of the accompanying resolutions
follows:-
RESOLUTIONS
Resolved That the Of tolls 1876 upon
Champaign Oswego and CayugR and be the
1875 aud forth the accompanying toll
sheet.
Resolved That the Legislature respectfully requested
in the action of this Board
Resolved That the Legislature is respectfully requested to
confer upon the Canal Board power toll
the other canals Of this State this
Board provided that such tolls shall fixed lower
rates than those set forth in the accompanying toll sheet
Daep tfpllv vophu ftat IA
WILLIAM n0RSHEIMER
JAMES JACKSON. Jr.