The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-01-25
LOW TOLLS.

WHAT THE CANAL BOAT OWNERS SAY OF Low
TOLLS, THE SALE OF THE LATERAL CANALS
AND THE PIER STEAL AT ALBANY.
The hall OF the Boat Owners Association, at No 10
South street, was we'll filled yesterday afternoon in
response call for public meeting IN tho interest
OF low tolls on the canals. Colonel Conkling was the
first 70 address the meeting He argued that ay tho
cost OF the Erie, Champlain and Oswego canals had
been fully repaid in the revenues derived
from them, the tolls should now be reduced
10 such an extent as merely to provide
for their maintenance tho future He referred to the
toll sheet Of the present year, and claimed that greater
concessions should be made. The next speaker, Mr..
james ". Wadsworth, ex-Mayor OF Buffalo, spoke at
considerable length on the subject. suggesting the
feasibility Of making the canals free highway Tor
commercial purposes. He said that account Of tho
tolls levied the of the great West
was beng diverted to the welland Canal, running
through Canada and in this connection stated that IL
was the boast OF Chicago merchants that
without breaking bulk, by way OF the Welland Canal
and ST. Lawrence River. Exclusive of the question OF
tolls, without tho DOCKS elevators and warehouses
rival cities New York could not expect to remain IN
the lrst rank Hon. John s. Graham, member of
Assembly from Rochester then addressed the meeting.
he said he had always been IN favor OF low tolls and
that these were not had was mainly the laui OF the
people OF the back counties OF The Stale, concluding
with some remarks indorsing Hon. Henry L. Fish for
the position OF Superintendent Of Public Works
Alter some remarks upon the subject John $. Brown
offered series OF resolutions indorsng tbs action of
various associations oil the State and recon mendng
the adoption OF uniform rates on all articles trans
ported the Eric Canal these not to exceed
mill per 900 pounds per mile, and that all boats
plcyed in the carrying trade upon the Erie Canal be
exempt from toll Tho resolutions sIur.hcr recon-
meuded that the paying lateral canals should be
Immediately disposed Of prescribed by law, tho e
gal use OF water by null owners prohibited and tho
management concentrated under single head, pro-
vided for in the recent amendment to the State
stitution These resolutions were adopted aud also
recommending Mr.. Henry L. Fish for tho position
Of superintendent of Public Works.
Captain Mckay said Mr.. Peter Cooper had expressed
himself as greatly Interested in tho movement, aud
had given evidence OF TINS IN offering the ftho
large hall OF the Cooper Institute for meeting
at any time they might desire. Ex-Mayor Wadsworth
chen called the attention OF the meeting to the fact
tina: the usual annual attempt was being made at
Albany to steal two OF their piers for the of the
ferry companies and It was resolved to take measures
TO prevent this. Al this time gentleman IN the
dencc remarked that many around him considered the
meeting TO be OF political character. Tho of
Henry L. Fish mad been indorscd while he did not be.
eve that ten men In the house in favor of him.
They had met to take action insure low tolls, and 1t
neither time nor place to bring up the other
lex. Some further remarks were made in answer to
this by Mr.. Graham. After which the meeting was
adjourned subject to the call OF the Chair