New-York tribune., 1877-01-03

toeo os bpep one of ri,prccrdruted lisqs!r to- the
,tp5 and IN al, others cnga .d N rhc navigation Of
Tho canals. addition 10 the great depression in c'CY
b-auch of business there has been IN cNd9dhA} com
petition tween the railway lines extending from Tie
Western to tide-wat'I winch has diverted trade
from canals Notwithstanding the bw rates
al toll here has been large falling off IN tonnage IS
Wrl as revenues Mjny boats have been la mp others
have been a heavy 0ss and none Ci tieh appear
The effective measures Of reform which have been
enforced within the last TWO years arfcsiIg mi~lanace
and fraud and reducing expenses nave saved me
canals i"ia ruin small a. the income lS tAe eA
pcses have been reduced below it, and vet the canals
have been X W III complete IclG'I uillh3 'lc oI,.
season. Their future success II tuey are to nave any
must depend upon faithful eiseVciance III th5 o4c;
The question oi ned or IL" tOliS ia thc Pitai c"|
ton aud prospects % canal transportation j. one about
which there would To he no ground FOR any
d!fercnce Of Op.nion Under the Constitution as no"
amended. more money can D. cA'triel On tc canals
any year than the gross amount OF their revenues
Tor the preceding year IL IS th,i'ioi' ,.c ~
the fOrwardcs 10 pay such tolls as az" regufd 10
ably ass .bcm - pay any more, when Ley making
losses instead profits every cargo hlch they cary
II true Constitution requires the cdua debt 10 be
provided for from the surplus canal ROY cIues but no a~
enforce imIOSslliiti4s. M
Il is 10 be hoped that The depression ~ trade VIII not
be OF long cOutnuaucc a that prosperity hiN soon r.
turn 10 tie canals. believed that tine railways can
tIon without involving tIcmsolvc, in ruin. When sI"
change shall take place tbat orwarder can again realize
required 10 pay such tolls viii provide iOi TIE cahal
debt. Unt that SINE must eNl1by De charge upon
The -laYfTS OF the state.
Those who have suffered most severely bv the loss OF
business upon the canals arc me DQiln ana alth0asA
fl NAV not in tie power of the Legislature 30 relieve
tncn il Is impossible 10 withhold from them our SYM
pay. The number OF their boats is about 5000 THeY
are partners Oi the state. Ihty DO ne WorA
which produce. the revenue tO Ne tue canals III repair
Their labor IS severe, and their exposure great In
many instances their families live upon the bnats IN
reduce their expenses 10 the lowest pOt NO
pat the punder which others have received has ever
gone them; the contrary they have suffered flO
IL by paying tolls which have been misapphed. But
with all their labor and ecOaOny they have been unable
during the past 10 pay expenses. III any reiieI
can extended them IN the present depressed con-
ditiOn trade il must como from further saving in
tber reduction tolls. EFcn tins VIII not probably DC
such competition as they encountered during the
last year.
MhstLer any further appropriations should DE mace
On account of such lateral canals the Legislature has
tie right 10 dispose be best determined after re-
Ceiyg tie report Of the commissioners appointed DJ an
Act OF the last session. examine that subject IL viii
be- seen by the results O last years business gwen dDO'c
that those canals are rapidly dlspOshs Vi teuseiVeS