, 1877-05-13

| THE CANALrTOLLS AND THEIR 1HFLUENCE.
| The reduction Of tolls on the Erie Canal
| can scarcely fail to have an important intlu-
ence on all rates to the East BY rail as well
as by water. With tolls from Buffalo to
] tide-water at one cent on wheat and corn and
onc-half cent on oats, with beef, pork, lard,
and large line of return freights toll-free,
the Erie Canal becomes as nearly free as it
can we'll be made until it shall be declared a.
public highway. The reduction in a1l-wnter
rates from the West to the scaboard is larger
than the proportionate reduction in canal
tolls, for the reason TINT the remission of a1l
toll on much Of the return freight will enable
the canal to compete with the railroads
in securing cargoes westward, and thus
reduce still more the rates from the
West to the East. Heretofore the canal-
tolls on return freight have been practically
p1ohibltory, as they were d: figure which
prevented the boats from earning on their
return westward sufficient to pay them. AS
n consequence, it has been necessary to mako
q rate on Western products going through
the canal to New York that would yield
compensation for both going and coming.
The recent reduction puts water rates down
at once to Q to 10 cents bushel on wheat,
and fraction less on corn, while the rail
rates are 18' cents, or just double that
amount.
There is every reason to believe that the
reduction will prove to be of benefit to New
York in all ways. The boatmen declare that
the increase Of business will fully counter |
balance the decrease in tolls. For New York
City the advantage is manifest. As result |
of cheapening freights to the seaboard |
at that point, New York will handle this sea-
son millions Of dollars worth Of produce that |
would otherwise seek another outlet, md
sell millions of dollars worth Of goods and |
supplies that would otherwise be purchased
1t other points. The decline in New York'g
3rain trade has made this liberalization of
;anal-tolls imperative; it may yet demand
hat the canal be decided to the General Gov:
and declared free to all. In 1871
New York City received Sc per cent of all the
,rain sent to the seaboard; in the first four
months Of this yenr it's proportion of the ag-
,regate receipts was only 33 per cent. Bal
4AAA|A1s oo AAA tAAAo JG&AAs la9 4CEtAtcl l
100 bushels of corn moro than New York, and
within 100000 bushels as much grain
# a1l kinds. The rivalry of Phila-
elphia aud Boston is also formidable.
t is time something were done to check
be decline. While A1r. VANDERBILT refused |
to employ his road in the inter-
st of New York, Us well as tho interest Of
is shareholders ultimately, by carrying
Western produce to the sea rs cheaply as the
ival roads running to Philadelphia and Bal
more, the reduction of water rates NAV
ompel him to do SO. The railroads can
carcely sustain their tariff, nor hold to their
ompact in favo5 Of Baltimore and Phila-
elph1a, with such competition as they will
ertainly have by water. Certainly, A1r. ,
SDEnBnr will never have botter excuse.
or more favorable opportunity, for enforc- l
ag the rulo from which be should never
gain depart, viz: that al freights to the +
.aboard must be- the same on all lines from I
le same points, without reference to tho Is
umber Of miles trayersed Fl ,