New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-08
LOV CAN1L TOLLS SUPPORTED.

MEETI>G AT THE COOPER INsTI1UrE-LETrER FROM
TN-GOy. Observation-Disclosures BY a. W. HUM
PnREYs, JAMES wADsw0RTH, AND OTHERS.
The supporters Of low tolls upon the canals
assembled in considerable numbers in Cooper Institute
last evening. Among the gentlemen upon the platform
were Peter Coopcs p 4. Conkling James Wadsworih, y
W Humphreys. Theodore +. Lees, exAssemblyman /.
Albert Eneehardt \. b. Miller Emerson Focte, II. C..
Smith H. r. Preston, NJ L. James James \. Richmond,
J. IL Baker Robert Aitlien, Samuel j. King, and William
A. Cole Peter Cooper, chairman OF the meeting, read
paper giving his experience IN trying to obtain cheap
transportation upon the canals \ dispatch was read
from the Hon L. Bradford rnce, regrctting his inability
to be present.
showed in somewhat extended manner the injurious
effects Of the present tolls both to the owners of canal
boots Numbering over 1000 and the taxpayers OF the
State Gov. seymour declared that the country owed
the boatmen much gratitude for keeping down railroad
CHARGES and making food aud fuel cheaper IMAM hey
would otherwise have been. The Erie OSwego, ana
Champain canals. he said, have paid Into the treasury
OF the State mofe than 200oO,0O0-a profit OF over
so 900 above all that has been spent upon them for
construction and maintenance. II an interest account
werc started il would swell the balance in favor OF those
three works to more than $63,000OOO Notwithstanding
the vast sum wasted ia extravaganza ana fraud Inc
taxpayers were being hurt by high tolls, because mSh
tolls were njuring the commerce or NeW-foR ana IL
"A state which must DEPEND mainly upon coih-
mercla excellence for the supremacy II held over the
other States.
James Wadsworth, exMayor OF Buffalo advocated the
cause of "no tolls at all" and charged that canal mis-
management had sent New-York trade TO Baltimore;
Philadelphia and the cities OF the North Activity OF
Trade in this city, he affirmed, would never come itl
the Erie Canal able tn bring the staples OF
ile-the frewood and cereals-to NewYork city.
A. W. Humphreys looked az the question from
business standpoint, complaining OF the drain which
collateral canals feeders made upon the paying lines
He gave some ntercstidg statistics OF the Chemung,
Chenango and eneseo Valley Canals, follows The
tolls from the Cbemung Canal were, In 1874 S29l1 Al
cost OF collection ana REPAIRS s3s,66o rs loss,
S35752 2s The total tolls collected on tine Chemung
Canal since 1884 are S5l197l 81 cost ~ collection
and repairs 81 1913 ,635 2O loss, 81 ,423F63 so The
Cheuago Canal has the state SlOJOO,12l ~, and
the amount OF tolls In 40 years since III was completed
IL S736i6 So less than one fourteenth or s cost The
Geneseo Valley Canal has cost Sl7522O5o OF. aud the
total amount OF tolls received on II for 40 years has
been Ssl3s74 &C. less than one-twentieh OF It's cost.
In 1878 the tolls received from this canal were Sl2OOO,
and Its expenses Sl25,OOO."
BY request Of the audience Theodore r. Lees manager
OF the Cheap transportation Company, spoke u few
words after which resolutions We're adopted asking ina.
the tax upon canal boats be abolished that the aim or
the Erie Canal shall be In future not revenue TO the
State but benefit TO the citizens that constitutional
amendment formed II needed Issuing new canal bona
sufiicient to pay of old constitutional demands for
money which they not been able TO that the
Legislature be shown the pruprety OF declaring the Erie
Canal public highway free To all that steam Is great
necessity as means OF propulsion the canals, and
thai the Belgian system OF cable towing is the best III
many respects, yet put forth. committee was ordered
To be appointed by chair for carrying out the aims oil
tho meeting In the future.