The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-02

sra fund debt, which has 80 long been IN existence
will also be fully extnguished, except small amount
Invested for the payment of Indian annuilies
CANAL DzRr.
On the 30th OF September las, the canal debt. less
the balances in the sinking fond, amounted to
$s,63o,016 30 OF this $3.50, GOO became due on
the LIST day Of December last and was paid from the
canal debt sinking funds leaving the total amount Of
the deb. at this date $780, Ol6 30 But the unfor
tunate INSTRUMENTATION oil the canals and the vast
ing OF their revenues In former years tho canal debt
would also have been entirely cxtinguished, and we
should have the satisfaction OF announcing that the
State was entirely free IRON debt.
BUSINESS AND REVENUES OF rHR CANALS.
The details OF the receipts and expenditures upon
the canals ana the statement Ia regard 70 lie canal
debt amt sinking fund will be found in the report OF
the Auditor Of the Canal Department
In my last annual Message had occasion to refer
to the heavy loss OF The iorwurders and boatmen on
the canals caused by tho general depression of busi
ness and the extraordinary competition OF the rail-
ways, especially during the season OF 1870 During
that the crops were Short the volume oil business
was very small and tho rates OF freight insufficient
to pay expenses IL IS very gratifying TO be
marked Improvement has taken place. The COM
petition OF the railways has bccn less runous,
the crops have been unusually abundant The business
upon the canals has increased 10 such that
all The available boats have been brought into service
and ull and remuneraive rates OF freight have been
freely paid. season oil greater prosperity Tor for
wurdcrs and boatmen has not been known IN many
years. In view OF the depression and losses oil 1876
pluce in 1877, the tolls reduced to an extremely
low rate for the last year. Consequently, tho row.
o! business The gross amount OF receipts
from all sources was $lo53.36l OIL. Tho ex-
pcnditures Tor suporinienaence, collection and or
binary repairs amounted to Si,o5o,329 So, show
ing excess OF receipts over expenditures, Tor the
fiscal year, amounting to The trinine sum OF s3oSl 33
to be paid into tho sinking fund.- THIS leaves large
deficiency TO DO supplied by taxation. AT least
fourth null tax viii DO required for that purpose.
Tho gross tolls for the calendar year 1870 wero
ST. $40 0O3 so, tho gross tolls for tho calendar year
1871 were $780, 000 showing falling or OF $780, 003 &c.
This show, lower amount of receipts Tor tolls Than
has been known within the last orty-hve years. As
tho constitution limits the amount which can DO
expended during this year TO the gross amount re.
ccved during the last year, II will be seen IRON tho
above statement that there Is absolute necessity
that the expenditures should DO reduced during the
present year very largely. The only hope OF accom-
plishing this necessary reduction In my Judgment
immediate adoption oil the change OF administration
provided Tor IN the amendment Oh the constitution by
The appointment at the earliest practicable day of
superintendent OF public works. whose duty 1t Will DO
TO devise new plan oil administration and thorough
reorganization. BY making this change Is believed
tho expenditures Tor tho current surely
be brought below the gross amount OF revenues Tor
the last year aud the service upon tho canals i'm
proved in every respect Most Of tina evils, waste
and corruption winch have dssraced tho
management or 'ns canals IN former years
fraud long prevalent upon them, and which
had grown into nouslrous proportions, when they
form inaugurated in 1875. All experience has shown
that tho navigation OF the canals Is not improved but
wasfelu, careless and corrupt expenditures. ihis Is
illustrated by tho experience OF the psst season. Tho
expenditures have been much lower Than for many
years previous, but in of them have the canals
been In such complete order and so irce from breaks
and Interruptions TO navigation And yet the admin
istration during 1877 has boon under the old cumber
some and expensive system. 1t is the opinion OF
many well informed that by placing the
ad min istration under one responsible head VINO
will adopt a new system. cutting or all abuses, the
canals be successfully managed for onc.haf The
expenses incurred during the past year. THIS cx-
In Inn Al Wil hQ
dent 10 act upon II before II has been tried, hut
trust it may be very nearly realized. The extra
ordinary and gratifying results which have been
reached In the state prisons by tho faithful aud
efficient supervision OF one responsible head give
ment of the canals. The legislation necessary to
carry the amendment oil the constitution into effect
adopted by the last Legislature, but at too ate
u period TO permit superintendent 10 adopt
o now plan and perfect new organization before tho
opening Of navigation 1 trust that no unnecessary
delay will now carryn cnoct the amend
mcnt which has become vital to the prosperity, not
10 the very existence, OF the canals
rho Improvement IN canal transportation in the last
season DID until about the LIST OF July
From that date TIL the close Of tie season the num-
Der OF boats which could De brought into use was
fou nd insufficient the demands upon them II
is confidently expect that the improvement Will con-
tinuc roughout the whole OF the coming season and
that boats Will be buiit sufficient TO
supply this deficiency. II THIS expectation shall
DO realized the canals will show that they have
passed safely through the crisis Of financial disaster.
and that they will henccforh DO able to meet tho
Quremcnts Of the constitution and at the same time
secure the prosperity OF those who navigate them
10 say they cannot do this Is confession of weak
pcss and decay which their friends Will be unwilling
TO mako.
TnE LATERAL CANALS.
reference 10 tho comparative table in the Audit
or's report giving The income aud payments OF each
o, canals show that OF oil the canals IN the State
only the Eric earned moro than It's expenses, and
that while yielded tho small revenue OF $34 $40 IS
over expenses nearly ali the others failed TO produce
a halt fourth OF tho sums expended to keep
them IN repair.
All the Iaterals south OF the Erie except tho Cayuga
and Seneca are practically abandoned. NO further
expenditures should be made upon them. Those
north OF the Erie required by the constitution 10 DO
kept, give results OF n very discouraging nature.
Inc Oswego Canal shows receipts OF $50, 473 40,
pendituies Of $50, 9o4 30 The Black River receipts OF
Sl5,7ll, expenditures oil 500, ISL 3d. tho Champlain
receipts OF $G3, IGI II, aud expenditures OF
$214, 339 81.
srArH PRISONS
great improvement to be noted In tho affairs OF
the State Is tbat shown IN the management Of tho
state prisons the number OF conviCts IN tho three
isons ON the 30Ih OF September 1877, as fol-
lows:-
Cl.nton .......-............. ooo
Total. 8, 5e5
Tho total DER pn September 3d. 1916, was 3, 609
eh0Wng an increase Tor tho present year OIL elSnty-
six. The advances from the treasury exceeded the
receipts from the prison earnings for the fiscal year
ending september 80 last by me SUN OF $500 6SS OS.
TINS dcact, gwen In my last annual Message, was
$7c4 $40 50. showing decrease oil the annual draft
upon The state treasury OF 1884 69l H. As the present
superintendent did not enter upon his Official dulles
until February II, 1877, and bad therefore, been IN
control lltto than seven months At the close or
the fiscal year the result Is tho more creditable.
Of the actual deficit the nrst live months during
winch tho prisons were managed under the old sys-
TEN, developed by far tho greater part II Is but air