The New York herald., 1878-03-04
NEW YORK's COMMERCE.

MERCHANTS VIEWS OF FREE CANALS AND
CHEAP TERMINAL FACILITIES.
To THE EDITOR oy THE HxRALD:-
In your journal Of the lsL inst, whio aludiuR In
terms OF commentator 20 DR.. Hayes speech IN favor
Of tree navigation Of tho State canals and also sd-
mitting the necessity OF the canals = means OF
cheap transportation, you discourage the Doctors
effort as being premature, and desire further trial
OF The canals under low tolls. II seems 10 that
after the that attended the reduction Of tolls
last year. further demonstration Of the wisdom Of
tho policy Of free canals 10 required. Tue amount
needed for tho maintenance OF the canals,
wh!le largo enough TO DO oppressive TO It's
commerce-conducted as II always must DO In close
competition with It's great rivals The railways the
welland Canal. ST. Lawrence and Missssippi rivers
Is an Insignificant sum be paid by the State for
great advantages that ensuo to It's citizens from It's
immense traffic. This view 10 greatly strengthened
when wo witness our Canadian neighbors engaged IN
adctermtnsd effort to diver, from us the commerce
OF tho great lakes by tho construction oil her stupen
dous snip canals, which, when completed, are esti-
mated 10 cost the enormous sum OF $50 700 oo0 and
are TO be Tree Of toll.
l am not OF those who believe that the natural
advantages oil our CITY, erelt as they are, will
to MAINTAIN our commercial supremacy without sup
pemenlpg them win such improvements as viii per-
init US 10 iur her the cost ot
tho Transaction OF business generally That the natural
advantages OF our city were not sufficient TO give US
commercial supremacy mas boen demonstrated IN the
past as IL WAS only after the petion Of the Erie
Canal and the great ADVANTAGES that were derived
from Its commerce that our city enabled to sur
pass Philadelphia Ia population ana wealth and be-
come The commercial metropolis of this Continent
NOW we have rea,hed period when the present and
possible future condition of our city exciting alarm
and ds,rus The fact be d or concculed
that mainly through unjust railway determinations,
corrupt canal and city management combined with
neglect on the part oil our city authorities To provide
needed terminal facilities aid of commerce.
business has been diverted from city an
extent That has aroused all classos OF our citizens TO
tho necessity oi seeking measures OF relief such
being our situation the question to tho
means OF improving our conaitiOn, ana IN order 10 a
just consideration Of Tho subject IL must bc borne
mind that New York is pre-emiuently "a commercial
commerce must she depend IN the iuture Therefore
all other Interests are secondary anu subsidiary to
commerce. With this ia view would suggest
Frst-lhat tue canals De made FREQ at the earliest
period possible.
Second-1uat the Legislature pass an act creating
Board vi Railroad Commissioners " supervise the
railroads IN the interests oi the people.
Ihird-lhaL the Board oil Aldermen pass oYd
nance permitting the OF dummy eugiues Tor haul
iDg freight cars over the Belt Railroad ut certain
hours Of tho night with permission to lay tracks
connect The same with sucn piers and warehouses
alons the line vi us route as may be necessary
FOurh-ihe immed extension OF Wost and South
streets to the lines fixed by the Legislature
with view to improved ireisht railway shippn ng
accom- mouation
Fltn-rhe acquisition by the city OF all wharves
and bukhcads the limo o. South and West streets,
IN order that wharfage be iree
,Si1It--rhe abolition VI all port charges.
These propositions, iairly carried ou would, 10 my
judgment, within ten years thereaftor cause. such
Increase Uf commerce ana population as 10 more than
double tho present valuation o the real estate Of
York and Brooklyn and correspondngly that OF tho
suburbs A. d. n.
Nsw YORK, March 2 1878.