New-York tribune., 1878-04-16
4 FREE CANAL,

Il EhEE C1NdL,
The second speech of Dr. Isaac |. Hayes III
the Assembly last week, in favor OF his
amendment to the Constitution declaring the
canals of the State free, was an interesting
contribution to most important discussion.
The time is rapidly approaching, is in fact
here, when the present methods OF canal
management must be abandoned In an
age of fierce competition by steam, the
spectacle OF great business channei
unable to accommodate It's tariffs to the changes
of trade, Ii an anachrOnism and an absurdlty.
The railroads can adapt themselves to any
emergency the canals go through the year
under a cast-iron toll sheet fixed in advance
of the season by a Legislature, many OF whose
members have no comprehension of the ques-
tiOns at issue, or no desire to serve the inter-
ests of the State save where they coincide with
those of their own localities. 1t is not to be
wondered at, under the circumstances, that the
railroads can usually cut the throat OF the
canals.
This is a question quite distinct, however,
from that of making the canals free. Those
who favor the latter change and those who
oppose it will probably be found alike willing
that some machinery should be cOntrlved
whereby the canals can be managed so as to
do business on business principles The larger
question must be considered in an enlightened
way. 1t is a plain issue, and it will not do TO
befog it by insisting that the canals have
never paid the cost of their construction, and
are, to a certain extent, a burden upon the
State. 1t is true that a considerable part
of the canal debt still remains un-
pa,d, but no intelligent man, review
ing the history of the State for the
last half century and marking Its
marvellous growth. whether along the line OF
the great canal, where series of beautiful
and prosperous cities has sprung up as II by
enchantment or in regions more remote but
still fertized by this stream OF commerce, can
doubt for a moment that the Erie Canal has
paid the cost of its construction over and over
again. The paltry nine millions of canal debt
still outstanding bear no comparison to the
mnumerable benefits which the canals have
conferred upon the State, and whose value
cannot be computed in figures. This is prach-
callv the only debt which the State now has,
and it is too small to affect the decision OF
this matter, one way or the other.
DIR. HAYES insists that declaring the canals
free Is only inc Iuuu SttlsC III a. loShN''i bhO
cess, of which their construction was the first
and their enlargement the second. Each OF
these steps was taken III response to wide
spread demand for increased facilities in COM
merce. and the third, be believes, must
follow. Time will tell whether he Is
right. but it must be confessed that his
chances of proving a true prophet seem
good. With every year 1t becomes more
evident that the City of New-YOrk, In par
ticular is interested in seeing the policy OF
decreasing the tolls continued, and the logical
conclusion of steady decrease is what DR..
HAYES is aiming at The interests of the
city are the interests of the State, and both
city and State find the canals, during seven
months OF the year. their only protection
against the railroads. And the rail-
road problem steadily increases in diff
Guilty. Their power seems to grow rs
their responsibility diminIshes, and the
theorists are utterly at a loss for plan to put
under the proper control of the State a fOlce
greater than the State itself. If railroads which
should compete continue to combine, the people
NAV decide that it is better to bear small
tax and have one great highway free, than to
be without the tax and at the mercy Of the
railroads.