New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-01-02

From the MONEYS and securities in the sinking nd OF
the General Fund debt, the sum OF s2,l0oo4S n mas
been paid and the General Fund debt to that extent
tnguished There remains be paid the sum oil Seoo
600 which does not become due until the first day OF
July next when II win paid, and the General fuDo
debt which has long been In existence, VIII also pc
fully extnguisbed, except small amount inVes'eu ior
the payment of Indian annuties.
On the 3Oth Of September last the Canal debt less the
balances in the sinking fund.- amounted to ~
OF this sum $3.50 became due the LIST day OF Dc
cember last aud was paid tho Canal debt SINKING
funds leaving total amount OF the debt at TINS d e.
s775OOl6 30 But for the unfortunate OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
ton Of the canals and the wasting Of Their revenues Ill
former years. Canal debt would also Dave peen en
tirey exngrsbed and should have the satisfaction
of announcing that the State was entirety iree u0n
debt.
A HOPEFUL VIEW OF THE CANALS
The details of the receipts and expenditures upon INC
canals the statement in regard 10 the Ca ooo' anu
sinking fund.- will be found in the report OF the Au'o
of the Canal Department
In my last annual message had occasion to reier 10
the heavy of the orwarders and boatmen Oh 'he
canals caused by the general depression of business ana
the extraordinary COM petition OF the railways especially
during the OF 1876. During that year the crops
were short the volume Of business was very small anu
the rates OF fright insufficient to pay expenses IL 10
very gratifying 10 be able TO state that curing the past
season, 6 marked improvement has taken place. Inc
competition of the railways has been less ruhous'
the cropa have been unusually abundant. the business
upon the canals has increased to such an extent that an
the available boats have beep brought into service anu
full and remuneratve rates Of freight have been reey
paid of greater prosperity for foiWardefs ana
boatmcn has been known in many years In view OF
the depression and losses of 1876 and not anticipating
the revival which has taken place 1877 the tolls were
reduced 10 an extremely low rate for the last year Con-
sequently the revenues have not kept pace WITH
the Increase Of business. The gross amount Oh
receipts, from all sources. was sl,oooool VI
The expenditures for superintendent, collection
and ordinary repairs amounted to s1.o903Z9 bo snow"
ing of receipts over expenditures or tne hse
year amounting to rlfUg sum of S3,O3l 80 to be
paid into the sinking fu ID This Leaves large dehclen
cy 20 be .upped by taxation AT least one-iourth nil
tax will be required for That purpose
Ine gross tolls for calendar year 1876 were
S3400O3 80; the gross tolls for tie calendar year IL"
were SseOO0O, showing failing on Il Si6o003 30 TINS
shows lower amount receipts for tolls than has beer
known within the last fort, live years. as The C0Dsu
ton limits the amount which can he expended during
this year the amount received during the last
year, will De from the above statement that there
Is an necessity that the expenditures should be
reduced. during the present year, very largely The only
hope OF shing this necessary reduction is III my
Judgment. Immediate adoption OF the change OF admin
stration provided for in the amendment OF the Cons
tOD the appointment at The earliest practicable day.
OF Superintendent of Public Works. whose duty it Will
BE- 10 devise new pan OF tioi-
Ougn reorganization BY making this cnange IL Is be-
leyed tLat the expenditures for the current year
surely be brought below gross amount Of revenues
last year, and the service upon The canals I'M
proved IN every respect.
Most of the evils, and corruption which have dis
graced management of the canals Ill former years
arose systematic extravaganza and fraud long
prevalent upon them, and which had grown into mon
strUus proportions when t.ey arrested by the
thorough investigation and reform inagurded In 1870
All experience has shown that the navigation q the
canals is not improved but Is actually damaged by
large revenues leading to wa5efu careless and corrupt
expenditures. This illustrated by the experience of
the past Tie expenditures have been much
lower than for many years previous but III one of
them have the canals been such complete order. and
free breaks and interruptions 10 navigation And
yet the administration during 1877 has been under the
old cumbersome and expensive system.
1t the opinion of many wellinfjrmed men, that by
pacing the administration under responsible head
will adopt new system cutting of all abuses, the
canals successfully managed for mali the cx
penSes Incurred du i'll. the las year Ihs expectation
may be TOO guine, ana will be mprueu To act upon
tried bat rust it very nearly
realized. The extraordinary and gratifying results
wncn have oeen r,dcned III the prisons 10y
the faithful efficient supervision OF resonsibe
head give nope for similar Results under like
of the caulis. The gsa t0n necessary 10
carry tue amendment Of tle Constitution into effect
adopted 1y the Legislature but a. too lac period
to permit superintendent 10 adopt new pian and
perfect new organization before the opening
OF navigation. trust that unnecessary
delay Will occur in carrying Into effect
the amendment which mas become WAL TO Tho pros
peuty, If not to the very existence, Of the canas
Tue Improvement in canal Transportation the last
dId until about tn LIST Of July From
date m the OF the season. the nuJer OF boats
could Oo brought INTO found insufficient
q is tx
pcotel that the Improvement VIII throughout
tuc OF the coming season, and tlat nov bOats will
b bail, suticent to supply thus urtcicncy. II Ais
pcc.a-ion shall be realized the canals viii that
they passed safely through The crisis Of financial
disaster, and that they Will nenceorn be able
lac requirements Of The constitution, ana at the
time the prosperity of those navigate tnem.
H. say they cannot do this is cOnfssoh of weakness
decay wdcn their friends viii Dc Wiling 10 make.
reference to the comparative table III The Auditors
report gyIus the income and pawn oi of the
canals SLOWS tna of ali tue canals in the State ouly the
Ere earned more than its expenses, aud mat wIle
yedcd small revenue OF sSl,SlO 50 expenses,
nearly ali the others failed TO produce hail. even
1ourtn, the sums expended 10 Keep ia repair
AL latcrals south of tine Ere except tuo Cay uya
Seneca are practically Abandoned. No further
pcniturcs should be ade dpon tnem Those north OF
the Erie required the Constitution to be kept give
sll.s OF very discouraang nature.
ime Oswego canal SHOWS receipts oi $20473 40, ex-
penuturcs S60,994 90; The Black River receipts
Slo7ll, expenditures OF s54,3S1 % the ChampiaIn
cepIs s63,lG1 n, and expenditures OF s2ll 339 81
BETTER MANAGEMENT OF PRISONS.
great improvements u DC noted tnc affairs of the
sla.e is Tat SHOWN Ia the fnahagJle the state
p IsoAs. Tue number Of pnsous
tht 3Oth OF September, 1877. was follows:
q NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
l64i