The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-12

improved TO add to tho facility Of transpol-
tation When it Is seen that tho people Of
I this State mean to hold commercial suprcm-
acy and the control OF their business by
means Of their canals, other methods will
be devised by practical men to lessen the
cost Of carrying commodities.
The last link in the water route Is the
Hudson River. Since 1867 the method de-
| viscd 10y Gen. NEWTON to improve the cham
mel has been successful. 1t is now between
nine and ten feet deep, and the channel is
100 feet wide from Albany to New Baltimore
This method will continue to increase tho
| depth OF the channel, and so to cheaper
and facilitate the commerce Of the river
The route by the st. Lawrence will be the
cheapest route to Europe for vessels loaded
with grain. But other facts will enable us
to keep the great current Of commerce
| through our canals. The harbor Of New
York is always open, while the st. Law
renee is closed by Ice nearly half the
| year. Thus grain cannot be- stored in
1 the st. Lawrence ports for shipment TO
Europe in the winter while it can bc ship
ped from New York at any season. Again.
the produce OF the West has choice Of
markets II it is carried through this State.
The home market takes the largest share Of
all that is raised ut the West. When grain
and provisions reach New York the owners
have the choice of selling here, or Of send
ing into the ncighboring States, or of ship
ping to n great number Of foreign ports in
Europe and South America. What IS sent
! by way Of the st. Lawrence. or even Of the
Mississippi, must lose this advantage.
Mr.. SEYMOUR shows conclusivcly that the
Eric Canal has never been burden to the
people OF the state. On the contrary, 1t has
paid into the Treasury Sis, 142. 1921; and
has cost for construction, enlargement, re-
pairs and management, $40, 23s 1892 leav-
ing n surplus without computing interest,
Of Sil, 800 s99j 50. All the canal debts Of the
State would have been paid long ago but
for the action Of the Legislature In behalf
og railroads
Unless the policy toward the canals and
buatmen navigating them Is wise. liberal,
and prompt, there 10 good reason to believe
that the result will be disastrous to every
class Of our citizens and to every portion Of
the State. 1t may have been well 10 take or
tolls from the railroads. and thus enable
them to compete, during the period Of sus-
pended navigation on the canals, with tho
railways IN other States; but viper-llkc.
those corporations have stung the hand
that warmed them into life. small share
of the liberality displayed TO railroads
should now be shown to the Erie Canal
The trainers OF the Constitution Of ISL.
| MICHAEL HOFFMAN, especially, were advo-
catos OF low tolls, and were opposed en-
phatically to taxes upon commerce. The
high rate OF toll" said he is our greatest
In, 4
transportation" II the reduction contem-
plated 10y that instrument - be made in
1866 had been then effected. Mr.. SEYMOUR Is
very decided in the opinion that our boat
men aud forwarders would not have been
weakened and driven 10 the verge Of bank
ruptcy; and consequently that to-day they
would have been stronger IN their compc-
tition with rival routes. Low tolls and
cheap transportation do not conflict either
with the letter or the spirit uf our Constitu-
tlOn, but they carry out the wise and states
manlike purposes OF lcssenng taxation on
commerce.
Mr.. SEYMOUR represents with great force
the disabilities OF tho bOatmen who navigate
the canals. Without them the canals them
selves are valuoless. II they suffer, the
State is wronged. All their interests are in
favor Of economy, integrity, and skill in
canal management They are an morgan
lied body OF Woodworking men, who have
no way Of making their wants and wishes
known. He accordingly suggests n law 10
permit Thorn TO organize into All association
after the manner Of the State Agricultural
Society. This would give them officers who
could speak with authority for their COM
mon benefit, who could collect facts that
concern our canals, and who could point out
abuses. Their reports could be sent to the
Legislature, placed on its files. and pub
lishcd This would give them the influence
to which they are entitled. 1t would also
enable them TO guard against unfit or un-
friendly appointments o! canal officers.
The low cost Of keeping the public works
In repair tho last season, and their SUCCESS
full management. place in Il strong light
the abuses Of the past. Tie organization Of
those engaged in their use, in the way sug-
gestcd, will create Il powerful influence in
favor of retrenchment and reform.
1t is gratifying 10 know that the liberal
and enlightened policy 50 ably set forth 10y
Mr.. SEYMOUR is substantially in accord with
the views entertained by GOV. ROBINSON.
1t only remains for the Legislature and
general Government, by giving practical ef-
feet to that policy, TO mark the commence
ment OF new era Of prosperity as well for
the country at large as for the State and
city Of New York