New-York tribune., 1879-01-06


several c0rnet solos. The Assembly Chamber Will bt
lighted with electric light; this will brlns out to
view clearly Mr.. Hunts mural paintings.
.
THE STATE CANALS.
NET REvENCE or TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY
EIGHT THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND TWO
DOLLARS ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF FREE
NAyIGAnoN-Loss TO TIE STATE THROUGH ITS
ULIBERAL POLICY.
TTRoM rHE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or THE TRfBUNE.l
ALBANY, Jan. 5.-AudItOr Schuyler, OF the
Clna Department. will make Interesting report on
the financial history Of the canals during 1873 to the
Legislature Tuesday next The advantage OF having
the canals under the cement Of one man instead OF
three is apparent from this report. Altogether, Mr.
Schuyler states the OF the canals amounted to
S9sS 90 3D. and the disbursements of every kind to
s739 rs 90: leaving surplus Of S2i5902 3. T1is
surrlu> revenue Will be ADDED ~ the sinking fund. A
comparison financial operations for the n,ca year
ended September 80, ISIS, WIN the previous year
shows tHa there was loss N revenue oi fG41O9 Co.
reduction III expenditures Of $40 $50 II, and gain IN
net revenue Of S2l1 Tl o. The loss in gross receipts
WIS due 10 low tolls and not TO a loss OF
TONNAGE as the record Of 1s7S l. better in this
rcspect than that OF 1877 The gain in net
revenue was due to the economical management OF
the canals by the superintendent OF Public Works,
BENJAMIN f. ". Clark The effect Of his management
was perceptble by n comparison Of his expenditures
him. The Canal Commissioners expended $279,2o5 ~
in the four months between October l. 1871 and Feb
ruary 1878 and the superintendent Of Public Works
from February TO September 80, 1s7s-eight
months-exDended S297, ,sG8 OS-In excess OF only
Yls5ll 20. For the entire fiscal year the
cost OF collecting. superintendent and OrdI-
nary repairs was S739.7l5 81, being the lowest
tggrcyate slace sGI Tho net profit OF operating the
Ere Champlan OsweeO. and Csyuga and Seneca Canals
was $3Oi135 "a and the net loss from operating the
lateral canals which the State has decided to SELL was
80 236 10. Tue receipts from these lateral canals
amounted to only O3J 6S While the cost OF collect
Ing the tolls and OF the ordinary repairs was S92,269 81.
Mr. Schuyler closes his report with the following com
ments:
FREE CANALS ADVOCATED.
In my last annual financial report, advocated an
amendment OF portion OF the Constitution which
deals directly with the canals. aud presented therein
statistics show that. for benefits already received
could well afford to adopt the most liberal policy In the
management OF our public works now desire TO show
tbat an illiberal policy, such Constitution DE
taes Il repeing trade retarding our growth as state,
ana unperlug the existence OF our canals Under TIE
existing provisions OF the hnaI cal article OF
the Constitution. 1t IS possible Tor c0mpet-
ing routes to form a combination by which
the income Of the canals could be reduced
below he cost maintenance, aud the losses resulting
from such action could easily De recovered during the
Winter months toe absence OF sueh combination,
the canals at any time liable To sustain such
damage by freshets that avatIon would be suspended
that clause OF the Constitution which limits expendi
lures income could be removed by an amend
ment. II the concurrent reSoiutlons prOposhs
such amendments as wOuld hDefdte the canals
from tolls 'agad be pas Ty the pr FefSe' se es Lfs
ture o 1850 the question could then pe snemitted 10
the peOpe at the general election III nat year. and II
ratified. the amendments wOu'u OecHmr oiertuNo
January ISL But unless acted on alhfmaiVely by
tue present he-Spt i%apT mo Igsa ate When
might hnd canals CLOSED ana the tralc tAey once
| enjoyed departed from as.
The rai.roads winch serve the interests Of Baltl-
| more and Phladelpha, competing WIN us Tor
| seaboard and for their distribution TO Europt an
aud ports, are not handicapped by eonstl-
[ uoual restrictions ike our canals Ihe CONSTITUTION
declares that in each fiscal year there shall be apprOp
ath and apart, from the rtNcnGcs or the cahs e
their Maintenance and the sums necessary TO
pay the principal and interest OF the canal deD but IN
case the snail fail provision is made to pre-
serve the public iah through the agency 0t TAX nut
fnele Is absolutely method provided for maintaining
navigation repairing breaks, Tor any reason the
tolls imposed GO iected snOud DC lnsufhcent Tor
f,s moi 10 be Supposed that the people OF this
ever the maintenance and existence OF the
canals shnd be thus impeulled, aud hence no LPssa'
nrr can refuse to submit the question TO the people
without assuming grave responsibility I1ose canals
which the COu>ttut ON declares shaIl not De sOu OF
otherwlse disposed OF have in OF all cost
for construction, land damages, and operst on oNr
S3OOoO0O0. There nave heen Transported tnOu.h our
canals more than I7O 600 tons Of freight ana ths
vast tonnage has paid TO tine carriers waenou'enen;
and comm merchants OF tins state IN excess OF all
tolls nearly s2JOOOO. 600 These ascertancd re-
suits but there are collateral benefits from
that vast tonnage which neither Do computed nor
estmatad but which has undoubtedly contributed more
than all other combined 70 make our state the
richest and most pOpuOus Ia the Union.
The French Minister Of Public Works makes the Follow.
| ing reference To canals OF FRANCE:
"NayIgsbe waterways play an important part IN tho
production OF the wealth OF country. III twas DOusht
AZ one time that their usefulness about 10 cease,
and that they would give place entirely To
railways that rather superficial view has not Deen
long 10 being modified after AN attentive examination
Of the facts N been found that navigAolc water
ways and railways destined supplani, but 10
support another. Each has It's particular Attributes,
Railways take the least euinbrous traffic, that which
requires speed and regularity and bears most easily
the OF carriage. Water take heavy goods OF
low value, which only pay for being carried when the
cost OF carriage Is low which afford railways only an
| iusory revenue, and cucumber instead OF feeding
4 Them Naygable waterways fuini another otJec1.
Thor mere checks moderates the rates
goods which sent by railway they are - warning
| TO railroad companies not to exceed the limit
| beyond which trade will not hesitate 10 sacri-
| fce regularity 10 economy. In this respect nayi'
| gable waterways much more seryleeaOle than
Competing railways for these Sighting each other with
equal weapons generally end by coming TO an under
standing 10 avoid inevitable ruin while the eanab0at
and railway naturally divide the traffic by taking that
which suits zach b.st. Tho country has an evident
iurest therefore, not peglretng It's means o water
carnage while 70 s engaged In developing Ito railway
stem public opinion regards ~ tais light AMI the