The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-09
OPENING THE C1N1Ls.
Good Work Accomplished Thus Far Under
the Heform Management.

ALBANY, May S.-The State canals open
for the season to-day. This will be tho Soc
ond year Of the experiment OF managing the
canals under the reform that was begun by
Gov. Tildcn. and has been carried out by Gov.
Robinson. In tho days of the Canal Ring con-
tractors and jobbery there was yearly taken
from the treasury OF the State hundreds OF
thousands Of dollars to pay the vampires who
had been sucking the life out OF the canals.
But under the new System. administered by n
capable and efficient Superintendent OF Public
Works, all this has been changed, and tho
canals have been kept in better condition. moro
business has been done. and better satisfaction
has been given to both the shippers and the
boamon, ut n sum inside OF the amount actu-
ally received for tolls. than was the case whom
millions were squnndrred annually on them.
The season OF 1878 was In many respects in
tho history Of the canals n remarknhln one. Tho
rate OF tolls was the lowest ever liked by tho
Canal Board. while the tonnage moved nndtolls
received exceeded those OF the previous yenr
The cost OF the management 81 the canals WINS
SO much below that OF preceding years that II
was fenrcd that they had been allowed to run
down or wear ont. Bontmen made their ~, trips s
years past lined the canals from one end 10 the
other Exporting houses in New York city
during the entire senson sold grain TO arrlvo 10y
canal and were not in single instance disnp-
pointed In deliveries so nearly perfect wa me
discipline under which they were run. rms
revived the hopes OF commercial men who
transacted business on the canals and who had
almost concluded that the day OF the usefulness
OF the canals had passed away, aud that the
railroads were soon to- absorb all tho carrying
trade OF the State. This renewal OF confidence
is due entirely to tho change In the mnnage-
ment II has been honest. positive and vigor-
Gus. and the judgment OF the Governor in SUP
porting the present superintendent has boon
indicated.
The canals open this spring under even
more favorable pieces thnn they did last. All
along the line Of the Erie and Champlain Ca.
nails, whore accumulated yearly deposits had
encroached upon the prism, they have been re-
moved. and thorc will be seven feet OF wnter
upon every level OF the Erie Canal Narrow
places have been Widowed. shallow bottoms
blasted out the prism in many cases straight
encd. and new wall laid where before none OK
listed. and miles Of the towplth have been
raised and widened. New bridges. now lock
gntes. and new piers are found all along tho
canals. and all this has been done within the
earnings, without dollar OF taxation upon
the State. In fact. vust amount 81 work
has been done to put the canals in complete
order for the coming season. and they are I'M
Questionably in better condition than for years.
The old canal vampires arc not hnppy over tho
result OF the reform management OF tho canals.
and have already proposal before the Leg
stature To remove tho constitutional provision
forbiddlng the expenditure upon them OF any
more money than they earn. The fact Is their
occupation is gone but the people aro the gnin-
ers and they will do well to watch tho men who
desire TO return TO the old order Of things.