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


The report OF the State Engineer and Sur
vcyor, the Hon. HoRATIo SEYMOUR. Jr.. is Il
document OF no ordinary merit. In style
and breadth of view it compares favorably
with the papers on the same subject 10y Gov
SEYMOUR and GOV. TILpEN, who. perhaps,
have mastered more thoroughly than any
ot their predecessors the vital problem u
REORGANIZATION between the Great West
and the cities OF the Atlantic seuDoard.
Mr. SEYMOUR anlrms that the opinion
held 10y many that canals and water routes
have lost their value for internal commerce
has proved 10 be unfoundcd. Never in the
history Of the country have they been Of
greater utility. The Erie and Oswego Gu
mails have carried more grain the past year
than ever before except. in the years 1861.
lso2 and 1863, when, during the war OF the
rebellion. many other routes were closed.
This has been done in the face Of the lowest
prices ever charged by the railroads
Of late years the vicious policy has been
pursued by the railroads 10 make their
profits by combinations and not by cOmpe-
ttllr. They do not rely 50 much upon the
amount they carry as upon the high rate Il
their charges. Their enterprises arc made
profitable ut the public expense. In the way
they are managed. the moro railroads We
have the greater will be the prices Tor trans
portatiOn. This system defeats the very
end for which they were Incorporated, and
tho objects sought when the State gave up
It's right 10 charge canal tolls upon some Of
thcm. The water route has, for two sum
mcrs, elcctually checked this system.
As a result, the reduced cost OF carrying
our products 10 the markets Of the world
has turned the balance in trade in favor Of
the United states The currency OF the
country '.s been lifted to par with specie
All classes our population cherish warmer
hopes OF more Prosperous times. But for
our canal cad water routes. we would not
have had sgch volume Of exports nor
such a margin In favor Of our commerce
During the past year we have seen what has
never happened before, the largest exports
with the lowest prices for carrying. II We
can hold 70 this cheap transportation new
life will be given to all kinds Of business.
Railroad directors ARE trustees for stock
holders and, In order 10 make the best prof
its, they always put up their rates when tho
canals are closed in winter far beyond any
increase that the season can make In the
cost OF their business On the other hand,
the Legislature and public officers are trus-
tees for the people, and It Is their duty to
cheaper transportation for the public well
fare. It Is plain from experience that the
only way TO do this is by means OF cheap
water routes, 10 control railroad charges.
and oy giving to our boatmen facilities for
competitions
Another danger threatens tho prosperity
Of this State. Our canals and railroads are
alike imperllled by the water route through
the valley Of the st. Lawrence. In three or
four years from this date British steam
ships Of near two thousand tons burden will
lie at the docks OF Chicago and other lake
ports. While We have uuderyaiued AMI hog
lected our water channels the Canadian Cow
ernment has been opening a water way into
the heart Of our country, making scaports
Of our cities on the lakes England will thus
be enabled to hold direct commerce, By a
route under its solo control, through the st.
Lawrence River So confident are the Brit
ish and Canadian Governments that they
can take the trade oil the West from US, that
they have spent, and are now spending,
money for improvements looking TO that end
10 the amount Of about S5lO0OOO0 While we
are negiecting our water routes, they spare
no cost to perfect theirs Every step SO far
made in their improvements has been fol-
lowed by an increase OF trade. Three years
hence the canals Of Canada will be the most
complete, the largest, and most substantial
in the world.
The danger which threatens our COM
merce and the value of property in
both the country and the cities can,
in the opinion OF Mr. SEYMOUR be
averted by a wise policy on the part OF our
State and general Governments, We must
first ascertain what can be done TO lessen
the cost Of carrying by the American water
route. This is made up OF the chain Of the
great lakes, tho Erie and Oswcgo Canals,
and the Hudson River. There are obstruc-
tions which limit the draught OF vessels on
tho lakes 70 fourteen feet. BY removing
them, twenty feet Of water can be obtained
at all points between the upper lake ports
aud Buffalo Steamers can then carry $500
tons, noarlyif not quite as much as those
that navigate the ocean. Wheat and other
products can then be carried 10 Buffalo for
less than the cost of carrying them 10 the
head OF the Weland Canal.
by adding Il foot 10 the depth Of the Eric
and Oswego Canals fifty tons can be added
" the load vi each boat. without any neces-