New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-24

TINS far show a large increase in the tonnage and
earnings over 1876 latter which the prescnt 10"
rate of tolls was adopted). and over the succee,lng
wears proving, II is claimed, not only the wisdom
of the policy of low tolls which was brought aOout
by the combined efforts of the Produce Exchange;
Board of Trade and Transportation. BunalO Board
of Trade and the Boat Owners Association, but
also the necessity of steadily making such improve
ments on the canals as will tend to cheaper the
cost OF transportation. 49, -,
wear was rapid transit by the cable system OF tow
ing which has increased the number OF trips OF the
boats and lessened the cost to boatmen. The Iol-
lowing table shows an increase Tor the season OF
1850 up to NOverber -, as compared with inc
entire season of 1879, when the canals closed Dc
ccmbcr u
Tot,, toIl............. so415iiiG 90 sl.o7a3S2 IL
Io,a to,s. 10 "a: c,cored 996gf7 927
Increase Tor 1880 ~ i120 ~
Increase for 1880 Ia tons--..--..-....-, S7133599
1880 IN miles. - iJsO
ncreasr for 1850 in tons .2,07925o
The State Controller in recent report shows the
expenditures for ordinary repairs and nalntena nee
of the canals to have decreased from TIVOl oIS %
i'm 1874 10 1891 ,4O7 i'll 1879, and the eiicencY OF
thc canals in no way TO have been impaired. lie
also adds:
The influence Of the canals the past prosperity Of
our Stale Is a sefev dent truth In them to-day Is our
main for its retention in the future The growth
of agriculture in country Is having mueh 10 40 WIN
our prospi rity and the future depends LARGELY upon
our aOi ~ 10 compete with the countries OF Europe III
tn markets.
He then suggests how this may be done. and how
the state canals may lie made To compete Success
fuIiy with the improved Welland Canal, adding
that nothing must be left undone by New-loTk that
can be done 10 secure the transportation, through
this STATE of the products of the West, and their
distribution to European and domestic ports 1iom
New-lork City. To do this it is suggested thac the
BELGIAN s. stem Of cable towing must be completed
This system of steam towago has been fully de-
scribed in the columns OF lHF lRlBUNE, IL mas
been IN operation between Buffalo ana Rochester
a.. and fln g.
great satisfaction with II. They get r OF the care
OF their horses and of the offensive odorS from he
stables on the decks OF the boats. and no alteration
of the boats is necessary. lhelc Is saving OF -"
per cent over single horse towing. and the boats are
able 10 make four more tnps Than usual during me
season. Thus the canal authorities believe that
thew get the full benefit of the Erie Canals ana rs
nearly every boat passing through leaves from
$500 TO 800 in the State the increased number o1
trips increases the revenue 10 the Slale, 10 the
boatmen and 10 merchants
to the constitutional provisions, 1T IS Sug-
eested by the merchants ana boatnen, that with
the more rapid transit Oh the canals. now assured
bv This system these provisions should be amended
so that the expenditures on the canals may not be
confined 10 the gross receipts OF tine preNons veal
Ii is suggested that the surplus receipts instead OF
being covered into the treasury should constitute
a canal fund, froln which could be dawn. IN an
emergency, funds TO insure repairs IN case OF MS
astrous breaks. Attention u then called 10 the iact
that the canals have carried through the State over
10000, 600 tons Of freight. for the handing OF
which warchOuSemen, commission merchants, ana
$2JO.OO0, 0lO in excess OF All tolls. 10 show what
goes to the State and what 10 the carrier II IS stated
that for the last forty-two years ending with los
the whole of TRANSPORTATION was ~ II, I,bnH,
the carriers charges beng Tl@J,ol0.ll4, leaving
a toll to the state OF pl f,HO2,11I or tins
amount. $i3,373, j62 must be deducted for the cost
Of repairs. operation, etc.. leaving surplus OF
S74 22S o92 equal to net earning TO the STATE OF
81 ,7G7. 357 a year. In seven days IN the present
season. the business Of the Erle Canal paid 46OOOO
in tolls. The present cost of transportation, IN
GLIDING the tolls paid into the state treasury. of
perhaps one cent bushcl on wheat. Is estimated
at 2l2 mills per ton mile. against the cost les
tilted to by the NewYOTl Central Railroad officials,
of $50 mills per ton a mile. This difference IN
cost oil movement in favor OF the Ero Canal. on
5,000,0OO tons carried 80 miles, the length OF the
canal. amounts 10 SJ,G92.1OO Another interest
which New York has to compete with is the effort
of Baltimore. Philadelphia and Boston to build up
their export trade ut the expense Of this state. In
the first eleven months of 1877, New-lOr Tt
ceived $500 per cent OF the total receipts of grain
at the four seaboard ports and III the INST eleven
months of 1879, New-l oTks proportion was only
5326oo per cent The receipts OF grain at the three
cities by rail for ten months of l-SC were greater
by A. sss ZIG bushels than at New-lork by rail,
the total for the three ports being lO3.5lO156
bushels Take from New-YOIk its receipts by
canal. and the three other cities receive much
greater share than it does. The water route then,
must be credited with giving to New-fork Its
supremacy.
In 1881 it is expected that the Welland and the
ST. Lawrence canals Will he Completed With a
length of only GJl2 miles and with nominal tolls,
Chicago to the Atlantic Ocean for vessels OF 1000
ions burden. The Canadian authorities are en-
deavoring TO attract the commerce OF the Lakes
through the Welland Canal. Ii Is not generally
known that every 5000 bushels of grain that
pass through the Welland Canal take from $500
TO 800 from the State. The Canadian Government
is preparing to ocean steamers through the
canals and locks without changing bulk. Ii IS now
charging and deepening its canal for tins purpose,
and predicts that IL Will take the business away
from this country. While rival routes are being
impro we'd ana enlarged in order more successfully to
compete with those OF the United States, and 10
draw away MS trade, the Erie Canal, as 1t Is. has
moro than held its own. Good navigation has been
maintained. aS the large amount OF grain attests.
There has been only few minor delays, caused by
snnkcn boats and damaged locks. A careful and
iudcious system of needed repairs to structures,
and restoration OF its prism TO the size and
capacity designed at tne time OF enlargement, have
already been begun. III these improvements are
continued during the next five years, the canal
will have tonnage capacity at least twice as large
as that which any years business mas yet shown 10
be needed.
The canal boatmen have complained great DIAL
OF the hard treatment to which they are subjected
by the class OF mddlemen known as scalpers IN
Buffalo. They are really freight brokers, and on
stitute n link between the hoRtmen and the
shippers or merchants. Their charges, which are
matters OF private agreement between the
" scapers" the insurance men. and the shippers are
liable To I've excessive. and then the Doatincn bit
terly denounce them. They are the necessary e7il,
for no canal boatman In permitted to do business
directly with shipper. The boatman nas to 20 TO
tho scalper," who. after negotiating with the
shipper charges the canal man perhaps per cent
on the gross freight OF his load less the toll the
former thus realizing from go to $50 on a boat
load The shipper then wishes TO have his gain
insured, and he directs the scalper TO insure ID
with n certain company Several shippers have an
agreement with the insurance companies, by which
they receive rebate OF So load on corn and Us
on wheat The insurance on n boat load OF grain
ranges from $l1 to $50. and this the boaman has
to pay. although the grain is not his own property.
These are only few of the burdens imposed OH the
grain trade of New York, the towing. elevator and
har cl charges being considered
Rose McWhortleberry heard her master re-
mark nj the dinner-table the otaer day that ksmet
meant fate" aud Is the why she aston.
Ia I'M