New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-01
AFFAIRS AT ALBANY.
FREEING THE CANALS.
FREEING The CANALS.
ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF 'ABoIIsHING THE TOLLS
on wEsT-BOUND FREIGHT--NO DECISION.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE


ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF 'ABoIIsHING THE TOLLS
on wEsT-BOUND FREIGHT--NO DECISION.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.
ALBANY, Feb. 2S.-The Legislatures proposal to
abolish the canal tolls on all West-bound freight
was considered at great length to-day by the Canal
Board. The following were present: Lieutenant
Governor Hoskins Controller WadswOrth, State
Engineer Seymour Secretary Of State Carr, AttOr-
ney-General Ward, and Superintendent butcher.
State Engineer Seymour made potable argument
IN iaYor of the legislative recommendation. 1t was
IN substance as follows:
He said that the abolition Of the tolls would be oduiva
rent 70 taking of half cent from the tolls buhhe
OF WIZ at eastward bound A slight decrease in the
In the West that could afford to send ts grain to market
ana would include large extent OF territory in Europe
foreign products The abolition OF the tolls would add
territory fty miles wide, extending through minnesota
Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri that cannot now
aHrd 10 send LIS grain 10 market, or Is forced 10 ship It
p the Missouri to New-Oreans This region was capa-
O'e VI producing over lOOO0O'OOO bushels OF grain
greater number than was carried on the canals
h9ued 10 the American market in Europe, and 1OOOOOOO
OF people would be supplied with cheaper food. To
transport freight eheapy requires that the business OF
NE canal should be fully developed whereas now the
mest-hound trade is neglected. the boats carrying an
portaOn could be worked economically that did not
carry paving load both ways The canals last year
p zen during the present year. IKE season
me present year would admit OF the abolition OF
nues Tho amount OF gram planted 2352.700 acres
more Than last year, which must increase the crop OF
grain coming East at least so, 600, 900 bushels.
A letter to the State Engineer from the Lake Superior
EleYatlng Company at Duluth stated that 100000
bushels of wheat stored there and that tina land
seeded down this spring in the country tributary to
Duuth az least % cent greater in extent than last
year. The prOspect for the lumber trade was equally
favorable.
so FAR as the management OF the canals IA concerned
the prospects for profitable better than last
year Boats being built at The different dock yards
along the canal, and there will be large increase OF
boat mileage There will furthermore be decrease In
the expenditures the abandoned lateral canals. The
revenue has steadily increased after each reduction OF
tolls In 1876 the lowest tonnage Is recorded In twenty
years but IN the fall OF that year reduction was made
OF fifty per and lumber. the tolls, which
amounted to $4,000. were taken off the boats, and
20 articles placed the free list which the tolls
had ranged from S62 to 49, per boat load from New
York To Buffalo. This reduction was about 60 per cent
The result that the reduction in revenue next year
was only - per cent and the tonnage increased 800
tons. The next year the gain - per cent The con-
timed reduction has led to the enormous busi-
ness and unprecedented results OF last year. IL has
proved the wisdom Ot a system that strives for
large amount OF business at low rates rather tnan
small amount Of business at high rates.
TX ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Dprshelmer addressed the
Board OF the adoption OF the resolutions lie
followed the same side by Frank Williams. % the
BudilO Board Of Traae; Mr.. Gray, OF the New \ otk
Produce Exchange: Assrtublyman Hurd and kir H. o.
French. or Buffalo. At the afternoon session a. B.
Miller representing the NewYork Board ot Trade ana
Transportation and Tive Chamber OF Commerce II. "A.
smith, PRECEDENT OF the BOstmans Association, ana
Francis H. MoultOn made addresses In favor Oh low 0l5
The Canal Board adjourned without coming 10 any de-
csion regarding the matter. There Is. however mani
fest disposition thc part OF the Board not 10 agree
with the resolution some OF the members think tue
State cannot spare the revenue.