Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-04-06
FREE CANALS.


duce Exchange An Appeal for Lesisla-
Produce From Them by the Mississippi
RIVER and Other Free Water Ways.
New YORK, April 5.-The following are the
resolutions in full unanimously adopted at q
special meeting of the produce exchange
called to consider the subject of canals:
Resolved, That the wonderful growth OF
the State OF New York in the past in popula-
ton, In foreign and domestic commerce and in
material wealth, by reason of which she bears
unchallenged the proud title of empire
state," has been largely due to the wise and
far-seeng policy which constructed her sys-
tenn of internal water ways, connecting the
chain of lakes with the navigable waters of
the Hudson, and that to this policy more than
to any other cause, If not all other causes COM
bined, is due also the prominent position
which the city of New York holds as the COM
mercial metropolis of the United States.
Resolucd, That the position heretofore held
by the city and State of New York is in seri.
Gus jeopardy, and cannot much longer be
maintained without prompt and vigorous ac-
tion. Rival seaboard cities by herculean
efforts, by the lavish use of capital and by
availing of all resources of engineering skill,
have gone far toward neutralizipg the geo.
GRAPHICAL advantages of our State and toward
wrestling from us our traffic in the products OF
the great West. Canada, in pursuance of an
enlightended public policy, and by vast eX-
pcnditures, has nearly completed the improve.
ment of the Welland canal, which, will be
ready for operation in a few months; and
last, though not least the Mississippi and New
Orleans route now looms up as one of our
most formidable competitors.
Resolued, That the time has now arrived
when New York, unless prepared to retire from
her prominent position, and to accept an in
ferior rank, must at once and for ever throw
off the apathy which has so long bound her,
abandon the policy of mastery inactivity
which has for SO long characterized her coun-
ellis, and by the adoption of a vigorous and
liberal policy in connection with her water
ways, retain her hold upon the internal COM
merce of the country by offering cheaper
and better facilities for transportation that any
competitor whatsoever.
RESOLVED, That in the judgment Of the New
York produce exchange the first step in this
direction is the adoption by the legisla ture
and people of the constitutional amendment
now pending in the Senate, repeating restric-
tion of expenditures on the canal to.the amount
of tolls received during the previous year, and
removing all tolls on property transported
is an enlargement of the canals to equal or eX-
ceed the increased facilities offered by compel
ing routes.
Resolved, That the members of the New
York produce exchange have noticed
with great satisfaction the growing
public sentiment throughout the State
In favor of free canals, and they now earnestly
request the Legislature that, discarding all
ideas of false economy, putting aside all local
jealousies, and refusing to be frightened by
the bugbear of direct taxation, which would
be returned, indirectly, to the citizens of the
State in ten-fold measure, but impelled by a
high standard of true statesmanahip and pure
patriotism. it will promptly approve at this
session the constitutional amendment abolish.
ing tolls on the canals of the State, In order
again acted on by the legislature of 1882
which, if thereupon ratified by a vote of the
people, will free the canals the ensuing year.