, 1881-04-16

COMING TO T1TE1lt SENSES VERY SLOWLY.
Sptefaf DttpdttA to Tbs Chicago Tribune.
New Yonx, April t5-rho future Of Tie
Erie Canal legins to attract tho serious at,
tcntlon of tho New York Legislature, since
tho movements havo been set OIL foot to H.
vert the carrying trade from New York
through Canada on the ono hand Md dow,
the Mississippi on tho other. Wlaul,, week
ago, tic Senate Canal Committee reported
adversely Mr.. F0rster's resolution fur m
amendment to the Constitution aboItsllIng
nil tolls on the Eric Canal anil making tte
canal free, Mr.. Forster moved to dtsngcoe
with tho Conmttteo's report, and to lay TINT
motion on the table. This has finally
been called up nnd carried by a
vote Of 15 10 II In tho Senate, aild n,ado II
special order for Tnestlay. 1t Is doubtful
whether tho resolution, when It comes UP for
a flnal vote. viii piss the Senate. md, II 1t
should. it is said 1t will not pass tho AS
THE DISCUSSION Will no GOOD
by preparing tile public mind for the change
That must sooacr or Inter take place In tho
policy Of tile State with respect to Its canals,
X 1t expects much longur to rotair any large
amount Of tho carrying trade Of the West.
A new project for improving the
navigation alld enlarglng the cnpacfty nlltl
usefulness OF the Eric Canal WIS Introduced
III the Assembly, In tho Senate. This prof.
Get IS the outgroWtll OF the study, relec-
ton, and engineering skill Of Mr., Spencer u.
briggs. But ho, too, encounters the samo
constitutional objections that aro Urged
against every one who attempts to Benefit
tha State and tho country through the me-
dlum Of the Erie Canal. lie comes rs tho
representative Of Western capitalists, mostly
OF Chicago, who say that the ti,nc has ar-
rived when the rapidly-growing West
demands and must have m open.
water. communication from Chicago 10
t9e @ Ateme @ fnsr 9se9 IT, ana t9 o. Sy .r Gn Sn
Canal, or through Tie Wellaiii Canal aud
down the st. Lawrence River.
THEY HAVE FULL. FAITH
IN Mr., DrlEgs' scheme. and arc willing. to
145s s e"ss Ss IL IL xy faEsy e + S res ns t IT, IT,
Erle Cana! throughout It's eutire length with
l1np,grvlous TO water; and which
san s'1tace, D'essas rsarue nc elea; f;epe es'1sd a
Furnishing seven full feet. OF wasur, rs re.
tg|Mlrad W lnw for the navigation Of beats.
Tho prism Ut tue canal IL not to be changed,
but ls to ren,atll seventy feet at the top and
q slope Of IS degrees. Alr: briggs elatnls
that t!!s Improvement can be lnadu ut cost
OF $4,000 par nlle or a little over 81, ,5O0, 900
for tile uhtira lengtl! Of tlaa Ert1 Canul, tls.
taHce Of 352 miles, from West Troy to Buff
fal0.
THE HEAVIEST EXPENSE,
he says. will ba IN preparing tho bed and
walls OF. the canal for tho ceInult.
After 1t Is completed, ha says, the eIt-
tire canal can be kept IN repair for $40 0D0
Il year, which woull be n saving Ut Us per
cent Ot tbs average annual cost for roltiirs
In the present condition Of the canal. 1t IL
held that, With this Improvement, the cnttxI
can, be llayfgatet by stea,n-propcllors ,of
moderate stze. which. call DO rull at my
speed without Injury I'd tile canal
na,ks. i%at t,,1 The proJestofs ,, sye ssnEiHs
the capacity an1 effectiveness OF tito
Erie Canal, md Its special benefits to tho
EreAt Western country. will bo tiMt freight
can bo carrled IN propollers from Chicago to
Now York md vicU versa without breaking
bulk. In connection with tllts Improvement,
and auxiliary uioroto, the same capitalists
who furnish the mntioy for It pr0pusa tu
commence tile construction OF q canal
ct equal capaclty with tho. Erie, across
Southern Michigan from LaEe ErIH 10
Luke Altch!gln, thUreby saving ovEr ono
thousand miles Of lake navigation, nld pro-
yfdlng airqct AMI comparatively il straight
llne from tho Hudson River ~ Chfcug0.