New-York tribune., 1886-08-26
THE CANALS OF THE STATE.
MEETING OF THE UNION AT SYRACUSE.
FEDERAL AID SCHEMES DEFEATED NEw-YoRK
MONEY TO IMPROVE THK WATERWAYS

day 10 attendance at the meeting Of the Canal Union
Dele cations came from almost every town on the
ne of the Erie the Oswego and the Champsin canals
The lief cities the routes sent large commit
tees. From New-York there came ex-Msyor Edson,
A. b. Miller. John +. Henry William H. Webb, eI-
Congressman Orlando b. Potter, Ambrose Snow,
Daniel Barnes Thomas ?. Ball. Edward Hncken.
Frank Gardner. John II. Boynton George r Tompkins'
Franklin Woodruff, J. II. Herrick C. NJ. Val. Cyrus
Bussey, and l.. j. n. Stark. They represented the
Pro luce the Metal and the Maritime Exchanges and
the Board of Trade and Transportation. Bufalo's
delegation was headed by George Clinton grandson
Of Dewitt Clinton. the father Of the Erie Canal"
Then came the names Of Congressman John B. Weber.
who had bill before the House OF Representatives
last winter appropratng s5.000.000 tor the improve
ment Of the Erie Canal; Congressman Farquhar
Senator Mcmillan. ex-Canal Appraiser. William j.
Morgan, Assemblymen Gallagher. Sheeban and Giere.
ex -Assembyman Hickman, ex Mayor Sehen, George
Bleistean proprietor of The Buffalo Courier" and
Alonzo Richmond. The City of Rochester was rep
resented by Congressman Charles S. Baker, General
Henry Brinker. ex-Mayor Henry L. Fish, and William
B. Moore. The Mayor OF Syracuse. W. d. Burns,
headed its delegation and his followed by
tbos. of Senator Hendricks, ex-Assembyman Ligh-
ton. Thomas Gale. George II. Comstock. jr.. W. A.
Beach, and A. j. Belden. Another Congressman,
Henry G. Bureigh, represented Whitehall. his associ
ates being w N. Teft and Robert H. Cook. The city
of Oswego was represented by Dewitt c. Lttlejohn.
ex speaker of the Assembly, Senators Dooite aud
Mattooh and ex- Canal Auditor John @. Place Be-
sides these State Railroad Commissioner O'Don
NELL Theodore NJ Basselin of Lowvile State Forestry
Commissioner. Senator Wemple and ex-Mayor Car
michael of Amsterdam ex- Senator Roberts, of Boon
vile; General A. S. Devlin, of Elmira ex-Assembly
man Case, of Fulton; and William G. Cleary, of New
of al AaaO ati
The State of Maryland also sent delegation consist
ing of w. F. Conlihsn, David Lynn and William
Young Maryland has canal, the Chesapeake and
Ohio, which has become Improbable in consequence
severe railroad competition. Her citizens ATTENDED
the present canal confe in NewYork to learn If
the abolition Of tolls its canals had brought back
commerce to them. The canal boatmeu told them
that at least this year they were making money.
The Canal Union met in Shakespeare Hall at noon
Orlando B. Potter acting as temporary chairman No
sooner had bis gavel sounded than of the leading
subjects be considered by the union was brcached
viz, whether the United States Government
should be asked to appropriate money Tor en!argig
the locks and deepening the Erie Canal. The Bunalo
delegates favor this application, feeling oound 10
support Congressman Webers bill. They put for
ward George clinton for permanent president OF the
union with the idea OF 80 moulding the anon me-
get resolution Iassed apro' ing oil Weoers OH
and appropriation of So 900 600 for the improve
OF he Erie Canal Opposition wac at once made
ID
of York who saic that the merchants OF that ctV
were not in favor of the United States Government
being requested appropriate money Tor the canal
believing that in that case the genera government
would acquire control OF it New-fork should I'M
prove the Erie Canal with its own money and retain
absolutely the management OF II. For that reason
they were opposed to Mr. Clinton beng elected presl-
dent of the union, he un ierstood to favor fed
cral aid Mr. Edison suggested that Orlando Potter,
the temporary chairman. Who 1t was well known was
an opponent Of the federal aid scheme, should be
elected president of The Union. The friends OF Mr
D,fol trfrr mon hers
convention that he not in favor OF federal ald.
although they Mr. Clinton further said privately
the opponents of the fedora! aid scheme when they
asked him about bis position think the Erle the
Oswego and the Champain canals should be improved
with the money OF the State of New-iorh and that
then the United States should be asked to reimburse
New York ior its expenditure" Mr. Potter stated
that he would absolutely decline to be candidate
The Buffalo Delegates then voted with other members
of the convention for the appointment OF COMMITTEE
authorized to name the president OF the Union and
other officers.
The committee N et at once and selected Mr.. Clinton
as president. Mr.. Clinton was escorted TO the chair
In speech thanking the convention for ts choice be
frankly stated his position the federal aid matter
He said that be thought the FIRST step Of the Union
should lie to persuade the State government of New
York 20 engthen the locks and deepen the channels OF
its canals and that immediately This repudiation of
the federal aid plan loudly appauded blythe oonven
tion. majority Of It's members being plainly opposed
to the plan Mr. Clinton further said that while the
Erie Canal hac given commercial supremacy TO New
York. that supremacy was not incontestable and
should be at taken to retain
of it, That could be done by enarglng the capacity OF
the canal carry the commerce Of tue United states
A Committee on Resolutions appointed with
Congressman Henry G: Burlegh as chairman. Tue
following are t4e two chief resolutions adopted
Resoived-- That 1t is the duty of the State to imme
diatey put the canals in the highest possible condi-
ton OF efficiency enable the state to derive al the
benefits they are capable of comforting"
Resolved That we demand that the Erie Canal
be enlarged and improved TO make II fully available
to boats of the largest capacity and we approve of the
policy initiated by the Legislature OF last year IN
fenCthenimg the locks OF the said canal."
Resolutions also passed favorng the enlarge;
ncnt of locks and the deepening of the channel
of the Oswego aud Champlan Canals. The support
ers Of the federal aid scheme we're thus defeated In
the Committee on Resolutions,
When the resolutions had been read the committee
appealed TO the convention to accept their platform
General A s. Diven. of Elmira offered resolutions
petuoning Congress to make an appropriation ioT the
Erie Canal He made earnest speed In their favor
predicting that the Erie Canal would tall into ruin
owing the unwiiingness of the ta1payers OF New
York the heavy taxation necessary to improve
It, William Morgan. of Buffalo, offered resolutions
similar in spirit TO those offered by General Owen
These resolutions we're supported in able speech
nv CONGRESSMAN Weber he denied that New-York
would surrender the control OF the Erie Canal by
accepting money from the United States Tor its I'M
ovement Ii sentimental State pride TO refuse
to receive money ioe the purpose from the United
States He confident that 1t could be shown
to Western Congressman that II would be a good
Investment of Western money 70 improve the Erie
Canal 80
Congressman Burleigh oppose the adoption Of the
Bnffsio amendment Congress would not give money
for the mprov ovment of the trie Canal all the
great railways in the United States opposed to
II sThe only salvation Of the Erie Canal. "a .IuE
Nsv-YORK TRIBUNE has stated, ia the money OF the
State of New York" said Mr. Burleigh The sentiment
was cheered Wy the convention. Mr.. Morgan 5 and
General DiveDs amendments were defeated by an
overw helmng vote. The platform as presented by
the Committee Oh Resolutions then unanimously
adopted A further resolution presented by Senator
Mcmillan adopted 10 pledge candidates for mem
hers of the Legislature TO appropriate So 600 600 for
the canals next year. This adopted by unani-
NOUS vote. The convention then adjourned.
he WANTED TWO DETECTIVES TO PROTECT HIN.
While dining'last ening at Dieter's restaurant.
No 81 Fulton-st., Brooklyn, tall. heavily built