New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-10
ADVOC ATES OF CANAL IMPROVEMENT.
STRONG DELEGATIONS APPEAR BEFORE THE sen

ATE AND ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES.
ALBANY. Feb (SpcciaD.-The proposal 10 eApcnu
81 900 900 in tho Improvement OF the canas Oh INC
State brought to Albany to-day large nnihDer vi
delegations from the cities along the line oi inc o'
Champlain and Oswcgo canals, and from New-I"rK-
The members of these delegations appeared before tho
Senate and Assembly Canal Committee, which met this
afternoon IN the senate Chamber, and made afSu-
ments in favor of bills which have been introduced
approyrlating the sum desired
The chief member of tho delegations was George
Clinton of Buffalo, grandson of De Witt Clinton, the
father of the Erie Canal, who appropriately IS chair
man of the Canal Union. Mr.. Clinton was accom-
panied by other supporters of tho bill, among them
being II. Il. Ieford, president vi the hep"Di'o"n
League Clubs Of this Sato d. L. Gcul'ch' H. ~
Taylor, Ira Bctts, Julius IL WColwOrth MICS 'a'o
and r. NJ Choate. There were also present To sup
nort the hin cx man .. Il, Potter, and Frank
: Gardner Of the Board of Trade and Transportation
of New-York; eX-Spcaher Dewitt c. LtiloJohh' Oh
Oswego v. ). Camp and A. H. lvinS' oi L"chpor''
" H. TcIt, of The Whitehall Chronicie eAAs-
semblyman John Lishon, Of Syracuse; "Ililah ~
Armstrong of Elmira Editor OF The HusbandmaT
and Master of tho Stale Grange, cA-AssclhUly man
c. H. p. Could, OF Boonvle " llIam e. Cleary, W.
H. Clark and Captain J. r. Depuy, OF the Canal Boat
mems Associ ation and jain Brett, of Tho Canal
Advocate
Mr. Clinton who a tall, thin featured man. IS ac-
auaiued with legislative committees nom FORMER OK
awo in his voice when he said: -.Genilenen, we
come here to you to continue the policy oil the
State IN regard to internal Improvements the improve
men of the Erie Canal aud OF the other canals oil inc
state l presume you arc aware That TINS Dhi Pto
vdes for lengthenlng largo number ot lochs On 'nc
Eric Canal, and deepening that canal and other
csnals!"
why do you lengthen the locks y inquired AS
semblyman Cromwell
.ken hs m.
I'm order that two canal steamer and It's con
sort-may 10 put through IA lock al tho same Time
II il computed that Will shorten By two daNs the
time that canal boat captain now taxes to get from
Buffalo to New York. That saving of time you
ni undels and, viii rSluce tho cost vi trans
We wish to got for tins tatc OF New orh the gram
trade of the vest. We have most OF II now p.t We
can only retain IL by lowering our charges loi udS
port alton, as competitors In other states are uo
ing some say that the day OF the canal' Is past
that they have been Supei scded by the railroads. LOoh
80 the statistics of the gram trade, and you VIII ma
Thai more than one -hai of the grain last year was
nsported the scaDOard by the canal'. Ihcro Is
roam Tor both tho canals and the railroads
William A. Armstrong, Master OF the state Grange,
Informed the committee that the grange al It's con
canton i'm January passed resolutions favoring tho
biz lie made this statement because 1t had been
widely reported that the farmers were opposed to the
appropriation desired for the canals The grange wa,
composed wholly of farmers, and he could testify tha'
they desired to have the canals improved
Dewitt G. Llttleiohn argued that the canals kept
down railroad rates and that they were as much high
ways as the roads the State and therefore as mucn
entitled 70 the support OF the STATE He denied that
the supporters of the appropriation desired to build
a ship canal. ,,.,, ,,t.o,
What does 1t cost to lengthen lock" inquired
senator Sloan. ,..,-,,
About ST 600" answered MI LttleJohh ,
Mr. Sloan then. by series OF questions, learned
| that IL would cost about 100000 To complete the
enetbening of the locks and that there were about
twenty seven of these locks yet to lengthen The
Sena,or said that he glad 10 get these figures as
ome miscellaneous ,srsons had circulated the rumOr that
the lencthenIng of the locks would cost In the neigh
! borbood OF ten millions of dollars.
Tho committee deferred action on the bill till
| future meeting.