New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-09
THE CANALS.

II has already been stated that an ell orr VIII
be made at the present session OF the Leglsat-
ure to obtain an appropriation OF 9l'ooo' OoO
to continue the work Of canal Improvement.
II is proposed to expend the greater part OF this
sum in lengthening locks The superintendent,
in his annual report, writes that the locks which
have already been heightened have been OF
great advantage to the boatmen" and he adds
that " this radical Improvement meets with
great favor among those whose business makes
them directly Interested in our canal system"
The State of New-Y FORK having committed 1t
self to the policy of canal improvement, 1t can
be taken for granted that no necessary appro-
oriation will be withheld until all the work
called for is accomplished. The Legislature
has certainly dealt literally with the canaS OF
late years The conference Of business men
which was held in Utica in 1889 over which
Horatio Seymour presided served to arouse
public sentiment to the pressing needs Of these
great waterways Accordingly, in 1885 the
Legislature appropriated 100000 for lock-
frightening: $500. 900 was appropriated in
1887, and S57 0, 900 last year for the same OBJ
ject and for related ones.
But while there is no likelihood that the i'm
provement policy will be prcmaturely aban-
doned, it is possible that it may be suspended
if excessive appropriations are urged. II Will
be remembered that The appropriation OF last
wear which, as originally presented called tor
ST. 900. 600, encountered n stubborn oppose
ton. Nor were the representatives OF What
are known as the "anti-canaP counties inc
only legislators who declined TO support II.
Some of the best and most sagacious friends OF
the canals-rnen who thoroughly believe IN
them-rcsisted it on the ground that 1t was
too large. Il am afraid" said Senator Sloan,
in the course of his speech in favor Of re-
duced appropriation. THAT they Chose askinI
for 81 600 0OO) will 60 so far that they Will
overtax the patience of the nOn-canal counties
who do not believe-howeyer much they may
be mistaken-that they are interested in these
questions, and so furnish them with the am
munition and the arguments to rise III their
might and prevent any more of these appro-
priations for the improvement Of the canals.
That is what fear; and | take my position
here as friend of the canals against the policy
Of apprOprating so large sum as 81 ,O0o'Ooo
at this time" The Legislature may decide
that, all things considered, as large sum as
81 900, 900 can advantageOusly be given to this
object this year. Or it may do what was done
last year, apply the pruning knife.
There is another sort of canal improve
ment, which will be brought to the attention
of our law makers during the session. The
close Of the season of / SS8 found the boatmen
in anything but cheerful humor, for 1t had
not been a prosperous year with them; ana
some of these boatmen did not hesitate to
assert that it was useless to lengthen the locks
or dig out the bottom Of the canals unless they
themselves could be protected from the scalpcrs
and other pirates that now prey upon the boat-
ing interest. Let the Legislature find out L
these boatmen have genuine grievance, and II
they have, let an adequate remedy be applied
As for the bill relating to elevators which wa
passed last year, it is conceded that 1t did not
cure the evil at which it was aimed. 1t VIII
doubtless come up this year for amendment.