The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-05
IMPROVE TIE CANALS.
Tho Results OF Defeating tho Approprin.
tiou for tho ChnnpInin Canal.


ALBANY, July 4--Anti-canal men and the
antl-canal sentiment were powerful enough in
| the last two Legislatures to cut canal approria-
| lions down to minimum. and In one direction
| at least the State and its citizens are to-day
| suffering the disaRreeable results thereof.
The Champlain Canal a slxty-six mile water
way running between Whitehall and West Troy
and Albany has a navlgable depth Of feet 10
inches. Assomblyman Ryan. u Democrat Of
RENSSELAER, county, has sought at different
times by means OF q bill to increase this to 7
feet. As was the case last wintor. the bill has
been killed. Had depth OF feet been Sc
cured the tonnage capacity OF the small boats
now plying tho Champlsin Canal could have
been increased from $50 tons to $40. This
would have a decided influence on tina cost of
transportation to the advantage OF the con-
sumer as has been very decidedly demonstrated
this summer AS every one In New York is
we'll aware by this time, tho Hudson River ice
crop was complete failure and about $780,
De tons Of ice vas 9 Lake Cham
River 70 New, York. BROOKLYN, New Jersey. and
whereas II boats OF a 240-ton capacity could DO
foated in the canal the ruling price would not
thirty THOUSAND tons now shipped weekly from
Whitehall could easily be doubled.
In the Ryan bin an appropriation OF S750,0OO
was asked for tho Champlain Canal. Tho
Champlain ice crop OF 1.50O00O tons could
have been shipped had the provisions. OF the
bin been carried out at u reduced cost of moro
than so cents per ton. which sum alone would
have elualled the $750U0O appropria-
ton. The trip from Whitehall to lido
water consumes thirty-siX hours. and
every boat available for use along tho
whole line OF the Cbamplain Canal has been
secured for the transportation OF the leo crop.
This leaves the iron ore OF the Champluin re-
Rion without adequate carrying facilities. In
1889 the ore shipped over the canal was 234,945
tons. and the preceding year 259.269 tons.
their way to New York markets over this canal
raised these totals to a total tonnage In 1889 of
l,lS7.U3S tons.
1t is evident that to this must be added In
future years the lake Ice crop which this year
IS in itself taxing the transportation capacity
OF the canal 10 its utmost, as ice dealers will
not again stake all their faith and money on
the freezing OF the Hudson. What then. is to
DO the result? Unless bonts can be enlarged
and locks made double 1t is manlfestly impos-
sible to transport over this waterway all the
ore. lumber. and ice which would naturally go
by way OF 1t, and hence the cost OF zach com
modify to the consumer Is increased. In the case
OF the iron ore mined in the northern counties
Of the state 1t fipds It's sharpest ccmpetitors in
the Spanish and Lake Superior ores. and when
to the cost OF mining is added an extra cost for
transportation or an inability to get :he pro-
duct upon the market promptly. New York
State ore is driven out and a leading industry
seriously crippled. The interests OF tho peo-
pie and the commonwealth. II would thus
seem, would be greatly enhanced by a Judicious
expenditure OF some OF the canal appropriations
in deepening the Champlain Canal