New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-25
FOR CANAL IMPROVEMENT.
EFFORTS BEING MADE TO SECURE
NEEDED REFORMS.
THE PRODUCE EXCHANGE AND THE WHOLE
COMMERCIAL COMMUNITY INTERESTED
IN THE RETIREMENT OF THE
ERIE CANAI1-A BILL BE-
FORE THE LEGIs-

FORE THE LEGIs-
LATURE.
xigorous effort IS being made by the New
York Produce Exchange and by the commercial
community at large N this city to secure iegisla-
ton that wilt provide for many needed improve
ments in the Erie Canal \ bill was recently in
induced in the Senate To this end and petitions
signed by leading business men have been sent
10 Albany In its support 1t is a well-known fact
that for the last few years a serious competition
has sprung up for the traffic so long controlled by
the Erie Canal and it is thought by many that UNI
lea proper improvements made 10 the canal.
much of it's business will be swept away and in
time IL will become a litte-used channel of COM
merce Every seaboari point having a suitable
harbor Is alive to the subversion of the foreign
trade Of New-York. Montreal and Quebec expect
In time to accomplish il, and New-Orleans, com
handing the Mississippi, seeks to become grain
exporting point Recently it learned that a
combination Of $500 miles OF railroads reaching in
10 the West and Northwest had been formed 10
carry grain TO Newport News, and that from there
1t would be carried by new steamship lines TO
Europe.
In the last twenty-five years the Erie Canal Ia.
failed to share in any of the many betterments
ard improvements that this age Of invention has
wrought in the field Of general progress. The same
means of moving boats as was adopted In the first
instance is mainly still in use. The waterway OF
seven feet provided forty years ago, under thea
acknowledged obligation on the part or Inc state
TO keep pace with the demands Of trade and
merce. has been permitted 10 diminish from neglect
10 remove natural deposits of sediment, while re-
tanning walls and kindred structures have fallen
into decay and dlapldation through disorganized
and was.efu plan of detail repair
THE WARFARE wAGED AGAINST THE CANAL
report 10 the Legislature from the Produce
Exchange says in speaking of the warfare waged
against the canal by competing interests: The
of of ARIA day,
parent in a depleted and inefficient equipment of
boats on the canal, and an entire lack Of
courage the part Of boat owners and investors
In floating property. which is necessary in order TO
bring the same up 10 the standard Of required
efficiency. This condition illustrated last sea-
Son. when. under the change Of policy on the part
Of competitors. carrying rates were maintained
throughout the season at reasonable and steady
prices, and when the grain and other freight offer
Ing exceeded the availaba supply Of boats. Great
Ing frequent blOckades at Buffalo. and causing the
diversion OF great quantities Of grain to the ST.
Lawrence ana other routes. Notwithstanding the
considerable profit to boatmen. the latter. mindful
alike Of the ease with which powerful corporations
can destroy their business. and the impedmcnts
that exist in the neglected and Inefficient canal
have not shown disposition 70 enter upon new
construction Of boats TO replace those that will drop
out OF service the coming season. by reason o!
debasement below the underwriters requirements Of
fitness and the ensuing season viii doubtless show
no greet increase of the canal fleet Nor Is 1t be
leved that any considerable movement in that
direction viii be made until such time the Lceis
lative and Executive authority snail by the declar.
Alton Of hxed ard avowed purpose better and
improve the waterway. lines that will give canal
eoatmen the assurance OF aHity 10 cope with rea-
s'hable competition.
AN INCREASE ~ THE DEPTH DEMANDED.
The chief improvements that are suggested in the
OIL now before the Legislature an increase of the
depth Of the waterway one foot below and
stage Of eight feet above the mitre slls OF locks
and other permanent structures and the lengthen-
ing o. the locks not already improved. The de-
In. In he Htf s. II Es1
n nnown principles involving not only The power re-
wsr t ior propellng or moving vesn'S r IN Water
, n.on 70 Increase the stage OF water above the
possible consideration OF economical ethics Such
soe.,erment would add directly. without Involving
co ousy on the part Of boat owners excepting IN
eomparatvely few cases, at least NIFTY tons TO the
arIying capacity OF every boat now engaged IN thr
s.aIrylng trade Of the Eric Canal. Boats that ar"
nsw able carry barely go tons dead welsh could,
l tn s ssen improvements were made take from ="
~rIse report Of the Produce Exchange states That
MI, MN me Erie Canal improved In accord with ire
4 woposition covered by the proposed enactment.
wv,tnnage through it 10 ,idewater can and WIZ
ss~e freight be furnished low rate that as
rs, i% case now between ports on the lakes, me
for n. Evil VIII not assume or dnoeItake 10 copeo ~
navgation: ana furtheyrm"re when the purpose OF
tor ~ Is finally accomplished the ratabic prOpor-
the FL % such cost OF transport Will DC as 10" on
so,sIahed vail d" accord coz ih with the initial prpose
canal 70 be achieved by the construction OF IN, tne
conni! Mach IT obtained for many years following MS
Wksrr.ilon; and IL fact It not until the period
ha,aa 'ne State Of New York, under false poIlcy.
nrnu ssa IN the effort 10 keep the canal abreast OF
from ,yxsive development that the latter rel away
l stssas me achievement OF the original purpose as
| TN The natural outcome Of such action on
ago pp ~ OF the State observable few years
l lnss VI me combined effort of two great railway
with ph nose interests more intimately nnked
70 cressl ahelphia and Baltimore than New ork,
Of the "a diversion Of the grain and produce trade
country away from New-York.
u ns IMPROVEMENT AN OBLIGATION
II "A. e. Exists at present interests controlled by
l M 800. .s OF equal importance and whose better
innr,."ni Dring rurer collateral returns than the
meht OF the Erie Canal The fact that the