The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-05-15
ELECTRICITY ON THE CANALS.
cor FLOWER TEIoEs TEE sILE re-
PEALISe 7HB Ior OF 1895.

ne save that Whtis " Cssnes IgpatF tie
Contract Made with ths Cataract Eiss,ris
,o-,sny, u wouia Give thst Cs-p.sp .
Co-pi.t. Monopoly =. Ls.s - ,hs Css-
a,,,ons OF tie Ce-tr.st WEE. Observed.
Nn,xY. May 1I-Gov. Flower to-day vetosd
senator PERSONS bill repeating the provision
a, the law passed last year which gives the
STATE superintendent OF Public Works author.
~ TO allow corporations TO operate electrical
candvctors along the lines OF the State canals
%. the propulsion OF canal bosta In his veto
the Governor says:
10 pursuance OF the reeomm sndstions Of
nv annual message the Legislature Of 1893
passsd. practically without opposition. an act
authorizing the Superintendent OF Public
works to conduct experiments looking to the
use OF electricity as q motive power on the ca
nails The second section OF that statute con-
ferred upon him. also. the authority to permit
any person or corporation TO construct and op-
crate electrical conductors along the canals
upon such terms and conditions. not incon-
.,tsnt with the public use OF the canals. as
he might impose 1t IL this section OF the act.
and this authority to grant = permit. which
the bill before me would repeal.
"The repeal bill was introduced IN the
Leg stature before any permit had been
granted under the act Of 1893. Subsequently,.
either House, . permit was granted by the
Superintendent OF Public Works. and its terms
became the subject Of inquiry By . legislative
Investigating committee. Whatever might
have been the reason for introducing the
repeal bill prior to this time. the effect Of pass
ing II after the contract had been made and
after its terms had been carefully examined
By legislative committee could only be
to create . monopoly. For nolegislativs act
can impair . contract. and the contract
which had been entered into By the Superin-
tendent OF Public Works with the Cataract
General Electric Company would not DO an
nulled by the enactment OF this bill The
effect Of the passage Of this bill. therefore. and
ito approval would be to confer upon the
Cataract General Electric Company COM
plsts monopoly as long as the conditions Of
the contract were observed. and the Superin-
tsndent OF Public Works would DO without au-
thority to grant any similar permits to other
corporations or individuals.
while this result. brought about BIZ act Of
the Legislature after careful inquiry into the
terms OF the contract. would be strong en-
dorsement Of the advantage to the State Of
that contract. cannot but think II unwise
thus to bind the State to one contract already
made and to prohibit the Superintendent OF
Public Works from entering into other con-
tracts with other corporations in case the
Cataract General Electric Company failed to
comply with the conditions imposed upon It
or isii cd to co nj etc the project OF furnishing
electric power for canal purposes between
EqG f to DO =; III, E,sa iss;' ..
ing. therefore. tho legislative appreciation OF
this contract a; I'm piled oy the pnssaxe Hi me
by tn. act OF last rear should remain unre-
pealsd.
entity m Isre presented In some quarters, and
its advantages TO the state have been so little
to call public attention to it: principal lea
lures. do this the more con adently because
the adaptation OF electricity as a motive power
on the canals. and because this psrtieulsr
enSsuI,stion With men BEST 90 uippsd with
the knowledge and experience required for the
Assuming the feasibility OF using cleo
tricity asa power In propeliing canal boats.
and Its superiority over steam. horse. and mule
State isssli shall establish and opsrate the
necessary electric plant or whsthet this shall
sSvsntsss Of the States ineuiriae mi. enor.
mous or penss Is to be able to control the rate.
to bo"tmen' M il the State can control tho rates
and regulate the construction and use OF cleo
ta6iisSment and operation Of ths plant should
be left to private enterprises The utilization OF
cI @ ses e r ss ss
ticularly favorable terms for Permission e
sss ,ha. nn 81 ss1.
resulted in the contract under discussion.
The contract meets the condition above al
ludad to as the preliminary requisite for In
nameiy, that the State should control the rate.
charged for furnishing electric power and
should regulate the construction and use Of
the conductors"
The Governor then shows that the contract
binds the company to furnish power for trans
Eortation at such pric: - shall 20 liked oy
The Y .h. pn sa.s.S % e.. :un
$50 per electrical horse power for the season
OF navigation. or one nfth the cost Of animal
power and permits twice the speed. IL at any
the contract provides for this contingency.
Ofher features OF the contract. he says. safe
guard the States interest and those OF the
camp a G0. sonSineed that il the terms Of the
contract are carried out by the company. as
hope they will he. new era OF prosperity Will
open for the canal The great need OF this
homicAl transit. and 1 believe this IL the way
10 secure it ] cannot imagine why. with an
electric motive power to be had on one side OF
the canal at one NTH the cost and furnishing
twice the speed. a boatmAn would go to the
other side OF the canal and depsnd on mule or
horse power. OF course. every step followed In
who are injured by IL. The stage driver cursed
the locomotive So the owner OF the steam
tugs begrudges the INTRODUCTION OF cleo
tIielty on canals II 1t 10 likely to take away
did not stop at the demA and OF the stage driver ;
nor will II stop at the demand OF the owner OF
steam canalTuGs. The commercial Interests o!
65OOOlO people will demand some means oi
Increasing the business OF our water .ays, and
II electricity Is the most feasible factor Tor
bringing about that result. u will come into
am rm M a sSas IL. the
carrying trade and give new lie along ne
hanks. Such increased business will mean
more employmsnt OF sSor: nc, Iessl anu ino's